a11y (digital 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

This article profiles how the U.S. General Services Administration is working to make its digital content more accessible. They are making digital accessibility part of their design process. They also prioritize using a consistent user-centered design, easy-to-understand language, and mobile/tablet testing. #accessibility

This article highlights why digital accessibility is important. It provides a summary of the legal landscape, universal design, the lived experience of people with disabilities, accessibility testing methods, and the screen reading software available. It also provides a host of resources to explore the topic further. #accessibility

This Conference Paper reviews the history of digital accessibility research. It found that a majority of studies have focused on web accessibility and media accessibility. There is a lack of studies including people with disabilities and utilizing interdisciplinary collaboration. There are fewer studies on subjects like kiosks, virtual reality, and mobile. We need diverse researchers and studies to explore all the different facets of digital accessibility. #accessibility

This is an interesting talk highlighting some of the issues that can occur on a website when an accessibility overlay is used. #accessibility

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Today is International Sign Language Day. There are approximately 300 different sign languages and French Sign Language is thought to be the oldest, which dates back to 1771. Sign language interpreting should be part of press conferences, and live events. Sign language interpreting promotes inclusion and diversity. #accessibility

This article highlights a study showing that only 7% of people with disabilities feel there is adequate representation of their community and 87% would be willing to provide user feedback. The article highlights AI advancements in digital accessibility like audio and image descriptions. #accessibility

This resolution between the Office of Civil Rights and California State University Stanislaus regards kiosk accessibility. Kiosks are often used to offload providing support staff. However, this resolution requires the university to make support staff available upon request. It will be interesting to see how this space develops in the future. #accessibility

Princeton University is using WayFinding technology to create accessible maps that highlight accessibility features for each building on campus. This makes it easy to create an accessible route to buildings on campus. Check out the full article for more details. #accessibility

This dissertation explores Generative AI for Web Accessibility. It found that software developers who view AI as an ethical responsibility rather than a technical requirement are more likely to be skeptical of AI. Developers surveyed with more experience appeared more likely to have a negative view of AI than developers with less experience. Gen AI presents risks related to accuracy, overreliance, and biases, which can cause skewed outputs. #accessibility

I appreciate the different accessibility tools this article highlights. I also like Sean Dougherty's suggestion that AI can be helpful for people who use screen reading software by providing quick summaries of web pages. This can help someone find information faster and determine if it is worth reading the article. One aspect that I think the article misses is that accurate alternative text is still going to be very important. AI has a hard time determining the author's intention. AI tools can help to find more information about a picture when there is no alternative text but authors should add alt text to their images. Authors can also use alt text as a base that they can edit from similar to how auto-generated captions are edited today. #accessibility

This article highlights using attributes like the legend and fieldset attributes to create an accessible form. It also provides examples that show how these attributes can be implemented. #accessibility

Most mouse users can quickly understand the need to make a website accessible by keyboard, for users who do not use a mouse due to a motor disability or other reasons. But what if a user also does not have the use of a keyboard?

Janaki Konar just finished a presentation on the technology named Switch Control in iOS, or Switch Access in Android, which allows users to use their device using a single motion or small number of motions. This can include sipping and puffing into a mouthpiece, or tapping a pillow. The speaker describes how a user can customize these systems to be more efficient (for example, binding a second action to a long press, or grouping a set of actions into a "recipe" that can be repeated.) And the presentation introduces what makes software easy to use, and how user interfaces can be designed poorly to slow down and frustrate users of Switch Control and Switch Access.

This presentation and many more are part of the free Inclusive Design 24 event going on right now. Follow @[email protected] for more information.