Skip to content

"Fully-Accessible, 508-Compliant, Online Courses!

E-mail us with your requirements

Courses Offered:

• Business Planning Webinar Series for Entrepreneurs with Disabilities

• Designing Accessible Information and Communication Technology Series

  • Marketing Managers

  • Designers, Programmers, Developers and Engineers

  • Product Managers

• Global Business Benefits of Designing Accessible Information and Communication Technology

• Electronic Curbcuts

Benefits of Accessibly-Designed Online Courses:

Web-based instruction has the potential to reach individuals worldwide. However, many individuals and instructors are excluded when accessibility barriers are not considered during course design. For example:

• An individual who is blind may not be able to interpret graphics.

• An individual who has a hearing impairment may not be able to hear sounds from audio clips.

• Individuals who have learning disabilities or limited vision may have difficulty navigating online material that is cluttered or poorly organized.

• Individuals with a mobility impairment may not be able to fill out a Web-based form if it is not keyboard accessible.

• Learners who have seizure disorders might not be able to view flickering presentations safely.

Fully accessible Web-based courses significantly minimizes the impact of these barriers. They also benefit participants who have situational limitations. For example, a student with an individual with a slow Internet connection, or older computer, may have trouble downloading large files or running multimedia applications. An individual without speakers may not be able to hear audio or video narration. Providing meaningful alternatives benefits to individuals with disabilities (and everyone else!) improves the quality of online education.

Legal Issues:

The federal laws often referred to as "504," "508," and "ADA" protect people with disabilities from discrimination, and promote equal access for them. But how do the laws affect Web-based instruction, and your responsibility and liability as an online instructor? This section describes how these laws may impact the management and delivery of Web-based learning materials, as interpreted by various experts in the field. It is a general overview, and should not be interpreted as legal advice. 

504, 508, ADA, and Other Laws:

Several federal laws address accessibility and protect the rights of persons with disabilities. This section describes those that are most important to Web-based education.

• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (1973) requires all employers and organizations receiving federal assistance—including most universities—to provide people with disabilities equal access to information, programs, activities, and services.

• The 1998 Amendment to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act does not directly apply to universities, but it does mandate specific conditions for Internet and Web accessibility that are used as guidelines in designing and creating federal agency Web sites.

• The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (1990) applies the same general principle as Section 504—equal opportunity to participate in programs and services—but extends the reach to private organizations and any state or local entities not covered under Section 504.

• Other laws, including Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and the Assistive Technology Act (1998), or "ATA," may also impact Web-based instruction, and how institutions may use federal monies.

Understanding Accessibility:

All too often individuals with disabilities are confronted with problems when trying to access online course materials and/or fully-participating in live online distance-learning courses.

We use the term "accessible online courses" to mean that we have taken every step possible to ensure that individuals with disabilities are able to learn and participate as effectively when taking our online courses as every other student

Accessible Design and Good Teaching Practices:

Do fully accessible online courses eliminate additional accommodations that may be required by students with disabilities? No. In many situations, accommodation needs may arise after a student with a disability enrolls in a course. Accessible design requires that you consider all types of disabilities when designing online courses and course materials, but it does not remove the likelihood that further accommodations will be needed during the course itself.

Because accessibility is part of both the planning and implementation of web-based online courses, it is important that accessibility be kept in mind.

Making accessibility a strong element in the design of our learning materials and in our teaching practices significantly enhance the quality of our online courses.

Reference: Accessibility in Distance Education: A Resource for Faculty in Online Teaching

Copyright © 2002-2010 IDEAL Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

 This website was last updated on .