Course Accessibility Standards
It's everyone's responsibility to ensure course content is accessible. See ASU's accessibility policies here: https://eoss.asu.edu/accessibility/policies
- 19.4% of U.S. undergrads have a reported disability.
- 25% of student veterans have a disability.
- More than 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. has a disability.
Digital accessibility
Digital accessibility means making your course, website, and other online content accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities or the device they are using. Often, simple changes can improve access to digital content for people with disabilities, including:
- Visual (e.g., blindness, low vision, color blindness)
- Auditory (e.g., deafness, hard of hearing)
- Motor (e.g., paralysis, cerebral palsy, missing/damaged limbs, other injuries)
- Cognitive (e.g., learning disabilities, neurological and developmental disorders, brain injury, psychiatric disorders)
How to get started with course accessibility
Start small and make a few improvements. The first time you use Canvas' Accessibility Checker or Ally in your course.
Some of the most helpful improvements for users are fairly simple to make:
- If you post videos, host them on MediaAmp or Wistia and edit the automatic captions.
- Check that all your images have equivalent alternative text.
- Make sure all your pages are keyboard accessible.
- Work with the ASU library to digitize course content in accessible formats, including film, book chapters, and various published/ copyrighted resources using the Library Resource Organizer (formerly "Reading List"): https://libguides.asu.edu/resource-organizer
More accessibility resources
- Student Accessibility and Inclusive Learning Services (SAILS): https://eoss.asu.edu/accessibility
- Faculty and Staff accessibility services: https://eoss.asu.edu/accessibility/faculty-staff
- Generate alt-text for images: https://teachonline.asu.edu/image-accessibility-generator/
- ASU's Introduction to Accessibility 30-minute Canvas course: https://canvas.asu.edu/enroll/R8MHY6
- Digital accessibility at ASU: https://accessibility.asu.edu/
- Creating accessible course content from Teach Access: https://teachaccess.org/resources/creating-accessible-course-content/
- ASU Learning Experience Accessibility quick tips and Ally: https://lx.asu.edu/accessibility
ASU Libraries - accessible course content
Not only do the ASU libraries provide services in collections, learning, and technology, but they also develop innovative solutions that support the learning goals of university faculty and students.
The Dean's Office highly recommends faculty connect with a librarian to source learning content that is accessible (per ADA standards) and free.
Using the Library Resource Organizer (LRO), librarians can assist faculty with creating a comprehensive list in your Canvas course of readings, videos, and media that aligns with learning objectives. They can also digitize just about any resource, even if it's out of print (including those dusty VHS tapes!) in accessible formats for students with common and unique learning needs. It's truly a wonderful and invaluable resource.