1. I Have to What?!?
Navigating the world of access “online” and in popular computer software programs
This webinar is NOT just for those teaching online. The rules for accessible course materials applies to ALL courses--online, on campus, hybrid.

2. Top Rule: Don’t Wait!
Students with accommodations are under no obligation per ADA to give “advance” notification and cannot be mandated to register differently than any other students. Students can be diagnosed with a disability and become eligible for academic accommodations at any time. Some students choose to delay the use of their accommodations until later in the semester to ensure that disclosure of their disability is necessary.*

3. Basic Starting Point: Simple Steps
Ensure textbook lists are updated and published well by due dates
Ask for an extra “desk copy” so if an electronic copy is unavailable there is a copy for Office of Accessibility (OA) to use for chopping, scanning, and creating accessible versions.
If the book has “options” (CD, digital material, etc.), work with OA to ensure accessibility of material.*
Create materials that are accessible (just a moment--we’re getting to this)
Choose captioned audio/visual material (or create it from the get-go)
Syllabus Statement:
Office of Accessibility Link to Syllabus Statement
When you receive a Letter of Accommodation (LOA) from a student, read it carefully
Utilize the Accessibility Coordinator’s expertise and willingness to assist!!
Closed Captions/Transcripts (This is not covered today, but will be in a later webinar)
Preferred publishers list is at the end under Resources
Most materials associated with textbooks actually have limited accessibility. Plan ahead with a course plan in the instance that digital enhancements are not accessible.
“Auto” captions are not considered “equal access” and will need significant editing, but can be used as a “skeleton” as a starting point if desired.

4. How to Check (and fix) Accessibility in MS Word
MS Word has an “easy” Accessibility Checker you can pin right to your editing row. Start here with everything you create (this makes creating an accessible PDF so much easier as well-- win win).
Pull up “Chem Sheet” and “SSS Handbook”
Talk about the MS Word Course

5. How to Check (and fix) Accessibility for PDFs
Adobe (a company) has an accessibility feature within Adobe Acrobat (a tool), as well, although it is not quite as “intuitive” as MS Word, in my opinion.*
This video (less than 7 minutes) is a great resource on creating/fixing current inaccessible PDFs:
If you are more into a paper/checklist style instruction see the WebAIM website for more details:
If you choose to scan pages for your students, please use an OCR (optional character recognition) scanner. This will enable you to enable the accessibility features for all screen-reader software.
I recommend starting all PDFs as Word docs (except if you use a MAC, you will likely have more to do--one Apple fail).
If you are borrowing from another source, you are still responsible for accessibility and may be better of recreating in Word and saving as PDF than trying to fix another’s access errors.
Pull up LOA for example

6. How to Check (and fix) Accessibility for PowerPoint
Much like MS Word, PowerPoint is a great software for creating accessible course material.
Much of the accessibility community gleans from each other (Don’t fix what ain’t broke)--so here is a WebAim link for PowerPoint:
Google Slides is NOT easily modified to accessibility, but because Slides are easily exported to PowerPoint, you can create accessible Google Slides through a little work around (really, just stick to publishing PowerPoint and you will be much safer, and it's easier).
Use this presentation as example.

7. How to Check (and fix) Accessibility for Canvas

8. Citations, Usable References, Go-tos, Tutorials
General Overall Accessibility Resources (Online or otherwise)
For a “checklist” style:
Teaching Online Only?
Canvas links:
Preferred Publishers:
Cengage
CQ Press
F.A. Davis Company
John Wiley & Sons
McGraw-Hill Education
Pearson Education
Reed Elsevier, Inc.
W.W. Norton