Employment and Disability Institute

1. www.edi.cornell.edu Employment and Disability Institute Web Accessibility Updates DBTAC – Northeast ADA Center 1.800.949.4232 Sharon Trerise

2. Topics • What exactly is “web accessibility”? • What are the current and future web accessibility concerns for Higher Ed • Legislative & policy updates • What can be done on your campus?

3. Demo What exactly is web accessibility?

4. Evaluating Accessibility(the basics) • Can all features on the page be operated using the keyboard only? • Do all important graphics have meaningful text descriptions? • Is all video captioned; all audio transcribed? • Is there good contrast between text and background colors?

5. Evaluating Accessibility • Is color alone being used to convey critical information? • Is the “cognitive load” of the page excessive? • Are all linked documents accessible for users of assistive technology? • If an alternative page format is provided, is all content available in both formats?

6. The Whole StoryUsability + Accessibility How does universal usability differ from accessibility? • Accessibility is concerned primarily with making the content and functionality of web sites accessible—within reach—to all users. • Universal usability goes one step further, striving to make the content and functionality accessible and usable by all. Source: UniversalUsability.com

7. User Testing of Online Admissions Application

8. Current & future web accessibility concerns for Higher education

9. Current Challenges • Online transactions • Admissions application • Course registration • Banner, PeopleSoft, Portals

10. Current Challenges • Online learning • Content Management System (Blackboard, Angel, etc.) • Discussion Board, Whiteboard, Chat • Instructor-provided content • Videos • Documents (MS Word, PDF, PowerPoint, other) • References to other web-based resources • Quizzes, Exams • Web 2.0 tools (Prezi)

11. Current Challenges • Online tools and applications • eg. MyMathLab, MyStatLab (Pearson’s CourseCompass) • iTunesU, YouTube • Placement testing; Competency testing • LMS Alternatives • 7 Things You Should Know about LMS Alternatives, Educause Learning Initiative, July 2010 • http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7062.pdf

12. Federal, State & Campus Legislative & policy updates

13. Federal Section 504 of Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ADA of 1990: Title II Before the internet was in widespread use History of legal proceedings http://webaim.org/articles/laws/usa/ada

14. Office for Civil Rights The issue is not whether the student with the disability is merely provided with access, but rather the extent to which the communication is actually as effective as that provided to others (http://www.athenpro.org/node/54) Case involving Calif. Community Colleges • “Effective communication” requirement applies to the Internet. • Institutions that use the internet for communication regarding programs, goods and services must make that information accessible

15. Office for Civil Rights It’s About Information • Exchange of information is fundamental to education • Denial of equally effective opportunity to gain information made available to students generally is a denial of equal educational opportunity • Using technology to exchange information doesn’t lessen the need to ensure access

16. OCR experience • California (1996…) • A Community Colleges • http://www.icdri.org/legal/ocrsurltr.htm • http://www.htctu.net/publications/guidelines/distance_ed/disted.htm • State University • Accessible Technology Initiative http://www.calstate.edu/accessibility/ • PA State University (2010) • http://www.nfb.org/nfb/NewsBot.asp?ID=702&MODE=VIEW

17. ADA Advance Noticeof Proposed Rule Making • Department of Justice - providing advance notice that it is considering revising the regulations implementing Titles II and III of the ADA to establish specific requirements for State and local government entities and places of public accommodation to make their websites accessible to individuals with disabilities. • http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=DOJ-CRT-2010-0005-0001 • Comment deadline January, 2011 • More info: Trace Center, http://508-255-refresh.trace.wisc.edu/

18. Section 508 of the Rehab. Act • Establishes standards for web accessibility and other electronic & information technology • Applies only to Federal agencies • Minimum standards • Adopted by many other organizations

19. New York State • Revised New York State Policy, NYS-P08-005, Accessibility of Web Based Information & Applications • Effective date May 17, 2010 • http://www.cio.ny.gov/Policy/NYS-P08-005.pdf • The revised Policy requires compliance with Federal law, Section 508 Subpart B, section 1194.22 and Subpart C, section 1194.31 • http://www.section508.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=content&ID=12#Web • SUNY’s position

20. Campus • CUNY - November 2002: In designing the cuny.edu website, The City University of New York affirms its commitment to making web-based, electronic content accessible to everyone who uses our site. http://www.cuny.edu/website/accessibility.html • Adopt NYS-P08-005?

21. What can your campus do? • Create a Web Accessibility Committee • Policy? • Provide ongoing training for web designers • Create an ongoing process for evaluating content • “user/usability testing” • Campus website* • Online learning • Purchasing Resource: www.webaccesstoolkit.org

22. What can your campus do? • Establish standards, create templates • Provide training & resources for faculty and instructional designers • Create processes for handling technical challenges (eg. captioning video) • Provide a vetting process for new technologies • Work toward Universal Design • Campus website • Online learning* • Purchasing Resource: CSU Professional Development for Accessible Technology teachingcommons.cdl.edu/access

23. Captioning Resources • Automatic Sync • www.automaticsync.com • MAGpie by NCAM at WGBH • http://ncam.wgbh.org/invent_build/web_multimedia/tools-guidelines/magpie • Guidelines for creating captions and audio descriptions • NCAM & Apple (PDF): “Creating Accessible iTunesU Content” • STAMP (Sub-titling text Add-in for PowerPoint) • http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/powerpoint-help/sub-titling-add-in-for-microsoft-powerpoint-stamp-HA102540315.aspx

24. STEM Content • Faculty may not be familiar with tools for creating accessible science & math content • MathType • Scientific Notebook • Conversion to MathML

25. Resources CUNY CATS: http://198.83.121.180/Resources.html Universal Design: Handouts and Documents • Accessible Word Documents.pdf • Checklist for a Universally Designed Syllabus.pdf • Checklist for Universal Design of Tests.pdf • Departmental Accessibility Resource Coordinator.pdf • Procurement Tips.pdf • Top 10 Tips for Universal Design in the Classroom.pdf • Universal Design in Education.pdf • Writing Equivalent Text Descriptions.pdf Technology in the Classroom (http://198.83.121.180/DisabilityTips/TechnologyintheClassroom.html)

26. What can your campus do? • Add language to all vendor contracts • Develop a process for evaluating vendor compliance • Work with vendors of current technologies to bring them into compliance • Campus website • Online learning • Procurement* Resources: CSU Prof. Devel. for Accessible Technology teachingcommons.cdl.edu/access/tech/index.shtml

27. Resources • Procurement language: NYS Web Accessibility Policy • http://www.cio.ny.gov/Policy/NYS-P08-005.pdf • W3C Web Accessibility Initiative: Contacting organizations about inaccessible web content • http://www.w3.org/WAI/users/inaccessible

28. Full campus effort is needed Hello all,Saw this in the Campus Technology online magazine this afternoon about Yale University to adopt Google Apps for the institution.http://campustechnology.com/articles/2011/04/19/yale-begins-move-to-to-google-apps.aspxI wonder if they have ever met the NFB?  Hmmm - no matter, I am sure everyone will be on a first name basis soon...Take care,SeanSean KeeganAssociate Director, Assistive TechnologyOffice of Accessible Education - Stanford Universityhttp://studentaffairs.stanford.edu/oae Source: ATHEN listserv

29. Disability and Business Technical Assistance CenterNortheast ADA Center ILR - Employment and Disability InstituteCornell University201L Dolgen HallIthaca, NY  14853800.949.4232 in NY, NJ, PR, VIwww.dbtacnortheast.orgdbtacnortheast@cornell.edu