LibGuides: OER Start Guide: Accessibility

Understanding Accessibility for an Online Environment

Web accessibility is the practice of designing and developing websites, tools, and technologies so that people with disabilities can use them. More specifically, people can: perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with the Web.

While Web Accessibility is typically referred to in web-design, it is also important to consider Accessibility when it comes to developing Open Textbooks and Online Courses.

When searching for open educational resources, please keep accessibility in mind.

Look for an accessibility statement referring to WCAG 2.0 AA.
Search for accessibility in the item description and in the advanced search features.
Look for a VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template)
Use Blackboard Ally through D2L to assess usability

Accessibility Toolkit for Open Educational Resources (OER)
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This site provides help with creating accessible content, evaluating the accessibility of OER sites, determining if your site is accessible and advice on fixing issues.
Accessibility and OERs
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OERs (Open Education Resources) are online digital educational materials, tools, or even techniques that are offered freely and/or through open licensing. This resource provides examples, key factors and resources about accessibility of OERs.

Online Resources

Fundamentals & Best Practices

Accessibility Fundamentals
W3C presents the Web Accessibility Initiative, providing instructive materials regarding the basics of web accessibility, why it's important, videos portraying websites from the perspective of someone with a disability, and information on how you can make your website (or course) accessible.
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Please note that the resources provided are copyrighted.
Accessibility Workshop for Brooklyn College
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Check out this LibGuide from Booklyn College; it covers accessibility best practices, creating accessible content (word, PDFs, videos, audio, math equations), various platform accessibility instructions (LibGuides, Blackboard, WordPress).

eBooks

Accessibility Toolkit – 2nd Edition by Amanda Coolidge, Sue Doner, Tara Robertson, and Josie Gray
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ISBN: 9781774200308
Publication Date: 2018-08-31
The goal of the Accessibility Toolkit - 2nd Edition is to provide resources for each content creator, instructional designer, educational technologist, librarian, administrator, and teaching assistant to create a truly open textbook—one that is free and accessible for all students. This is a collaboration between BCcampus, Camosun College, and CAPER-BC.
Introduction to Web Accessibility: Essential Accessibility for Everyone by Digital Education Strategies, The Chang School
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Publication Date: 2019
With raised awareness and accessibility laws emerging around the world, understanding what inclusive access to the Web means is becoming necessary knowledge for anyone who produces digital content. Much of the current information on Web accessibility requires some technical understanding, and may be difficult to consume for the average person. This book will “interpret” the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1), to make it easier to understand for a general audience. You will have an opportunity to experience barriers firsthand, then experience that content with the barriers removed, developing a practical understanding of web accessibility.

OER Start Guide

Evaluating Accessibility

Webinars

Understanding Accessibility for an Online Environment

Online Resources

eBooks