Accessibility Awareness
ADA Compliance Guides
ADA Compliance Guide: Creating an OCR PDF Document (pdf)
ADA Compliance Guide: File Type Checklist (pdf)
ADA Compliance Guide: File Type Checklist (pdf)
Making Multimedia Content Accessible to All
Creating online courses that are accessible to all students regardless of age, ability, or life situation can be challenging. I explain some of the ways course content can be made accessible, benefiting all students, regardless of ability. I review online course design, giving practical advice on making courses more accessible, the various technologies that enable access, and the barriers that can inadvertently block student engagement. Throughout the presentation, I provide specific examples of accessibility when creating and managing online content through the Learning Management System.
I share specific examples of how, why and which steps to take towards improving ADA compliance in course design. I also identify some modifications faculty can make when creating and sharing content. |
Dyslexia
Vision Impaired Text-to-Speech Solutions
Apple (OSX)
To turn on Apple's Text-to-Speech:
- Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Dictation & Speech, then click Text to Speech.
- Select the “Speak selected text when the key is pressed” checkbox. By default, speaking is enabled when you press Option-Esc. (To choose a different key, click Change Key, press one or more modifier keys (Command, Shift, Option, or Control) together with another key, then click OK.)
- To have your Mac start speaking, press the specified key. To stop the speaking, press the key again.
Theses are some of our favorite voices that sound the most human and natural. We have ranked them by our preference and by category.
United States (female):
United States (male):
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United Kingdom
Australia
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To turn on Apple's Screen Reader:
VoiceOver is a screen reader tool that comes standard with every Mac. Its capable of much more than a text-to-speech tool.
Its capable of explaining to you exactly what’s happening on your Mac, and lets you fully interact with it using gestures, your keyboard, or a braille display.
Getting Started with VoiceOver (Guide)
VoiceOver is a screen reader tool that comes standard with every Mac. Its capable of much more than a text-to-speech tool.
Its capable of explaining to you exactly what’s happening on your Mac, and lets you fully interact with it using gestures, your keyboard, or a braille display.
- Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Accessiblity, then click VoiceOver.
- Select the “enable VoiceOver” checkbox. By default, VoiceOver is enabled when you press Option-F5.(Choose VoiceOver Utility to set up your preferences including preferred voice, speed and navigation tools).
Getting Started with VoiceOver (Guide)
Windows OS
Screen Reader / Audio solution for PC:
The best open-source screen reader I have come across for Windows is NVDA. It allows for a lot of customization, and can read wherever the mouse gestured. I have also found beautiful voices that were an additional download, but were compatible with the program.
I curated the program and files to install in the following Instruction Document: NVDA Text-to-Voice Instructions (Windows)
I hope this makes the installation and setup process go smoothly for you.
More information about NVDA:
The name NVDA stands for NonVisual Desktop Access. NVDA was developed to be an open source screen reader for the Microsoft Windows operating system.Providing feedback via synthetic speech and Braille, it enables blind or vision impaired people to access computers running Windows for no more cost than a sighted person. Major features include support for over 20 languages and the ability to run entirely from a USB drive with no installation
Additional Voices were downloaded from:Acapela NVDA Speech Companion: http://www.acapela-nvda.com/download/
The best open-source screen reader I have come across for Windows is NVDA. It allows for a lot of customization, and can read wherever the mouse gestured. I have also found beautiful voices that were an additional download, but were compatible with the program.
I curated the program and files to install in the following Instruction Document: NVDA Text-to-Voice Instructions (Windows)
I hope this makes the installation and setup process go smoothly for you.
More information about NVDA:
The name NVDA stands for NonVisual Desktop Access. NVDA was developed to be an open source screen reader for the Microsoft Windows operating system.Providing feedback via synthetic speech and Braille, it enables blind or vision impaired people to access computers running Windows for no more cost than a sighted person. Major features include support for over 20 languages and the ability to run entirely from a USB drive with no installation
Additional Voices were downloaded from:Acapela NVDA Speech Companion: http://www.acapela-nvda.com/download/
Mobile App - Vision Through Artificial Intelligence
AIPOLY
http://aipoly.com/ An Australian engineer has co-created created an app for the blind or visually impaired that reads out what is in front of it. It is called Aipoly and it can identify over 1000 different objects. The app can read them out in seven different languages and it also identifies colours. The app is currently available to download for free (iOs) |
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File Accessibility Checkers
Use the Accessibility Checker on Windows to find accessibility issues
https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Use-the-Accessibility-Checker-on-your-Windows-desktop-to-find-accessibility-issues-a16f6de0-2f39-4a2b-8bd8-5ad801426c7f
Using the Acrobat Pro Accessibility Checker
http://www.adobe.com/accessibility/products/acrobat/using-acrobat-pro-accessibility-checker.html
Make Accessible Documents and PDFs from Google Docs
https://www.grackledocs.com/
Get Grackle now
https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Use-the-Accessibility-Checker-on-your-Windows-desktop-to-find-accessibility-issues-a16f6de0-2f39-4a2b-8bd8-5ad801426c7f
Using the Acrobat Pro Accessibility Checker
http://www.adobe.com/accessibility/products/acrobat/using-acrobat-pro-accessibility-checker.html
Make Accessible Documents and PDFs from Google Docs
https://www.grackledocs.com/
Get Grackle now