Download a copy of the Accessible_Materials_Transcript

When creating content, there are a few basic steps that should be followed to ensure your content is accessible. The core steps needed for accessibility are the same regardless of whether your document is in Microsoft Office, HTML, Canvas, or another document format:

• Use headings
• Use lists
• Use meaningful hyperlinks
• Add alternate text to images
• Identify document language
• Use tables wisely
• Understand how to export from one format to another.

• Add alternative text to any images which add meaning to all of your teaching resources including Canvas courses, PowerPoint presentations and Word documents. 
• Make sure your alternative text clearly describes the image depending on the context it has been used in. How does the image contribute to the experience?  
• If the image is used only for decoration, make sure that a screen reader will not recognise and announce it, e.g. “Mark as decorative” in a Word document. Would user have an equivalent experience if you removed the image? If so, it is decorative.

Download an accessible version of the What our students say infographic.

For infographics, there can often be a lot of useful information and they often make difficult topics easier to wrap our heads around. However, not all students can access or view them. By creating an alternative version, more students can benefit. The alternative version is written as a text or transcript of the original. The images used in our infographic above are decorative; had the images contained additional information, descriptions of the various images would have also been included in the alternative version. The accessible version also employs the correct use of headings and lists. We'll review headings types a bit later on in the course too. 

Video captioning

You may have noticed that all the videos on our website have captions provided (the small cc icon to the right on the video player bar) and a link to download a transcript of the video. 

Here are a few of the key actions you can take now: 

1. Record your lectures so that captions can then be added. 
2. Edit automated captions such as those created when you upload a video to Panopto or YouTube. 
3. Switch on Live captions in MS Teams. 
4. Always tell students that captions are available in Teams for live meetings. 

Video transcription

This is the process of producing a text document from the words spoken in a video. 

Download a copy of the Accessible-Videos_Transcript

• Use a clear and concise title 
• Avoid long, dense paragraphs. Break up content into chunks with headings, subheadings and bullet points. 
• Use short, simple sentences in a direct style. 
• Explain technical language and abbreviations. 
• Use the active rather than passive voice. 
• Make sure instructions are clear. 

Download a copy of the Using JAWS screen reader_Transcript

This video features Dr. Brian Butler using the Job Access With Speech (JAWS) screen reader to read a Word document. Make a note of any difficulties he encounters with images in the document. Use this information to help you create some best practice guidance to make sure that the images you use in all of your teaching resources are accessible to screen reader users.