Build a Team of Online Accessibility Activists

Concurrent Session 5
Leadership

Session Materials

Brief Abstract

So, you've heard about "online accessibility" … but it seems vague and complicated. You know it's crucial to ensure all students can participate in a course with online or digital content, but you're not sure where to start. Maybe you've scanned the pages and pages Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) but can't figure out how to apply these concepts to your learning content.

The shifts needed to guarantee accessible online learning and digital content can definitely feel overwhelming. As a leader, you want to start a positive shift in your organization by championing online accessibility. Where should you begin? Whatever your role, capacity, and budget, there's a place to start and easy action steps to chart your path, beginning with awareness and education and finally creating a plan to start an online accessibility revolution at your institution.

 
 

Presenters

Lead Presenter: Carli Williams, Generation: You Employed Inc.

Carli Williams is the Global Curriculum & Instruction Online Learning Lead at Generation: You Employed, Inc. and enjoys supporting both global and country team colleagues in all things online learning! Bringing innovation to online learning through tools and best practices, ensuring online programs are accessible to all, upskilling others on aspects of online design, and supporting online learning strategically are at the heart of what she does. In this role she works with, advises, and trains Curriculum & Instruction team members across the 17 different countries that Generation serves. Carli believes that quality education is at the core of our societies and is committed to a more accessible, just, and equitable future world. She has eight years of experience working in global and international education, working previously with international programs of Miami University, University of Notre Dame, CIEE, and Butler University, and volunteering with the U.N. Academy of Somalia. Carli holds an M.Ed. in international higher education from Loyola University Chicago and a B.S. in marketing from Miami University. Last year, Carli presented at Learning 2022 and was featured on Canvascasters, the Canvas LMS podcast.

Extended Abstract

In this session we will start with the big question, "What is online accessibility?". You will be able to define online accessibility and gain the right resources to educate your teammates and continue your own learning. Taking your first step as an aspiring activist, you will discover how following online accessibility practices benefits all learners and institutions. Next, you will understand how online accessibility translates to online and digital course content and we will apply these concepts to real examples, like images and videos. As you continue our journey, you will learn how to identify both free and paid tools that allow you to spot and remediate accessibility issues in your courses. With these foundations set, you will be ready to fully step into your role as an activist! You will learn how to craft an online accessibility action plan to get your key stakeholders on board and continue to build a team of online accessibility advocates and designers who are excited to build content purposefully. It sounds like a lot but don't worry - you're not alone. Before you leave you will learn how you can join professional communities around online accessibility to find and offer support in this exciting journey. At the end of the road, you will return to your organization with knowledge and resources to start making strides in online accessibility, feeling confident that you can make a difference in making online learning journeys and content accessible to all!

In this session, you will learn:

  • what is online accessibility and why it's important for all learners
  • where to learn more about online accessibility and educate your team , how to apply online accessibility to your online and digital course content
  • how to identify tools (free and paid) to empower your team to help spot and remediate accessibility issues
  • how to create an online accessibility action plan and join and participate in professional communities surrounding online accessibility