Accessibility Summer CampVirtual ConferenceJune 19, 2020 11amWSU Tech

The Why & How of Web-Based Accessibility Training for

Students

Heather M. Merchant, M.S.Educational Accessibility TechnologistWichita State University

Session Description& Goals

Session Description:

With the goal of providing accessible courses and materials to students, we often focus the discussion and training on faculty and instructors. However, students learning materials and course information do not only come from these sources. Students are often the creators of course content in the form of projects, presentations, and displays. Many instructors do not have the time within their course, or perhaps the skills, for adequately teaching accessibility to their students. Developing a web-based, multiple-course training tool allows instructors to provide the specific training needed to their students, without placing a time-consuming task upon the instructors.

Session Goals:

Session attendees will learn the importance of students being able to produce accessible course work and presentations and how to determine which type and level of accessibility skills they will need. In addition, attendees will learn how to develop student accessibility training and how to use the Kansas Accessibility Resource Network.

Overview• Why Students Should Learn Accessibility

• Accessibility Skills Students Need

• Providing Accessibility Training to Students

• How the Kansas Accessibility Resource Network can help

• Developing Your Own Institutional Web-Based Training

Why should students learn accessibility?

Legality

• What defines an instructor?• Office for Civil Rights consent

decrees dealing with accessibility• “all individuals who provide course-

related instruction to….students…”

• Student speeches, presentations, videos, and documents presented to or shared with classmates could be subject to accessibility standards.

• Wichita State policy:• “Any educational materials or content

that is required, or optional, or for enrichment for any WSU students will be accessible or an equally effective alternate access will be provided.”

Skills

• Demand for accessibility awareness and skills in industry is growing

• Resume building

• Prepares students to create quality products everyone can use

Inclusiveness / Best Practice

• Teaches consideration for others • Individuals with disabilities are not limited to students

• Instructors with disabilities

Accessibility skills students need

Determining needed skills

• Don’t need to be an accessibility expert

• Don’t need to know how to make everything accessible

• Determined by the subject matter, assignments, and presentations

• Least likely - remediation skills

• Example 1: In-person, class presentation on a research project

• Slides• Face-to-Face Presentations

• Example 2: On-line, class presentation, documentary video

• Video / Audio• Maybe Face-to-Face Presentations

Basic skills needed per topic• Digital documents

• Alt text• Formatting / headers, tables, etc• Color contrast

• Print documents / Handouts• Text size• Color Contrast

• Slides• Alt text• Formatting• Color Contrast• Unique slide titles

• Video / Audio• Captions• Video description

• Face-to-Face Presentations• Text size (slides or on board)• Use a microphone• Provide handouts of important

information• Face your audience• Repeat questions before answering• Verbally explain visual information

• Online Presentations• Provide materials before the

presentation• Captions if possible• Describe visual elements verbally

Providing accessibility training to students

Shouldn’t instructors teach their students accessibility?• Courses do not have enough time to

include accessibility training within them• Could become redundant for students

• Instructors may not have the time nor the skills to develop and provide the needed training

• Review of Teach Access member schools• Less than 3% of courses include

accessibility

Create web-based trainings

• Removes the burden of providing accessibility training to students from faculty

• Students do not need to repeat training they have already completed

• Students can retake to refresh skills when needed

• Accessibility Courses can easily be updated

• Accessibility Courses can be added as specific course needs are identified

How the Kansas Accessibility Resources Network can help

What is KSARN?

• Accessibility initiative of Wichita State University in partnership with Kansas State University, Johnson County Community College, Butler Community College, & Cowley County Community College

• Created to help train students in accessible content creation and distribution.

Who can use KSARN?

•Everyone!

• Students at any college or university

• Grown to include courses for instructors and staff

• Just create an account!

What does KSARN offer?

• Topics for students, instructors, and staff for both online and face-to-face situations

• Courses take no more than an hour to complete

• 85% or higher on the quiz earns you a digital badge credential

• Add to emails and resumes

Developing your own institutional web-based training

Why web-based?

• It’s an online world – especially now

• Convenience

• Always available – great for refreshers

• Cost-saving

• Students can learn at their own pace

Online options

Use KSARN

Website or Wordpress site

Series of courses built within an LMS such as Blackboard

Series of hosted videos (YouTube, Vimeo)

Brainshark / Panopto videos with quizzes embedded

Organization of training topics

• By production type: slides, digital document, presentation, etc.

• By skill: alt text, captions, contrast, etc.

• By course: historical geology, Calculus 3, etc.

• By department: art, geology, math, etc.

• Determine what will best fit your institution and students.

Conclusion• Yes, students need accessibility training, which may be legally required, and provides

them with industry-needed skills.

• Students don’t need to become accessibility experts and may not need to complete every training available to them.

• A web-based, asynchronous training platform will take the burden off the instructors and provide students with on-demand courses when needed.

• KSARN provides this training free to anyone.

• Institutions can create their own student accessibility trainings using a variety of platforms available to them.

References & KSARN Courses Available

• KSARN• Higher Ed Accessibility

Lawsuits, Complaints, and Settlements

• Teach Access

• Images courtesy of:• Accessibility

Summer Camp• KSARN• Pixabay

Accessibility Courses Well-Suited to Students:

• Impairment Awareness

• Accessible Face-to-Face Presentations

• Creating Accessible Digital Documents

• Creating Accessible Video (for Students)

• Accessible Conference Presentations

Accessibility Courses Well-Suited to Educators, Educational Staff, Public and Private Sector Employees:

• Impairment Awareness

• Accessible Face-to-Face Presentations

• Accessible Online Presentations

• Creating Accessible Digital Documents

• Creating Accessible Video (for Instructors and Staff)

• Accessible Conference Presentations

• Introduction to Web Accessibility

• Assistive Technology Basics

• Remediating Documents for Accessibility

Questions?heather.merchant@wichita.edu