Accessible Course Materials

Definition:
Accessible educational materials are materials and technologies usable for learning across the widest range of individual variability, regardless of format or features. From National Center on Accessible Educational Materials

Blackboard Ally for Accessibility

If you are using Blackboard, you can take advantage of the help and feedback offered by the tool, Blackboard Ally, to make your course content accessible.

Accessibility Requirements

Is it a legal requirement that University Websites are accessible?

From CAST Legal Obligations for Accessibility: Two disability-related civil rights laws govern the obligations of postsecondary institutions with respect to the accessibility of digital learning materials and online courses—Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Section 504 prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in all postsecondary institutions that receive federal funding, including schools that accept federal financial aid.3 Title II of the ADA applies to all public colleges and universities, regardless of whether they receive federal funding;4 Title III of the ADA applies to private colleges and universities. (42 U.S.C. §§ 12181(7)(J), 12182(a))

Below is a list of resources to help you create accessible course content.

Accessibility: UVM Academic Support Programs:

WebAIM

www.webaim.org: information, training, resources, guidelines and standards for Web accessibility

Microsoft Accessibility Articles

Cheat Sheet

A one-page Cheat Sheet PDF on creating accessible content from National Center on Disability and Access to Education (NCDAE)