ADA Compliance and Interactive Real-Time Web-Based PD Tools

From LiteracyTentWiki

Subject: [PD 3445] ADA Compliance and Interactive, real-time, web-based tools for PD
From: Crystal Hack chack at cait.org
Date: Wed Jun 17 10:20:05 EDT 2009

Hi Richard and David and others,

The GED-i has been struggling with the thought of including a whiteboard in the the GED-i curriculum support tools. Why do I say "struggling with the thought"? We know it is a much needed feature, absolutely critical for teaching math, however, there is an issue with interactive whiteboards and ADA accessibility. ADA compliance is a HUGE issue that we haven't even touched on when we are talking about online PD opportunities (and online student learning options).

In Illinois, we recently have been charged with meeting specific accessibility guidelines as part of the Internet Technology Accessibility Act. We have sent development staff to WebAim Training so as to understand the issues involved and be able to advise us on accessible development strategies. Our instructional design staff are also trained on this issue and work closely with content development staff to ensure that what we are now building or revise meets both Illinois's IITAA, and national/international standards. I believe I would be doing the group a grave disservice if I did not bring this topic up during this discussion.

The GED-i project has a solid commitment to provide accessible content to students, instructors and administrators. This is a task that does not come easy. An example, a pdf resource guide that was quick and easy and fairly cost effective to put up on the GED-i site 2-3 years ago, now cost approximately five times the amount it use to in man hours to make it ADA compliant before we put it up. This has a dramatic impact on our overall project budget and also makes us think and rethink the best ways to present our materials so it is accessible to those who want to access it whether it be admin/instructor PD or student learning on the GED-i.

There are ways to provide alternate learning activities in your online content, but you have to keep ADA compliance in mind as you develop and have a plan for how you will address development of ADA compliant materials. Also providing the alternative options for the person who needs a screen reader or other assistive technologies, options like working more closely with the instructor on activities that are not ADA compliant is helpful, but this does mean that stand alone module learning must have someone overseeing them. Anyway, my point is if you are not considering how your content is ADA compliant when you are developing it, you should be. If you do not know the guidelines in your state for development material that is ADA compliant to put on the web, you should. If you are not investigating the online curricula that you are purchasing for your students use online for ADA compliance, you should be.

I look forward to the idea exchanges today. Hope everyone is doing well.

Crystal Hack
GED-i Project Coordinator
info.ged-i.org

Retrieved from "http://wiki.literacytent.org/index.php/ADA_Compliance_and_Interactive_Real-Time_Web-Based_PD_Tools"