a11y (digital accessibility)

This article explores the barriers blind students encounter when accessing learning content online. Some of their findings include images lacking alternative text, math content presented as images, inaccessible tables, and buttons without labels. The article also highlights accessibility barriers present in video games too. Please check out the full article for more information. #accessibility

This WebAIM article highlights why accessible reflow is important when content is magnified. It is very difficult to read content if it is consistently cut off and requires additional side-scrolling. Responsive reflow helps ensure content is not cut off when it is magnified. Please check out the full article for more information. #accessibility

Lainey Feingold’s article highlights how project 2025 will negatively impact people with disabilities and can set back the disability rights movement. Please check out her post for all the details. #accessibility

This article highlights the importance of using plain language to convey digital accessibility strategies. It also provides a link to different resources including a manual accessibility testing checklist for documents. #accessibility

This journal article explores the barriers related to virtual and hybrid events. It also provides accessibility guidance such as being proactive and understanding the needs of the attendees and presenters. Specific digital accessibility strategies are highlighted like ensuring the hosting platform is accessible, providing captions/transcription, and ensuring presentation files are provided in an accessible format. #accessibility

Has anyone tried Grackle Go? It is a new online PDF accessibility checker that I believe is free. I plan to explore it more next week. I wonder how it compares to PAC and Adobe. #accessibility

Just noting that the WCAG domain is owned by eSSENTIAL and not the W3C. This W3C article provides guidance on important accessibility items for content authors like page titles, alternative text, heading structure, and descriptive links. #accessibility

This journal article explores UDL strategies in a higher education learning environment by interviewing faculty members. The findings suggest that it is very important for faculty and instructional designers to cultivate partnerships and standardize UDL implementation across courses. Faculty members also expressed being resistant to UDL strategies because of limited, time, and institutional priorities, and reliance on an accommodations-based model. #accessibilty

June 28, 2025, is when the European Accessibility Act will take effect. This will require countries to check the accessibility of their digital content, ensure it is accessible, and provide a way to report any accessibility issues. This should lead to more accessible digital books that meet WCAG 2.0 or EPUB 3 standards in the European Union. Hopefully, the impact of this act will extend across the world and lead to more accessible digital content. #accessibility

This article highlights how gamification can be used to teach educators about how to incorporate digital accessibility strategies. They used a flipped classroom model, points, badging, and encouraging different winners to support learners as they progressed through the different digital accessibility modules. Most learners expressed increased satisfaction and engagement because of the gamification strategies. Check out the full article for more details. #accessibility

Adrian Roselli provides a lot of helpful tips on this podcast to help people create accessible web content. He highlights accessibility strategies like ensuring an easy-to-read color contrast ratio, using programmatic headings, and alternative text, and how testing with the keyboard is a good first step for web and mobile content. Check out the full interview for more information. #accessibility

This article gathers feedback from 11 VR and digital accessibility experts. It explores how the metaverse needs to develop to be accessible and inclusive. This requires compatibility with assistive technologies, navigating different environments seamlessly, ensuring privacy, and creating VR environments that incorporate universal design principles. #accessibility

This article provides insights from educators about how digital accessibility knowledge and responsibility are shared in higher education. Recommendations include extending digital accessibility training beyond individual champions and leveraging communities of practice to share knowledge. Also, to encourage self-directed learning and interdisciplinary employees to take ownership and promote digital accessibility strategies. #accessibility

This article highlights creating accessible headings using JavaScript and possible use cases. #accessibility

This article highlights how integrating UDL principles and educational technologies into the classroom led to students feeling a greater sense of belonging in the classroom. This is why providing an engaging online discussion platform, recordings of lectures, and flexible assignments are important attributes to consider. #accessibility

Fortunately, The Los Angeles Community College District did not appeal the decision to the Supreme Court. However, in the future, a case relating to the ADA may come to the Supreme Court, which will decide if the ADA applies to unintentional discrimination. Also, the Chevron Decision may lead to the ADA's new rule imposing the WCAG 2.1 Standard being invalid. This is why it is important to vote this November. #accessibility

This article connects designing inclusive online courses to guidelines like Universal Design For Learning and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. It highlights the principles of both guidelines and provides specific examples related to making online courses more accessible. #accessibility

This article highlights the importance of making digital accessibility part of your role. It provides specific examples and tips about how to advocate for accessibility across different roles. #accessibility

Captions are the curb cut of digital media. This article highlights the benefits of closed captions and how they can benefit a wide range of students. #accessibility

This article explains why it is important to screen the accessibility of third party vendors. It provides tips like asking the vendor for a VPAT and to provide examples of how they are complaint with WCAG. The article also provides an email template that can be used. #accessibility

This article explores the experiences of people using Gen AI with different disabilities. It highlights the strengths and weakness of GenAI and provides a host of different accessibility strategies for using GenAI. #accessibility

This talk highlights how accessibility can foster inclusion. It provides a variety of examples of why digital accessibility is important and potential implementations. #accessibility

Apple Music and Podcasts now provide transcripts that sync with the content. The FDA is approving Apple's Airpods Pro 2 as hearing aids. They are also releasing a hearing test designed to be used with the device. A new accessibility feature in iOS 18 is Music Haptics, which uses synced vibrations to convey the musical experience. These devices and features have the potential to make a significant impact for people with hearing loss or who are deaf. #accessibility

This article highlights how a conservative Supreme Court could weaken the ADA. The ADA requires plaintiffs to prove intentional discrimination. Currently, there is a circuit split on what the burden of proof is. Some districts say that only deliberate indifference is required while other districts are arguing that the plaintiff must show discriminatory animus to be awarded damages. Adopting the discriminatory animus standard would seriously weaken the ADA. #accessibility

There is a circuit split on whether the ADA applies to websites. This creates ambiguity because each district is different. For example, Winn-Dixie originally lost its case but won its appeal because the judges felt the ADA could not be applied to websites. However, this deprives people using assistive technologies from being able to place an order online. If the Supreme Court takes this case in the future they should extend ADA protections to web content. #accessibility