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Course Accessibility Checklist

As you plan your course(s) for the SIUE campus community, please use the following checklist to ensure that the classroom experience is as inclusive and universally designed as possible. If you have any questions, concerns or require clarification on how to make your course elements more accessible, please contact the ACCESS at myaccess@siue.edu or Instructional Design & Learning Technologies department at 618-650-5500 or idlt_center@siue.edu.

Print Materials

Textbooks and Course Materials

I have submitted my textbook/course course materials request to the textbook services according to the stated deadline for the upcoming semester.
I have submitted my course source materials in a clean, legible format so they can be scanned and converted into accessible formats such as audio or large print.
I have also inquired with publishers about the availability of accessible electronic copies.

Syllabi and Handouts

I have created a syllabus in an electronic and accessible format. If you have difficulty using your word processor’s accessibility checker, contact the Instructional Design & Learning Technologies (IDLT) group for additional support.
The statement included in the syllabus directing students needing accommodations to register with ACCESS will be covered on the first day of class or affirmed in some way for online students.
My Word documents and other instructional materials are in an accessible and electronic format.
My PDF documents are accessible (documents scanned or copied from source print material are not accessible to screen readers). If you are unsure as to the accessibility of your portable document format materials, please refer to Anthology Ally or contact IDLT for additional support.

Non-Print Materials

YouTube/Audio Visual Media

My video presentations (DVDs, Video Tapes, Video Podcasts, and other video formats) have the necessary closed captioning or subtitles. YuJa will serve as the primary platform for storing media content across campus, giving faculty, students, and staff the ability to create, upload, and share videos from one location. The SIUE Information and Technology Services Knowledge Base consists of a workflow that explains step by step hot to capture media as well as edit captions generated. The office of Online Services and Educational Outreach also offers digital content caption editing, visit the faculty resources section of the educational outreach webpage for more information.

Internet Resources

The Internet resources (i.e. websites, blogs, wikis, etc.) that I plan to use in class are accessible to all students.

PowerPoint

My PowerPoint files are accessible with alternative tags and labels on all images and elements.
Start with PowerPoint's templates, which are configured with proper heading and paragraph styles.
Accessibility best practices recommends having an alternative version of the PowerPoint with essential images and data tables appropriately labeled and tagged for the benefit of those using screen reader technology.

Course Streaming / Podcasting

My audio presentations (CDs, audio podcasts, audio clips, and other audio formats) are available with a transcript. At the very least I have a plan in place so that students who cannot access the audio will have access to the same information.

Special Events or Programs Required for Class

I have included an accessibility statement in the advertisement literature for the event:

"Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation, including alternate format media or have questions about the physical access provided, please call the office for Accessible Campus Community & Equitable Student Support (ACCESS) at 618.650.3726 or email myaccess@siue.edu in advance of your participation."

Suggested Guidelines for Online Courses

In accordance with the university Digital Accessibility Policy, all online digital content must meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA. Level AA is a specific set of requirements with standards around contrast, alternative text for non-text content (images, charts, audio & video), captions for pre-recorded and live video content, forms with clear identification input boxes, appropriate text spacing, etc. The following guidelines are should be viewed as supplemental to state and federal guidance with specific examples and rationale.

Text

Use only one font type with a base font size of at least 16px (12pt) for body text and 24px (18pt) for large text.
Text spacing must allow adjustments without loss of content, i.e. line height should be greater or equal to 1.5 x font size. Paragraph spacing greater than or equal to 2 x font size. Letter spacing greater than or equal to 0.12 x font size and Word document spacing greater than or equal to 0.16 x font size.
Text should also be scalable up to 200% using standard browser zoom without loss of content or functionality. Avoid fixed pixel sizes as this ensures the text adapts to user settings while ensuring readability on mobile, tablet, and desktop devices.
Research shows that sans-serif fonts are more easily read on computer monitors than serif fonts.
Use high-contrast colors. Black text on a white background is recommended.
Limit use of all CAPS, italics or bold text.
Do not use underlining for emphasis (it can be mistaken for a link).
Use the heading styles found in the word processor's style gallery, rather than using bold styles and enlarging text.
Use the proper heading style to create a logical document structure (Heading 1 for first level information, Heading 2 for second level information, etc.).
Only use tables for tabular data (not design).
Give all tables column headings.
Use list styles (e.g. 1, 2, 3 or bullets) found in the word processor's style gallery

Graphics

All graphics should have alternative text (alt tags) for ADA Section 508 compliance. Screen readers are then able to read and describe the image.
The text information in the alt tag associated with an image/graphic should, when possible, communicate the same information as its image/graphic.

Color

There should be a high contrast between the background color and the font color (4.5:1 for normal text).
Avoid extremely bright colors as a background color, it makes text very hard to read.

Animation

Refrain from using animated or blinking images, text or cursors. These can cause seizures for some people.

Video and Audio

Provide closed-captioning or have accompanying text-based scripts for all video.
Provide text versions of all audio files.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is authorized to operate as a postsecondary educational institution by the Illinois Board of Higher Education.