Accessibility at UIW

Users must be able to perceive the information being presented. It can't be invisible to all of their senses.

How this is achieved

• Add alt text to images and visuals
  • Include clear and concise alternative "alt" text attributes for all relevant images and graphics appearing on your site.
• Close caption videos and provide transcripts for audio
  • Caption all video. YouTube has very useful built in captioning tools.
• Provide sufficient color contrast between text and backgrounds
  • Ensure you provide sufficient color contrast for text. WCAG 2.0 (Level AA) requires a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for regular text and 3:1 for large text (18pt or 24px) or bold, larger text (14pt or 18.5px).
  • Ensure you provide sufficient color contrast for graphics. WCAG 2.0 (Level AA) requires a contrast ratio of at least 3:1 for graphics.
  • Use tools such as WebAIM's free contrast checker to ensure your content is compliant.

Users must be able to operate the interface and navigation. The interface cannot require interaction that a user cannot perform.

How this is achieved

• Provide clear structure with properly marked headings
  • Make sure you using H-tags to properly organize the content of your pages.
  • See the Editing Standards and Guidelines page for instructions and examples.
• Create descriptive links that make sense out of context
  • Use concise, descriptive text in links. You should be able to understand what content you will see when you click on the link by only reading the link itself, without reading any surrounding copy. Avoid using "Click Here" or "Read More".

Users must be able to understand the information as well as the operation of the user interface. The content or operation cannot be beyond their understanding.

How this is achieved

• Clarify expectations through clear directions and models
• Follow conventions to ensure a predictable and consistent experience
  • Use standard naming conventions in pages and features
• Use plain language

Users must be able to access the content as technologies advance. As technologies and user agents evolve, the content should remain accessible.

How this is achieved

• Perform an accessibility check with tools such as;
  • WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool
  • Siteimprove Accessibility Checker
• Perform basic assistive technology testing with tools such as the Web Disability Simulator.

Your digital content in Canvas may not be accessible. While Canvas has a native accessibility too, UIW has chosen to license Anthology’s tool called Ally. You will use Ally to check your course content and documents for upgrading previous documents and course content, and for creating new ones. Ally uses color coded visual cues to indicate how closely your content meets accessibility standards. The visual cues are not at all visible to students.

 Your students will see the clickable Ally symbol throughout your course. When clicked, your students will be able to choose a downloadable alternate format for your content including an audio version, translated file, electronic publication and a variety of other file types that are compatible with assistive devices. All students can benefit from alternative formats of digital content.

Where is Ally?

Ally is present in Canvas and has been enabled for all courses beginning with Spring 2023. All past and present courses have been analyzed by Ally, but Ally may not be enabled in them. You may request to have Ally enabled in your pre-Spring '23 courses by sending an email to software@uiwtx.edu. Include your course IDs.

Ally Resources

• Download the Ally Adoption Toolkit to learn Ally basics and features.

• Watch this Overview of Ally video to get an idea of how quick and easy it is to bring all your electronic documents up to the national standard.
• Support materials for faculty are available here.
• Please direct any questions to software@uiwtx.edu.

W3C- World Wide Web Consortium

World Wide Web Consortium, an international community that works together to develop web standards

WCAG- Web Content Accessibility Guidelines

The international standard set by the W3C for web content accessibility that meets the needs of individuals, organizations, and governments.

ADA- Americans with Disability Act

The Americans with Disability Act prohibits discrimination based on disability.

Section 508- Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requires federal agencies (including higher education institutions that receive federal funding) to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities.

Section 504- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits federal agencies (including higher education institutions that receive federal funding), programs, or activities from discriminating and requires reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities.

VPAT- Voluntary Product Accessibility Template

A Voluntary Product Accessibility Template is a document which evaluates how accessible a particular product is according to the Section 508 standards.

A11Y- Accessibility

This abbreviation for accessibility uses the number 11 in reference to the number of letters omitted between the A and the Y.

AT- Assistive technology

Assistive technology is the products, equipment, and systems that enhance learning, working, and daily living for persons with disabilities.

UD- Universal Design

Universal Design is the design and composition of an environment so that it can be accessed, understood, and used to the greatest extent possible by all people regardless of their age, size, ability, or disability.

Disability should not be measured in absolutes. And understanding that goes a long way in understanding why accessibility matters.

Disability lies along a spectrum. This spectrum doesn't just include the severity of a permanent disability, but accounts for less permanent disabilities as well.

• Situational: You are holding a child in one arm so you are limited to interacting with one hand until you put the child down, or you are in a loud environment at a restaurant and can't hear the sound from your phone so you need closed captioning to be able to understand the content of a video

• Temporary: You have a broken arm so you are limited to interacting with one arm until the fracture heals or you have just had cataract surgery and can't view a screen clearly until you have fully recovered

• Permanent: You are a person who is color blind or blind or you are a person who is hard of hearing or deaf

And just because you may not have a disability doesn't mean you don't benefit from accessibility.

Some words sound very similar when spoken aloud but can have the opposite meaning. If you are watching a video and someone says you can do something but you hear you can't do something (or vice versa) that can have serious implications on your conduct. In a case like that, having closed captioning helps clear up any misunderstanding regardless of disability.

By ensuring you meet accessibility guidelines for the most severe, permanent disabilities, you are also ensuring accessibility for everyone.