Accessibility in E-Learning

Developing accessible online courses, course materials, and other web-based learning activities and tools for teaching and learning at postsecondary institutions in Ontario is the focus of the paper, Accessibility in e-Learning: What You Need to Know.

The paper, produced on behalf of COU by OCAD University’s Inclusive Design Research Centre (IDRC), examines the definition of accessibility and inclusion; student learners with various disabilities and learning needs, and the barriers they face; common assistive technologies; and the authoring and testing of accessible web content. It also provides practical strategies for creating accessible learning experiences, as well as strategies for identifying potential barriers that may limit access to online learning activities and materials.

Accessibility in e-Learning: What You Need to Know introduces accessibility not simply as a requirement of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) to accommodate students with disabilities, but as a best practice for creating and delivering e-learning opportunities that are accessible to everyone.

In addition, IDRC has produced the following helpful resources for content authors, web developers and educators involved in e-learning:

• Standards and Specifications
• Accessible Content Authoring Practices
• Easy to Use Resources
• ChromeVox Screen Reader Setup
• Turning Images Off in Web Browsers
• Additional Resources and References

Author: Greg Gay, Inclusive Design Research Centre, OCAD University, Toronto, ON