The 21st of May is the Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). This annual event highlights the importance of digital accessibility and inclusion. GAAD promotes the principle that everyone, regardless of their physical, sensory, or cognitive abilities, should have equal access to technology and digital content.
We are taking this opportunity to promote and remind staff about their responsibilities with regards to creating accessible online resources, and to reintroduce some helpful tools that can be used in the process to assist learners.
It’s about giving everyone an equal opportunity to succeed.
Accessibility is not optional or “nice to have”, it is a legal requirement and a necessity in today’s digital landscape. By embracing it, you can create a more welcoming and supportive learning environment that benefits all learners.
C.H.I.L.L
Colour & Contrast. Headings & Content. Images. Links. Language.
A great place to start is by watching our video below, in which we cover five crucial accessibility principles and things you should consider when creating accessible resources:
Having C.H.I.L.L in mind when creating new or updating old resources will help you make accessible and easy to navigate content.
Microsoft’s Accessibility Checker
As mentioned in the C.H.I.L.L video, Microsoft 365 has an Accessibility Checker built in to help you make your resources accessible. It is available in Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and OneNote, among others. The Accessibility Checker scans the resource for potential accessibility issues, such as missing alternative text for images, bad heading structure, unclear slide reading order, hard to read text, and more. You can find out how to use the tool in our Accessibility Checker blog.
Not following the C.H.I.L.L Principles, or using the Accessibility Checker, can make it more difficult for learners to access course materials and be successful in their studies.
Accessibility Essentials
As part of your CPD, we encourage you to complete our Accessibility Essentials course, which is a part of our Digital Learning Essentials Pathway. The training is designed to equip new and old staff with the necessary skills to create accessible resources and check the accessibility of older online content.
This training course covers:
- The C.H.I.L.L Accessibility Principles.
- How to check the accessibility of resources.
- How to implement changes to make resources accessible.
- Different accessibility tools.
Tools for Learners
Not all learners declare if and when they have a support need, so, alongside making all your teaching materials accessible, you should actively promote the tools learners can use to support themselves. There is a wealth of options available in Microsoft 365 apps, Teams, and LearnZone. Follow the links below to find out more:
- Immersive Reader.
- Dictate and Transcribe.
- Read Aloud.
- Blackboard Ally: Alternative Formats (in LearnZone).
- Transcripts & Live Captions in Teams Meetings.
- Wayground Accommodations – Make your quizzes and learning activities more accessible for all students.
The Student Helpdesk has a dedicated Accessibility section. It is also linked on the Student Dashboard and at the bottom of LearnZone under the “Help & Support” icon.
Watch the video below, from the UK Microsoft expert team, on five of the best accessibility features in Microsoft 365:
GAAD highlights the importance of digital accessibility and inclusion. As educators, it’s essential to embrace accessibility and create teaching materials and learning environments that support all students, regardless of their abilities or impairments.
If you’d like to continue developing your understanding of accessibility and explore the range of tools available, check out more of our other accessibility blogs here.
Help and Support
As always, contact the Digital Learning Team for more information, guidance, and support. You can also book a coaching session here: Digital Learning Coaching.