Kimberly Hulbert’s Post

As the digital accessibility deadline approaches, it’s crucial for schools and edtech companies to ensure they are equipped to meet these standards. This article provides insights into readiness and compliance. Read more here: https://okt.to/GhJzAP #education #edchat #k12#accessibility

Are Schools and Edtech Companies Ready for the Digital Accessibility Deadline? The latest update from the U.S. Department of Justice mandates that all educational institutions ensure their digital materials meet strict accessibility standards by 2026 or 2027. This pivotal change shifts the responsibility from students to schools and edtech vendors, who must now provide compliant, accessible content. Experts like Glenda Sims from Deque Systems, Inc and Natalie Shaheen from Illinois State University highlight the urgency and importance of this transition. Educational institutions and vendors, such as those associated with CAST, must act now to comply with these new regulations. To support schools and companies in meeting these crucial standards, IAAP offers a comprehensive Higher Education Accessibility Series. Join us to learn about measuring accessibility, AI-powered tools, and designing inclusive online courses: https://lnkd.in/eAQcCaKS Read more: https://lnkd.in/eaDpRJew #HigherEd #IAAPwebinar #EducationEquality

Elevating Accessibility in Online Education with Ally! I recently facilitated an interactive workshop focused on using the Ally tool in Canvas to enhance course accessibility and inclusivity. 🎓 Accessibility is not just about compliance—it’s about ensuring that ALL students can engage with our content in meaningful ways. During the session, faculty learned how Ally automatically scans course materials and highlights key accessibility issues, such as missing alternative text, inaccessible PDFs, and low color contrast. 🌍 Here are some key takeaways that YOU can implement today: ✅ Instant Accessibility Insights: Ally provides color-coded feedback, helping you easily identify accessibility barriers like missing alternative text for images or unreadable documents. Start by addressing the red and orange indicators in your course! ✅ Alternative Formats for Diverse Learners: Did you know Ally automatically generates alternative formats for your materials? Whether it’s audio, HTML, braille, or ePub, students can access content in the format that best suits their needs. Encourage students to explore these options! ✅ Guided Fixes: Ally doesn’t just highlight issues—it guides you with clear, step-by-step instructions on how to fix accessibility problems. For example, it shows you how to add proper headings to your documents or improve color contrast for better readability. ✅ Accessibility Score: Track and improve your course’s accessibility score! Ally gives each course a score, making it easy to see your progress as you fix issues. ✅ Course-Wide Benefits: Enhancing accessibility benefits all learners, not just those with disabilities. For example, providing captions or transcripts for videos can help students who are non-native speakers or those studying in noisy environments. Small improvements make a big impact! 💡 Accessibility isn’t just a checkbox—it’s an ongoing commitment to creating inclusive learning experiences that meet the needs of ALL students. 💻📚 Ready to start making your course content more accessible? Start using Ally in Canvas today, and see the difference it can make for your students! #Accessibility #HigherEd #CanvasLMS #FacultyDevelopment #Inclusion #OnlineLearning #AllyInAction #InclusiveTeaching #Equity #DiverseLearners

Are schools and Edtech companies ready for the digital accessibility deadline? 💻 🏫 The article on digital accessibility in education highlights a critical issue as schools and edtech companies face the upcoming compliance deadline. The new federal rule aims to boost access for disabled students by setting specific technical standards for digital materials. This is a significant step towards inclusivity, ensuring that all students, regardless of their abilities, have equal access to educational resources. However, the challenges are substantial. Schools and edtech companies must navigate complex regulations, invest in necessary technologies, and ensure that their digital content meets the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Version 2.1, Level AA. The financial and logistical burdens are considerable, with estimates running into billions of dollars for compliance. Despite these hurdles, the long-term benefits of accessible education are undeniable. By addressing these challenges head-on, educational institutions can create a more inclusive environment that supports all learners. This article is a must-read for educators and tech developers committed to making education accessible to everyone! 🚀 Source: https://lnkd.in/eWB2ih_v #DigitalAccessibility #InclusiveEducation #Accessibility #WCAG #EducationForAll #EdTech

This is such an important topic! Ensuring digital accessibility in education is crucial for inclusivity. While the compliance challenges are significant, the long-term benefits for all learners are worth the effort. Let's work together to create an inclusive environment for everyone. #DigitalAccessibility #InclusiveEducation #Accessibility #WCAG #EducationForAll #EdTech

Ensuring digital accessibility in education is crucial for inclusivity. While the challenges are significant, the long-term benefits for all students are well worth the effort.

As the digital accessibility deadline approaches, it’s crucial for schools and edtech companies to ensure they are equipped to meet these standards. This article provides insights into readiness and compliance. Read more here: https://okt.to/SVGLJR

ACCESSIBILITY K-12 EdTech has got to get this figured out…soon. “Under the new guidelines, digital text, images, audio, videos, documents, controls and animations must meet a series of “success criteria.” Per reporting from Community College Daily, these include: “Content should not be limited to a single display orientation, such as portrait or landscape. Captions are provided for all live audio content in synchronized media. Captions are provided for all prerecorded audio content in synchronized media. Audio description is provided for all prerecorded video content in synchronized media. Non-text content should have an equivalent text alternative. Colors used are bold enough to be seen on the screen.” https://lnkd.in/gsuPH7Jp

As the digital accessibility deadline looms, schools and edtech companies are facing crucial challenges. Are they prepared to meet these new standards? Dive into this timely discussion on how to ensure equitable access for all in education. Read more here: https://okt.to/ABUzht

As the digital accessibility deadline looms, schools and edtech companies are facing crucial challenges. Are they prepared to meet these new standards? Dive into this timely discussion on how to ensure equitable access for all in education. Read more here: https://okt.to/LdQYgo #accessibility #education #edchat #edtech #k12 #schools #learning