Accessibility Requirements
Faculty and staff must ensure course materials meet WCAG 2.1AA standards by incorporating:
- Alternative text for images
- Captions and transcripts for multimedia
- Proper heading structures for screen readers
- Adequate color contrast
- Accessible document formatting (PDFs, Word)
Tool Specific ADA
Brightspace Accessibility | Microsoft 365 Accessibility | Google Accessibility | Adobe Accessibility
Additional Information and Support
Overview of ADA and Technology | Training | Related Resources and Tools
Brightspace Accessibility Features
The Accessibility Checker, built into Brightspace, helps instructors and content creators spot and fix accessibility issues in course materials. It scans for issues in images, headings, and color contrast, then offers practical suggestions to ensure all content meets accessibility standards.
Learn more about Accessibility Checker >>
View URI guide for Accessibility Checker >>
ReadSpeaker, integrated into Brightspace, is a text-to-speech feature for HTML content, assignments, and quizzes, automatically available to instructors. It transforms text into natural speech, aiding learners with visual impairments or reading difficulties. With support for various languages and adjustable playback, it improves accessibility for a wide range of students.
View URI FAQ Guide for ReadSpeaker >>
Microsoft 365 Accessibility Features
Microsoft 365 offers a range of built-in accessibility tools that empower users to enhance productivity, collaboration, and inclusivity.
Improve accessibility with the Accessibility Checker >>
Create inclusive content with the new Accessibility Assistant in Microsoft 365 >>
Google Accessibility Features
Google boosts accessibility through a variety of features in hardware, online tools, and Workspace. With features like Live Transcribe and Voice Access, interacting with devices becomes effortless. Screen readers and magnifiers simplify web navigation, while Workspace products come with integrated accessibility features, ensuring a universally inclusive digital experience.
Adobe Accessibility Features
Adobe provides a range of accessibility tools and features across its products to empower users with disabilities. These features facilitate easier interaction with PDF documents and forms, both with and without the help of assistive technologies like screen readers, screen magnifiers, and text-to-speech software, as well as speech recognition tools.
- Create accessible PDF Files
- Use Adobe Color Contrast Analyzer to create accessible themes for color-blind viewers.
- Use Speech to Text in Premier Pro to automatically generate transcripts and add captions to your videos
- Use Adobe PDF Accessibility Auto-Tag API to scale PDF accessibility.
- Use PAVE to make your PDF documents accessible.
Overview: ADA and Technology
As technology continues to play a pivotal role in education, it’s imperative for institutions like URI to prioritize digital accessibility, to ensure inclusivity and equitable access for every learner.
The Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) mandates that educational materials and digital resources be accessible to individuals with disabilities. Alongside the Americans with Disabilities Act, colleges and universities must adhere to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act due to government funding.
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), sets standards to enhance web content accessibility. This includes providing alternative formats, such as screen reader compatibility, captioning for videos, audio description for audio, accessible PDFs, and keyboard navigation options.
Key considerations and benefits of digital accessibility include enhancing usability and user satisfaction, increasing content reach and engagement, meeting DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) commitments, enhancing AI optimization, and avoiding lawsuits.
Learn more about ADA Compliance from URI Office of Equal Opportunity >>
URI Dean of Students Office, Disability Access, and Inclusion (DAI)
URL: https://web.uri.edu/disability/
Resources on ADA Compliance (from URI Office of Equal Opportunity)
https://web.uri.edu/equal-opportunity/ada-compliance/
Web Accessibility at URI
URL: https://www.uri.edu/wordpress/accessibility/
Brightspace Accessibility Interest Group
D2L’s initiative to collaborate with like-minded individuals toward ensuring Brightspace remains usable for all.
URL: https://community.d2l.com/brightspace/group/4-accessibility-interest-group
URI Academic Testing Center
Academic Testing Center (ATC) assists with exam accommodation under Disability, Access and Inclusion for paper-based, Examsoft, Brightspace and other computer based exam proctoring.
URL: https://web.uri.edu/atc/faculty/
WAVE – Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool –
WAVE, a free tool developed by WebAIM, aids designers and developers in testing the accessibility of their web pages.
URL: http://wave.webaim.org/
NonVisual Desktop Access (NVDA)
Numerous free and open-source screen readers cater to Windows users, among which NonVisual Desktop Access (NVDA) stands out as a popular option.
URL: http://www.nvda-project.org/
Adaptech Research Network –
The Adaptech Research Network offers a range of free or low-cost software beneficial for individuals with disabilities.
URL: http://www.adaptech.org/en/downloads