Teaching Staff

Section outline

• Select section Accessible Training for Teaching Staff

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  Accessible Training for Teaching Staff

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  Guidelines, checklists and protocols to assist teaching staff to make their materials universally accessible.

  • Select activity Simple Rules for Good Accessibility

    You should follow the rules in this basic accessibility checklist:

    1. Use simple language and be mindful of reading level.
    2. Use headings to organize documents.
    3. Use page numbers and tables of contents.
    4. Provide alternative descriptions for images as both captions and "Alt. Texts."
    5. Set equations and formulas using equation editors and typesetting.
    6. Check your colour palette for contrast.
    7. Use descriptive links instead of "Click here."
    8. Only use tables for data that requires it (not for layout).
    9. Create and provide accurate closed-captions and transcripts.
    10. Present information in multiple ways and formats.
  • Select activity Basic Principles of Accessible Materials

    

    Basic Principles of Accessible Materials H5P

    Key targets for making materials accessible, including:

    • Formatting
    • Images and labelling alternative text
    • Structure
    • Colour
    • Links
  • Select activity SCULPT - A Handy Acronym

    SCULPT - Structure, Colour, Use of images, Links, Plain language, Table structure

    

  • Select activity Creating Accessible Documents

    

    Creating Accessible Documents H5P

    A set of guidelines about how, when creating documents for teaching, you can use accessibility guidelines to ensure that the content can be exported and used in a number of accessible ways. Key elements covered include:

    • Font
    • Colour
    • Heading styles
    • Layout
    • Writing style
    • Visual impact
    • Large print documents
    • Conversion to accessible formats
    • Guidelines for your text editor
    • Validation tools

    There are also a selection of supporting videos and additional online courses.

  • Select activity Accessibility Dos and Don’ts

    

    Accessibility Dos and Don’ts H5P

    A seventeen slide presentation highlighting things to do and not to do when considering the accessibility of your HE course.

  • Select activity Assistive Technology by Domain

    

    Assistive Technology by Domain H5P

    In Higher Education, assistive technologies can be helpful in a number of areas including:

    • Reading
    • Writing
    • Maths
    • Organisation

    Typical barriers or difficulties that assistive technologies can help people overcome include:

    • Sight
    • Text decoding
    • Distractibility
    • Hearing

    This learning element includes information on:

    • Examples of Assistive Technology by Domain
    • Apps for Mobile Devices
  • Select activity Operating Systems' Built-in Accessibility

    

    Operating Systems' Built-in Accessibility H5P

    Links to the built-in accessibility settings in iOS, Android and Microsoft Windows.

  • Select activity Assistive Technology Resource Databases

    

    Assistive Technology Resource Databases H5P

    This element contains details of several assistive technology reseource databases from around the world, highlighting available technologies that can help students with disabilities. These include:

    • EASTIN Database - which aggregates the contents of six national European AT databases, searchable in 22 European languages.
    • Australia's National Equipment Database
    • UK Open Assistive software and hardware database
    • The Belgian Database of AT for HE
    • The Africa and Southern Africa AT Database
  • Select activity Inclusive Teaching Practices

    

    Inclusive Teaching Practices H5P

    An introduction to inclusive teaching practices.

  • Select activity Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

    Inclusive Education for All

    To provide inclusive education for all the groups who have to face different challenges, we should ensure Universal Design for Learning (UDL) which is a set of principles for curriculum development that gives all individuals equal opportunities to learn, including Students with Disabilities. A fundamental concept behind UDL is to design flexibility into the resources and methods used in the learning environment through the principles of multiple means of engagement, representation, action and expression (Reale, J et al, 2022). UDL has been defined as a framework that ‘proactively builds in features to accommodate the range of human diversity’ (McGuire et al, 2006). Applying UDL strategies supports removing physical, sensory and cognitive barriers from learning, expands opportunities for all learners and ensures accessibility to an inclusive educational system (Navaitienė & Stasiūnaitienė, 2021).

    CAST created the Universal Design for Learning framework so that all learning experiences in school, the workplace, and life are thoughtfully designed to elevate strengths and eliminate barriers. Because everyone deserves the opportunity to grow and thrive.

    • UDL Guidelines

    • UDL FAQs

    • UDL Graphic Organizer

  • Select activity A UDL Framework

    

    A UDL Framework H5P

    This is a guide to the Universal Design for Learning Framework, with concrete examples of courses that can be completed. Including:

    • Affective - Provide multiple means of engagement
    • Recognition - Provide multiple means of representation
    • Strategic - Provide multiple means of action and expression

    The free courses provided in the last tab are well worth a look.

  • Select activity Online Accessibility Validator Tools for your Learning Materials

    

    Online Accessibility Validator Tools for your Learning Materials H5P

    There are a number of accessibility checkers you can use to assess and improve your learning content. This article summarises the best ones.