[Athen] verification that a course is accessible

[Nicolaas Matthijs]

Hi Joshua,

Thanks for sharing the reference to the UC Ally pilot. Through its integration with the Learning Management System, Ally will indeed automatically scan items that are added to the LMS for common accessibility issues.

I did want to make sure that there are no misunderstandings about what Ally does though. We definitely don’t claim that we will make everything automatically accessible.

Ally takes a 3-step approach to helping make course content more accessible. First, Ally does as much as it can in an automated way to generate a more accessible alternative. However, there are certain things we can’t do in an automated way (e.g., image without alternative description).

Given that Ally can’t fix everything automatically, it also flags issues and provides feedback to instructors, and provides comprehensive reporting at the course and institutional level.

Hope that helps,
Nicolaas



> On 14 Mar 2017, at 19:01, Joshua Hori <jhori at ucdavis.edu> wrote:

> 

> Hello Krista!

> 

> We're finally piloting Ally for Canvas in the UC system due to this reason. The quarterly accessibility reports are nice, but need to test out their "EVERYTHING IS AUTOMAGICALLY ACCESSIBLE" claims. 

> 

> But if they REALLY want a checklist...

> 

> http://webaim.org/standards/wcag/checklist

> http://webaim.org/standards/508/checklist

> 

> There are no accessibility badges that I'm aware of.  

> 

> Best, 

> 

> Joshua 

> 

> 

> -----Original Message-----

> From: athen-list [mailto:athen-list-bounces at mailman13.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Krista Greear

> Sent: Tuesday, March 14, 2017 9:00 AM

> To: Access Technology Higher Education Network <athen-list at u.washington.edu>

> Subject: [Athen] verification that a course is accessible

> 

> In one of my recent presentations to academic groups, instructors were curious if there's anyway system for identifying if a course has been reviewed/remediated to be made accessible? Like a sticker, certification or badge? I didn't know so I thought I'd ask. 

> 

> Granted though, I think this is a "checklist" way to approach accessibility, which many of us don't buy into. Classes are organic, content can change on a dime, and instructors need to continually ask the question, "is this accessible?" Indicating that a course was accessible in a specific snapshot of time, does not mean it will stay accessible. 

> 

> How do others address this?

> 

> KRISTA GREEAR

> Assistant Director

> Disability Resources for Students 

> 

> 011 Mary Gates Hall

> Box 352808

> Seattle, WA 98195-2808

> Direct: 206.221.4136 / Main: 206.543.8924 greeark at uw.edu/ http://disability.uw.edu 

> 

> 

> 

> 

> 

> 

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