Accessibility Definitions & Best Practices
Accessibility Conventions
Besides evaluating and considering the quality of OER materials, it is also important to adopt and develop Open Educational Materials that are accessible for learners with a wide range of abilities from diverse backgrounds.
The BC OpenCampus Accessibility Toolkit describes that an accessible text includes factors such as logical organization, tagged images, transcribed media, and more.
Using Inclusive Language and Disability Etiquette
Using the right language will engage a broader audience. Don’t use language that a person with disability would find offensive. A Progressive's Style Guide explains the importance of combining language and inclusivity:
Language is a key ingredient in a winning theory of change. Language can build bridges and change minds. By acknowledging the ability of language to shape and reflect reality, progressive campaigns can become more powerful vehicles for social change, inclusion, and justice. In fact, understanding and applying the authentic language of the individuals and communities with whom we work can be a revolutionary act in itself. – A Progressive’s Style Guide, Sum of Us
The links below provide faculty with resources to help them address their students' needs.
-
A Progressive’s Style Guide, Sum of Us A Progressive's Style Guide, created by Sum of Us intends to decolonize language usage and promote up-to-date word choice and phrasing for current theory of change directions.
-
Accessibility Toolkit – 2nd Edition The Accessibility Toolkit, now in its second edition, provides resources for content creators, instructional designers, faculty, and more with necessary tools for creating accessible open textbooks.
-
WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool Web Accessibility Evaluation or WAVE is a suite of evaluation tools developed to help creators make their web content more accessible to individuals with disabilities. WAVE can identify many accessibility errors, but can also facilitate human evaluation of web content. This is valuable when evaluating OER web objects during the curation process and/or during accessibility checks. The tools were developed by WebAIM at Utah State University.
Universal Design
Accessibility Conventions
Besides evaluating and considering the quality of OER materials, it is also important to adopt and develop Open Educational Materials that are accessible for learners with a wide range of abilities from diverse backgrounds.
The BC OpenCampus Accessibility Toolkit describes that an accessible text includes factors such as logical organization, tagged images, transcribed media, and more.
Using Inclusive Language and Disability Etiquette
Using the right language will engage a broader audience. Don’t use language that a person with disability would find offensive. A Progressive's Style Guide explains the importance of combining language and inclusivity:
Language is a key ingredient in a winning theory of change. Language can build bridges and change minds. By acknowledging the ability of language to shape and reflect reality, progressive campaigns can become more powerful vehicles for social change, inclusion, and justice. In fact, understanding and applying the authentic language of the individuals and communities with whom we work can be a revolutionary act in itself. – A Progressive’s Style Guide, Sum of Us
The links below provide faculty with resources to help them address their students' needs.
-
A Progressive’s Style Guide, Sum of Us A Progressive's Style Guide, created by Sum of Us intends to decolonize language usage and promote up-to-date word choice and phrasing for current theory of change directions.
-
Accessibility Toolkit – 2nd Edition The Accessibility Toolkit, now in its second edition, provides resources for content creators, instructional designers, faculty, and more with necessary tools for creating accessible open textbooks.
-
WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool Web Accessibility Evaluation or WAVE is a suite of evaluation tools developed to help creators make their web content more accessible to individuals with disabilities. WAVE can identify many accessibility errors, but can also facilitate human evaluation of web content. This is valuable when evaluating OER web objects during the curation process and/or during accessibility checks. The tools were developed by WebAIM at Utah State University.
-
The Web Accessibility Initiative This page from the Web Accessibility Initiative provides information about creating and hosting accessible content online.