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Introduction to Online Course Accessibility

Handouts

Presented at 9:00am in Standley II Lab on Tuesday, November 13, 2018.

#17899

Speaker(s)

  • Joseph Feria-Galicia, Accessibility Team Lead, UC Berkeley
  • Lucy Greco, Web Accessibility Evangelist, UC Berkeley
  • Ryan DiGiondomenico, Senior Manager of Design, Development, & Accessibility, UC Berkeley

Session Details

  • Length of Session: 5-6-hr
  • Format: Lab
  • Expertise Level: Beginner
  • Type of session: Pre-conference

Summary

This workshop provides an introduction to online course accessibility. Reasons for building and maintaining accessible courses are contextualized, explained and demonstrated from both a student and an institutional perspective. Emphasis is given to the use and evaluation of features within a Learning Management System (LMS).

Abstract

Participants in this workshop gain access to a UC Berkeley online course within the Canvas LMS and learn to create accessible course content and downloadable files using templates that are pre-formatted for accessibility. Learning Objectives 1. Understand the importance and impact of accessible course design and instructional media. 2. Demonstrate basic proficiency in the creation and delivery of accessible content within a learning management system (LMS) to meet a variety of student learning styles and instructional needs 3. Utilize accessible Word and PowerPoint templates in designing and disseminating accessible online course content. Format This workshop utilizes multiple format types including whole group lectures and demonstrations, small group discussions, and hands-on activities for individuals or groups to apply new knowledge and skills. Additionally, participants are given access to an online course where they can engage, create and evaluate online content.

Keypoints

  1. Understand the importance and impact of accessible course design and instructional media.
  2. Demonstrate basic proficiency in the creation and delivery of accessible content within and LMS.
  3. Utilize accessible Word and PowerPoint templates in designing and disseminating accessible online content.

Disability Areas

All Areas

Topic Areas

Accessible Course Design, Alternate Format, Uncategorized

Speaker Bio(s)

Joseph Feria-Galicia

As the Accessibility Team Lead with Research Teaching and Learning at UC Berkeley, Joe promotes the creation of accessible instructional materials that provide access to online content for all users. He contextualizes this role within a civil rights lens impacting historically excluded communities. Joe enjoys family outings, long walks, mountain biking, and watching the NBA in his free time.

Lucy Greco

Lucy Greco has been blind since birth. She first started using computers in 1985. Lucy has always felt that computers gave her an advantage while in college that many blind people did not have before that. Having a computer throughout college meant that she never had to get an extension on a paper or have somebody else re-write the paper so her professor could read it.

Using various forms of assistive technology (such as a scanner using optical character recognition), Lucy realized the potential for technology to include people with disabilities in everyday activities. Upon graduating from college, instead of continuing her interest in literature and physical therapy, Lucy became an accessible technology specialist.

Since then, people have come to Lucy asking questions, such as:

How can I experience email as a blind person? How can I experience using a word processor as a person who can't use his/her hands? Lucy’s passion drove her to find the answers to these questions and more. In 2005, Lucy joined the UC Berkeley Disabled Students Program as the Assistive Technology Specialist. For eight years she consulted with hundreds of UC Berkeley students on what the best technology for a person with a disability was and how a person with a disability can use required technology. In 2012, Lucy joined IST as the campus Web Accessibility Evangelist, and now leads the Electronic Accessibility Committee (EAC) (link is external).

Ryan DiGiondomenico

Ryan is the Senior Manager for Design, Development, and Accessibility at UC Berkeley Extension and is a passionate advocate for the equal access of all users. He earned his Master’s in Instructional Technology from Bloomsburg University and has been working in Instructional Design for the past 10 years. Since 2014, he has been in a position to help guide accessible course design at UC Berkeley.

Handout(s)