Get Started with Digital Accessibility

Welcome to the course! Let’s get started.

In this module, you’ll learn why digital accessibility matters and how to make your educational content accessible to all learners. With one in four Americans having a disability, ensuring accessibility isn’t just good practice, it’s essential for creating inclusive learning environments. Through the content in this module you’ll discover both the legal requirements for accessibility (like Section 508 and WCAG guidelines) and practical strategies for making your digital materials accessible to everyone.

Text formatting and structure form the foundation of accessible digital content, impacting how millions of users interact with your materials through screen readers and other assistive technologies. In this module, you’ll learn practical strategies for formatting text, creating proper headings, using lists effectively, and writing meaningful hyperlinks that work for everyone. We’ll explore how seemingly simple choices in text formatting can make the difference between accessible content that works for all users and content that creates barriers for people with disabilities.

Visual design is not just about making content look appealing, it’s about ensuring that everyone, regardless of their visual abilities, can access and understand your digital materials. From choosing appropriate color contrasts and avoiding cluttered layouts to writing effective alt text and making infographics accessible, thoughtful visual design creates inclusive learning experiences. In this module, you’ll learn practical strategies for creating visually engaging content that works for all users, whether they’re fully sighted, partially sighted, colorblind, or using screen readers to access your materials.

Multimedia content like videos, podcasts, and audio clips requires thoughtful accessibility features to ensure all users can access the information, whether they’re deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or have other disabilities. From captions and transcripts to audio descriptions and media controls, this module will show you how to make your multimedia content accessible to everyone. In this module, we’ll explore the difference between open and closed captions, learn how to create effective transcripts, and understand when audio descriptions are needed to provide an equivalent experience for all users.

While web accessibility might seem complex, making your web content accessible starts with understanding the basic principles and tools available to content creators. In this module, you’ll learn how to evaluate web pages using a tool called WAVE to identify common accessibility issues that you can address, even if you’re not a web developer. From ensuring proper heading structure to maintaining adequate color contrast, you’ll discover practical ways to make your web content more accessible to everyone.

Creating accessible digital content requires mastering key software tools like Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Adobe Acrobat Pro. In this hands-on module, you’ll learn how to use built-in accessibility checkers, apply proper formatting, and export documents while maintaining their accessibility features. Through practical exercises and real-world examples, you’ll discover how to leverage these tools effectively to ensure your digital materials are accessible to everyone.

You’ve learned the fundamentals of digital accessibility, from proper text formatting and heading structure to creating accessible multimedia content and working with essential software tools. In this final module, you’ll demonstrate your knowledge through a comprehensive quiz that covers key concepts from across the course. Let’s wrap up our journey together and reflect on how these skills will help you create more inclusive digital experiences for all learners.