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Accessibility
Accessibility is both a legal issue, and a human one. On one hand, there are laws in place that require educational providers to create materials such as websites, informational documents, and technology tools that are accessible to all students, or else risk being fined or sued. Accessibility, however, is also an important human issue that entails granting all students the same access needed to succeed in higher education.
Accessibility is essential for developers and organizations that want to create high quality websites and web tools, and not exclude people from using their products and services (W3C, 2021).
To ensure quality digital learning is accessible for everyone, extra steps must be taken to ensure that the following have been designed in a manner that allows all students, instructors, and staff the ability to use them, regardless of ability level:
- course materials,
- learning management systems,
- software,
- websites,
- social media, and
- other digital and interactive tools.
WCET Resources
WCET Events
Lessons Learned on the Journey Through a Website Accessibility Audit
12
Apr 2023
This webcast is hosted in partnership with NWHeat. WCET, a leader in the practice, policy, and advocacy of digital learning in higher education, recently partnered with WebAIM (Web Accessibility In Mind), to conduct a comprehensive website review for accessibility...
Accessibility in the New Normal of Online/Remote Course Delivery
11
Jun 2020
During the spring of 2020, education experienced a swift conversion of face-to-face courses to online and remote formats to complete the Spring 2020 terms. Consequently, some support services to students were missed or incomplete to deliver course content. As...
Web Accessibility: Trick or Treat?
31
Oct 2018
As a part of “The Year of Accessibility,” OLC and WCET collaborated to bring our communities resources on the topic of accessibility. Since the Department of Justice and the Office for Civil Rights released the joint “Dear Colleague” letter...
Accessibility in Courses and Services: The Exploration Begins
20
Mar 2018
In 2018, OLC and WCET explored several issues on which they could partner to better serve our membership communities. Assuring the accessibility in courses, websites, student services, and all communications rose to the top as many are still confused as to...
Enabling Accessibility in Learning Technology
16
Mar 2017
WCET and the IMS Global Learning Consortium Accessibility Community of Practice held a webinar to explore the challenges and opportunities for standards-based accessibility work. Accessibility is a complex topic that has long been a focus of institutions and organizations...