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What is Digital Accessibility?
Digital accessibility is crucial in ensuring that all learners, including those with disabilities, can fully engage with online educational content. By making your materials accessible, you not only create a more inclusive learning environment but also improve learning outcomes for everyone. Accessible practices go beyond compliance with legal standards like the ADA and Section 508—they reflect a commitment to equity, professionalism, and the diverse needs of adult learners. As educators, adopting these practices allows you to better support all learning styles, reach a broader audience, and empower every student to succeed.
Digital Accessibility Guidelines: Comprehensive Spreadsheet
To support educators in implementing accessible practices, we have created a Spreadsheet of Digital Accessibility Guidelines that covers a range of formats. This tool is designed to be a comprehensive resource, offering detailed guidelines that ensure your content is accessible to all learners. Here’s what it includes:
General Guidelines: Best practices for structuring content, color contrast, and text readability that apply to any digital format.
Documents: Tips on creating accessible text documents, ensuring proper heading structure, alt text for images, and readable fonts.
PowerPoints: Guidance on making presentations accessible, including slide layout, color use, and adding captions or transcripts for multimedia.
PDFs: Specific instructions on tagging, structuring, and converting PDFs to ensure accessibility.
This Spreadsheet is ideal for those who want a step-by-step reference while creating educational materials. You can download or keep it handy as you design content, ensuring you meet digital accessibility standards every time. If you need support in navigating the spreadsheet, see our Tip Sheet (above), or schedule a Tech Implementation and Support Session with a Digital ATDN Specialist.
Digital Accessibility at Your Fingertips: The Glide App
For educators who prefer a more streamlined, searchable resource, we have developed a Glide app based on the same digital accessibility guidelines found in the Spreadsheet. The app is designed to provide quick, on-the-go access to essential guidelines, allowing you to find the information you need without having to sort through a full document.
Searchable Format: Whether you're working on a Document, PowerPoint, or PDF, simply type in a keyword, and the app will bring up the relevant accessibility guidelines instantly.
User-Friendly Interface: The app is organized by category—General Guidelines, Documents, PowerPoints, and PDFs—so you can easily navigate to the section you need.
Resource for All Educators: This app is ideal for busy educators who want to ensure their materials are accessible but may not have time to reference a full guide. It's all about convenience and speed.
The Glide app makes accessibility practices more manageable, helping you stay compliant and inclusive with minimal effort. You can access the app from any device, making it a flexible tool for educators on the go.
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