Accessibility Resources
Introduction
The Instructional Technology Resource Center (ITRC) Accessibility Resources have been created for the use of all ISU faculty members (and beyond) who wish to make their course content, documents, and materials accessible. Throughout this site, you will find links to easy-to-use guides, short video tutorials, news, and events concerning accessibility in education.
At ISU, we serve a diverse audience that relies increasingly on the Internet for many aspects of life. In today’s society, it is essential that we provide equal access and opportunity to all our users, including those with differing abilities. Integrating accessible materials into online courses can diminish and even remove barriers to information and interaction, critical to success for our faculty, students, and the general public.
If a student who needs captioning accommodations enrolls in your course(s), you will be notified by Disability Services and work with the ITRC Accessibility Specialist to caption the video content in your course(s). Use the Request Form to order closed captions for your video content.
For more information regarding Idaho State University's disabilities services and resources, contact the Disability Services Department located in the Rendezvous Complex Room 125 or call (208)-282-3599.
Accessibility Tools and Resources
Accessibility Checklists and Guides
- WebAIM.org: Provides accessibility checklists, web accessibility evaluation tools, and assistive technology simulations.
- Web Accessibility Toolkit: Defines accessibility, Universal Design, the Principles of an Accessible Institution, Technical Standards for Accessibility, and Social and Intellectual Standards.
- Color Contrast Checker: Finds correct color contrasts for web page accessibility.
Captioning
- DIY captioning tool - Kapwing
- How to caption your video using Kapwing.com (free cloud-based software)
- How to caption your video using Discript (cloud based software)
- Zoom - How to caption your Zoom video
- YouTube - How to caption your YouTube video
ISU Instructional Technology Resource Center (ITRC) Captioning Service The ITRC can provide assistance with the captioning of instructional materials. Please contact itrc@isu.edu or 208-282-5880 for more information.
File Conversion
- SensusAccess: is a self-service solution that automates the conversion of documents into a range of alternate formats including digital Braille, MP3 audio files, DAISY structured audio books, e-books and BeeLine Reader. The service is also used to remediate otherwise inaccessible documents such as image-only PDF files, scanned documents, pictures of text, LaTeX documents and Microsoft PowerPoint presentations into more accessible formats. For more information review SensusAccess Resrouces.
Google Docs
- Make your document or presentation more accessible
- Grackle Docs is an add-on that extends the accessibility of Google Docs by automatically checking all aspects of your document and advising you how to make things better.
Google Slides
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- Make your document or presentation more accessible
- Grackle Docs is an add-on that extends the accessibility of Google Docs by automatically checking all aspects of your document and advising you how to make things better.
Microsoft Word
- Creating Accessible Documents WebAIM
- Microsoft Word Accessible Documents
- Top Ways to Improve Word Doc Accessibility Video (4:54) (CC)
- Detailed Instructions for Making Your Word Doc Accessible
- Microsoft Word Evaluation Checklist
- Microsoft Word Doc Checker
- Creating Accessible Tables
Microsoft PowerPoint
- How to Create an Accessible Powerpoint Presentation Video (24:06) (CC)
- Best Practices for Creating Your Accessible PowerPoint Source TPGI
- PowerPoint Accessibility Checklist Source Rutgers University
Microsoft Excel
Moodle
- Accessibility+ Toolkit: improves accessibility by finding, fixing, and future-proofing accessibility errors in Moodle course content.
Portable Document Format (PDF)
- PDFs: Defining PDF Accessibility
- Converting Documents to PDFs
- Important Aspects of PDF Remediation by Evan Burnett of TPGi
- Creating PDFs in Acrobat
- Acrobat Tab in Office
- “Save As” PDF
- Accessible Forms in Acrobat
- PDF Accessibility Checker Source WebAim.org
YouTube Accessibility
Articles on Accessibility in Education
- Colleges Face Investigations Over Whether Their Use of Social Media Follows Accessibility Regulations
- Higher Ed Accessibility Lawsuits, Complaints, and Settlements (1998-2018 Laura L. Carlson)
- How to Create an Inclusive Classroom: Strategies for making learning more accessible for students with disabilities often make the classroom experience better for all students - Inside Higher Ed - February 27, 2018
- Legal Landscape Update: 2017 in Review by Level Access. A white paper on digital accessibility lawsuits filed in 2017.
- W3C's Video Introduction to Web Accessibility and W3C Standards is a great introduction to what accessibility is and why it's important.
- Web Accessibility Perspectives Videos: These short videos will help you understand the impact of accessibility and the benefits for everyone in a variety of situations.
- How Should Professors Respond When Students Ask for Accommodations