Accessibility is a measure of how well any person can access, engage with, and benefit from the learning materials and activities found in a course. The term is most frequently associated with making sure that students with disabilities as recognized by federal laws can fully participate. Several pieces of federal legislation, including the Americans with Disabilities Amendment Act (ADAA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibit discrimination against these students and require equal access to both course content and technology in educational settings. Therefore, failure to design accessible courses not only results in poor learning experiences but may also constitute noncompliance with policies and potentially result in legal action against the institution.

A Personal Look at Accessibility

Now that we’ve learned why accessibility is required, let’s take “A Personal Look at Accessibility in Higher Education.”

Click the play button to watch “A Personal Look at Accessibility in Higher Education.”

Though accessible course materials are required by law for some students, creating accessible documents, web pages, and videos benefits all users.