An important aspect of developing learning materials for distance education and training is building accessibility and assitive technology (AT) compatibility into content/ tools. For example, creating web forms that are accessible to people with disabilities requires understanding of the labeling features of HTML markup and how browsers interpret labeling markup for assistive technologies like screen readers. I would like to share with you some of the programming/ tools/ technologies available to fulfill accessibility requirements and needs.
AMP-Accessible Media Producer companies or agencies that create fully-accessible specialized, student-ready formats, such as braille, large print, audio, or digital book
ATAG -Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines
UAAG - User Agent Accessibility Guidelines
W3C- World Wide Web Consortium - an international community where Member organizations, a full-time staff, and the public work together to develop Web standards.
WCAG - Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
WAI-ARIA - Web Accessibility Initiative-Accessible Rich Internet Application
UIC offers a Web Accessibility Checklist to check your website for IITAA - Illinois Information Technology Accessibility Act - compliance. George Williams and The Chronicle of Higher education have this post on Creating Accessible Documents using many popular software programs. Another excellent resource is the WAI - Web Accesssibility Initiative develops strategies, guidelines, and resources to help make the Web accessible to people with disabilities.
Image Credit: http://www.mentalite.net/mnt/accessibility.jpg
