Summary
Accessibility, in the broadest definition, means “able to be accessed.” But when we talk about digital accessibility, we have a much more specific meaning: can disabled people access digital content, using their own abilities and assistive technology? Accessibility goes a step beyond accommodations by taking a pro-active stance. Rather than waiting for a student to request an accommodation, we can actively choose accessibility and build inclusive, welcoming classrooms.
As educators, it’s our responsibility to ensure that all of our students are able to fully access, engage with, and participate in our courses, no matter what tools they might be using. Just as we’d ensure that a wheelchair user would be able to use a physical classroom through elevators, ramps, and elevated desks, we have to ensure that students using tools like screen readers, keyboard navigation, and more are able to use a digital classroom.
This section focuses on the Seven Core Skills identified by AccessibleNU’s Mission: Accessible Project. These core skills are supported by Pope Tech, an automated accessibility checker available in every Canvas course. Combining knowledge of these core skills with Pope Tech will ensure a baseline of accessibility in your course site. But we’re not stopping there! A Northwestern-quality course will go beyond the basics to delve into in-depth accessibility topics like course resources, inclusive teaching practices, and more. Explore all our accessibility resources to make your class the best it can be—for all your students!
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