Improving Accessibility in Online Courses
Published by Sharon Jumper
Online education makes it possible to for many people to learn new skills, improve their existing skills, or complete degrees and certifications. Whether a course is online due to convenience, contingency planning (like the current COVID-19 Coronavirus situation), or scheduled part of an academic program of study, it should be designed with accessibility in mind to ensure a meaningful and enriching student user experience. If the course is paid for in whole or in part through federal funding (like government-subsidized financial aid or grants), it MUST be fully accessible. The government has recently settled very large lawsuits related to inaccessible online content with Harvard University, University of California - Berkeley, and Massachussetts Institute of Technology. There actually is a very lengthy list of other recent court cases related to Higher Ed Accessibility Lawsuits, Complaints, and Settlements.
What is “accessible” online content?
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act require that online course content be designed in such a manner to accessible to all learners. Under U.S. law,
"Accessible" means a person with a disability is afforded the opportunity to acquire the same information, engage in the same interactions, and enjoy the same services as a person without a disability in an equally effective and equally integrated manner, with substantially equivalent ease of use. The person with a disability must be able to obtain the information as fully, equally, and independently as a person without a disability (U.S. Department of Education, Office of Compliance Review, 2013, South Carolina Technical College System
OCR Compliance Review No. 11-11-6002).
Common problems of accessibility in online courses include:
Lack of closed-captioning for videos
Lack of live captioning for live streaming events (like synchronous lectures via Zoom or other teleconference platforms)
Lack of transcripts for audio content
Lack of alternative image descriptions on web content or presentation slides
Improper use of color, fonts, or visual elements
Improper formatting of hyperlinks
Inclusion of text or documents that are not searchable
Here are some resources that can provide guidance on accessibility issues:
ADA Compliance for Online Course Design
Higher Education Accessibility Online Resource Center
Legal Cases by Issue: Accessible Technology
Website Accessibility & the Law: Why Your Website Must Be Compliant
Need more help?
The Epic Learning Team offers several courses and has several experts in instructional design that can provide training or contractual-based assistance. Peruse our courses in education and instructional design or email me to discuss your needs and get a quote for services.