COVID-19 is causing us to move more and more of our information, communications, and operations online, so digital accessibility is more important than ever before.
As a community striving for greater access, inclusiveness, and diversity, it’s up to all of us to improve digital accessibility for everyone, including people with disabilities. When we do not apply accessible design principles and leave barriers in our content, we create opportunities for exclusion and inequity, which are counter to Rice’s V2C2 goals.
Take time this summer to learn more about improving digital access. As you prepare for the fall 2020 semester and beyond, be sure to integrate basic concepts of accessible design into your online learning materials, tasks, and assessments.
Check out these FREE learning resources on Digital Accessibility:
Free Courses/Learning Modules
- Accessibility Basics for Canvas Courses (Berkeley)
- Implementing UDL on Canvas
- SiteImprove Academy (multiple tracks, free during COVID)
- W3C Introduction to Web Accessibility (EdX, audit open until September 30)
Web Guides about the Low-Hanging Fruit of digital accessibility
- Headings – Headings Tutorial (W3C)
- Alt Text – Alt Text: Ultimate Guide (AxessLab)
- Color – Colors with Good Contrast (W3C)
- Link Purpose – Links on a Web Page (Penn State)
- Tables – Table Concepts (W3C)
- Closed Captions – Kaltura, Zoom Cloud, YouTube
These concepts don’t just apply to Canvas; they can be used broadly to the design of all kinds of web content and digital documents. And remember, accessibility is not about perfection, it’s about progress.
For more guidance, please contact the Digital Accessibility Coordinator:
- Email: a11y@rice.edu
- Phone: 713-348-6116
- Consultation: calendly.com/jw115
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