109 Accessibility 101: How Inclusive Are Your Course Designs?
10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Wednesday, October 29
Content Strategy
Degas 1 & 2
There is an increasing demand for accessibility in learning content, yet many instructional designers are unsure if they are doing a good job of meeting the needs of learners with disabilities. There is a need for instructional designers to discover what they can do to accommodate and enhance content for users of all abilities.
In this session participants will learn from the accessibility lessons learned in supporting the Connect-Ability project, an online education initiative for individuals with disabilities seeking gainful employment. You will explore how assistive technology (AT) is used and how course designs support accessible content. You will discuss 508 standards, other accessible guideline information, and the practical application of tips to incorporate in your design. You will examine the different considerations to consider for inclusive design based on working with a diverse population of users. This session will help you become more comfortable understanding your learners and how to ask important questions that can influence your course designs.
In this session, you will learn:
- Why 508 compliance is an important factor in course design and important 508 standards to follow
- What tools to consider when developing accessible content
- How JAWS users engage with content and the importance of using headers in content
- How to be creative and still meet accessibility requirements
- About the various types of disabilities to consider
- Considerations for building accessible courses/content
- The top 10 design goals to consider for designing accessible content
- If your courses are inclusive
Audience:
Novice to advanced designers, developers, project managers, and
directors.
Technology
discussed in this session:
JAWS (screen readers), Lectora, closed captioning and various eLearning
tools, Blackboard, 508 standards, and others.
Tisha Radcliffe
Associate Director of Instructional Design
CT Distance Learning Consortium
Tisha Radcliffe is the associate director of instructional design for the CT Distance Learning Consortium. She holds an MS in education and specializes in instructional design (ID) for online learning. Tisha is passionate about providing learning opportunities to users of all abilities, especially adult learners. She has over 10 years of experience in the online learning field, which has focused in the areas of ID, eLearning course development and management, and faculty development in higher education. Additionally she has experience with online learning and training in the K12, state agency, and small business sectors. Tisha is proficient in a myriad of eLearning development tools and platforms. She is knowledgeable about the implementation of online courses from both student and facilitator perspectives.
Lory Woods
Senior Training Consultant
Travelers
Lory Woods is a senior training consultant with Travelers. She holds an MS degree in educational technology with a focus on instructional design. She has experience developing a variety of computer based educational materials, teaching educational technology in a university setting, and supporting technology in the K-12 classroom. Lory also has several years of experience developing and supporting IT systems.
