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Accessibility
What is accessibility?The ADA has a three-part definition of disability, which, based on the definition under the Rehabilitation Act, reflects the specific types of discrimination experienced by people with disabilities. Accordingly, it is not the same as the definition of disability un other laws, such as state workers' compensation laws or other federal or state laws that provide benegits for people with disabilities and disabled veterans.
According to the ADA, an individual with disabilities is a person who:
How will the Americans with Disabilites Act affect my course?has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; has a record of such an impairment; is regarded as having such an impairment.
ADA will effect everyone's courses. Just as your classes in the physical classroom must be ADA compliant, so must your online courses. This is very easy to do, especially if you start from the beginning. SFA's Director of Disability Services, Chuch Lopez, recommends that when you are creating a page or lesson for your course that you save it as a text file. Then, go back and add the "bells and whistles". When creating a course, some things to keep in mind are:
Please note that the enforcement of Section 508, which ensures that technology is accessible, begins as of June 21, 2001. To learn more about the specifics behind Section 508, you can visit the U.S. Access Board, the Department of Justice, SFA Disability Services, SFA's Policies and Procedures Manual regarding compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act or e-mail Chuck Lopez.ALT tags for images Transcripts for audio and video Consistent headings and page organization Tables that are legible Contrast and color Font style and size
IBM
has developed a great site that gives you good ideas about how to make
your course more accessible. Microsoft
will give you instructions about how to install the accessibility component
of Windows 98.
