Accessibility 101 for Educational Institutions
Accessible systems help every student, not just those with disabilities. Help your students reach their full potential.
Real Students. Real Issues.
The computers in the school’s media center do not allow accessories to be plugged in, so a student who is blind cannot connect his Braille keypad to them.
An online learning portal uses automatically-generated captions on their videos, leaving a deaf student at a loss for words. Literally.
An email blast sent to parents from the PTA includes a link to a sign-up form that cannot be filled out using voice-recognition software.
Over the last 20 years Level Access has worked with countless educational institutions to ensure their websites, documents and mobile apps are accessible for their students, parents and staff.
The Legal Landscape
The Law: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
First passed: 1990
Last refreshed: 2008
Applies to:
Public K-12 schools (Title II)
Private K-12 schools (Title III)
Private & public colleges and universities (Title III)
Requires: Schools must provide accommodations for students with disabilities.
Read more about ADA Title II in our free whitepaper.
Read more about ADA Title III cases and settlements.
What is accessibility?
Digital accessibility refers to the ability of users with disabilities to effectively use information technology (IT) systems including websites, mobile or web-based applications, software, and hardware. Digital accessibility is generally concerned with ensuring that IT systems are designed in such a way that they interact appropriately with assistive technologies.
Assistive technologies can include:
Screen readers, Braille keypads, or screen magnification software so users who are blind or low vision can read your content.
Voice recognition software that helps those with mobility disabilities (even arthritis) navigate the web and type using only their voice.
Head pointers and switch devices that allow those with more limited movement navigate without using their hands or a traditional mouse.
Why Accessibility?
Some of our elders remember the days when a computer filled an entire room. Now, we have computers in our pockets. So many aspects of our lives are made easier by technology.
Yet, those with disabilities are often left out when hardware, software, websites, and apps are designed without a thought for their needs.
A tablet at the doctor’s office has a sign-in program that disables the pinch-to-zoom feature, making it impossible for a woman with low vision to fill out her medical history.
An online learning portal uses automatically-generated captions on their videos, leaving a deaf student at a loss for words. Literally.
A retail website does not include alt text on their product images, so a shopper who is blind cannot “see” what the images show about the laptop bag he wants to buy.
By some estimates, one in five people has a disability that affects their daily life. Having equal access to technology has a profound, enabling effect for people with disabilities.
