Cristina Cachero Castro’s Post

Impact of COVID-19 in the web accessibility of higher education institutions: a pending challenge: https://lnkd.in/dxGuE2Ku 🌐 Web Accessibility in Education: A Lesson from the COVID-19 Pandemic 📚✨ The COVID-19 pandemic transformed education worldwide, pushing institutions to rapidly shift to online learning. While this transition impacted all students, it hit vulnerable students—especially those with disabilities—the hardest, exposing gaps in web accessibility. Our recent study reviews how universities around the globe adapted their websites for accessibility during this time. While many made commendable strides to meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 immediately following the pandemic outbreak, the momentum has unfortunately slowed. 📉 By evaluating university websites from 2018 to 2024, we found that although accessibility initially improved, these gains are not being maintained. This highlights the need for a long-term commitment to inclusive online education. Let’s ensure the lessons learned during the pandemic aren’t lost—web accessibility should be a priority, not a temporary fix! 🌟 #WebAccessibility #InclusiveEducation #DigitalInclusion #COVID19 #OnlineLearning #HigherEducation #AccessibilityMatters

Accessibility of university websites worldwide: a systematic literature review: https://lnkd.in/dPFZucSq 🌐 University Websites and Accessibility: A Global Review 🎓✨ University websites are the digital gateways to their identity—showcasing academic programs, achievements, missions, and more. But how accessible are these websites to all users, including those with disabilities? ♿ 🤔 📚 In our research, we conducted a systematic literature review (SLR), consolidating the results of 42 studies evaluating the accessibility of 9,140 university websites across 67 countries. The analysis covered 38,416 web pages, 91,421 YouTube videos, and 28,395 PDF documents, using standards like ISO/IEC 40500:2012 and Section 508. 📊 🔍 Our findings? Many universities still struggle with accessibility, violating key guidelines such as adaptability, compatibility, and keyboard accessibility. This comprehensive review highlights the global trends and common issues in university web accessibility—providing a roadmap for improvement. 🌍 Accessible education starts with accessible websites! Let’s make digital inclusion a priority in higher education. 💡 #WebAccessibility #HigherEducation #DigitalInclusion #UniversityWebsites #InclusionMatters

Accessibility of university websites worldwide: a systematic literature review: https://lnkd.in/d9Rr4P7t 🌐 University Websites and Accessibility: A Global Review 🎓✨ University websites are the digital gateways to their identity—showcasing academic programs, achievements, missions, and more. But how accessible are these websites to all users, including those with disabilities? ♿ 🤔 📚 In our research, we conducted a systematic literature review (SLR), consolidating the results of 42 studies evaluating the accessibility of 9,140 university websites across 67 countries. The analysis covered 38,416 web pages, 91,421 YouTube videos, and 28,395 PDF documents, using standards like ISO/IEC 40500:2012 and Section 508. 📊 🔍 Our findings? Many universities still struggle with accessibility, violating key guidelines such as adaptability, compatibility, and keyboard accessibility. This comprehensive review highlights the global trends and common issues in university web accessibility—providing a roadmap for improvement. 🌍 Accessible education starts with accessible websites! Let’s make digital inclusion a priority in higher education. 💡 #WebAccessibility #HigherEducation #DigitalInclusion #UniversityWebsites #InclusionMatters

Accessibility of university websites worldwide: a systematic literature review in Universal Access in the Information Society: https://lnkd.in/d9Rr4P7t 🌐 University Websites and Accessibility: A Global Review 🎓✨ University websites are the digital gateways to their identity—showcasing academic programs, achievements, missions, and more. But how accessible are these websites to all users, including those with disabilities? ♿ 🤔 📚 In our research, we conducted a systematic literature review (SLR), consolidating the results of 42 studies evaluating the accessibility of 9,140 university websites across 67 countries. The analysis covered 38,416 web pages, 91,421 YouTube videos, and 28,395 PDF documents, using standards like ISO/IEC 40500:2012 and Section 508. 📊 🔍 Our findings? Many universities still struggle with accessibility, violating key guidelines such as adaptability, compatibility, and keyboard accessibility. This comprehensive review highlights the global trends and common issues in university web accessibility—providing a roadmap for improvement. 🌍 Accessible education starts with accessible websites! Let’s make digital inclusion a priority in higher education. 💡 #WebAccessibility #HigherEducation #DigitalInclusion #UniversityWebsites #InclusionMatters

Accessibility of university websites worldwide: a systematic literature review in Universal Access in the Information Society: https://lnkd.in/dPFZucSq 🌐 University Websites and Accessibility: A Global Review 🎓✨ University websites are the digital gateways to their identity—showcasing academic programs, achievements, missions, and more. But how accessible are these websites to all users, including those with disabilities? ♿ 🤔 📚 In our research, we conducted a systematic literature review (SLR), consolidating the results of 42 studies evaluating the accessibility of 9,140 university websites across 67 countries. The analysis covered 38,416 web pages, 91,421 YouTube videos, and 28,395 PDF documents, using standards like ISO/IEC 40500:2012 and Section 508. 📊 🔍 Our findings? Many universities still struggle with accessibility, violating key guidelines such as adaptability, compatibility, and keyboard accessibility. This comprehensive review highlights the global trends and common issues in university web accessibility—providing a roadmap for improvement. 🌍 Accessible education starts with accessible websites! Let’s make digital inclusion a priority in higher education. 💡 #WebAccessibility #HigherEducation #DigitalInclusion #UniversityWebsites #InclusionMatters

Did you know that many educational websites still face significant accessibility barriers? These challenges not only hinder individuals with disabilities but also limit engagement for everyone. In our latest blog, our very own Kelly Rader CUA, Akraya, Inc.’s Practice Director, dives into the importance of web accessibility, the common challenges faced by educational organizations, and research-driven solutions that can help. 👉 Why accessibility matters: - Compliance with legal standards (ADA, Section 508) - Inclusive environments for all students and staff - Improving user experience across the board Ready to make your website more accessible? Dive into the full article and discover actionable strategies to create a more inclusive digital space for education. #WebAccessibility #InclusiveEducation #DigitalInclusion #AccessibleWebDesign

Are Schools and Edtech Companies Ready for the Digital Accessibility Deadline? From Daniel Mollenkamp for EdSurge- "When Jacob, a 10th grader with vision impairment, signed up for an AP class, it made him feel like a castaway. His ambitions to learn were thwarted because his teacher had assigned handouts and a three-week-long lesson plan that relied on a website that wasn’t easy for him to navigate. So he felt frustrated, isolated: “I am stranded on this desert island because that site doesn't work [with my screen reader],” Jacob later told a researcher, also adding, “You can't just re-change your whole teaching plan, especially when you've distributed it.” Like Jacob, many students with disabilities are forced to work extra, advocates argue. They have to learn just like other students, but they can also have to deal with assignments they can’t access and other digital hurdles. That’s particularly the case in K-12 classes, where teaching materials may be hard to parse, according to the preprint of a research article that argues that many of these students have to figure out how to access basic documents on their own, outside of school. (The article cites Jacob’s story, though the author declined to provide further details to EdSurge, citing ethical concerns.) But there’s a push to change that." #AccessibilityInTheNews Glenda Sims U.S. Department of Justice U.S. Department of Education https://lnkd.in/gKUJKhbn

📢 Are EdTech Companies Ready for the Digital Accessibility Deadline? As the new guidelines for digital accessibility roll out, schools and edtech companies face a tight timeline to ensure their materials are compliant. With April 2026/2027 deadlines approaching, the push for accessible content is more crucial than ever. This move, mandated by the updated Title II of the ADA, aims to eliminate barriers for students with disabilities. 🔗 Read more: https://lnkd.in/dHV4f7ur

While the Digital Accessibility Deadline looms, it's important to remember that #Accessibility isn't just a requirement; it’s a commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunities for all learners. Read more about the implications and readiness: https://okt.to/xYdfL8

Preparing Public Colleges for ADA Digital Accessibility Requirements   As public institutions gear up to comply with new ADA regulations, ensuring digital accessibility becomes paramount. The updated Title II rule mandates that all state and local governments, including public colleges, make their web content, mobile apps, and social media postings accessible for individuals with disabilities. This includes provisions for vision, hearing, cognitive, and manual dexterity disabilities. Mary Rice, associate professor of literacy at The University of New Mexico, recommends that school districts prepare for compliance by doing an inventory of their digital materials.   The deadline for compliance varies based on population size, with significant implications for educational institutions' digital landscapes. Public universities and K-12 districts must conduct comprehensive audits of their digital materials and collaborate closely with accessibility experts to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Version 2.1, Level AA standards.   Discover how higher education institutions can navigate these new requirements and ensure inclusivity for all stakeholders. Read more in the article by Kara Arundel on Higher Ed Dive: https://lnkd.in/g2hWNYH7 W3C #ADACompliance #HigherEducation #WCAGStandards