UMBC is committed to providing equal access to electronic information and advancing accessible technology solutions to enhance usability for all users. Accessibility benefits everyone and results in all-inclusive learning and working environments. In order to ensure accessibility in our websites and in our digital learning materials, standard web accessibility guidelines should be adhered to.
The University of Maryland (USM) has put forth Accessible Technology and Information Guidelines and resources for USM institutions to work from in ensuring digital accessibility on their campuses. The resource can be found at https://www.usmd.edu/it-accessibility/
UMBC’s Division of Information Technology (Do-IT) supports a suite of accessible technology tools that support students in their learning and faculty in their instruction and provides a number of online resources and training opportunities. Explore Do-ITs resources at https://doit.umbc.edu/itnm/academic-continuity/available-tools-resources/
Student Technology Resources can be found through Do-IT and specific assistive technology solutions in the Office of Student Disability Services (SDS).
https://doit.umbc.edu/students/
https://sds.umbc.edu/assistive-technology/
Faculty Technology Resources can be found through Do-IT, the Faculty Development Center (FDC), SDS, and OEI.
https://doit.umbc.edu/services/faculty/
https://fdc.umbc.edu/resources/keep-on-teaching/
https://sds.umbc.edu/resources/information-for-faculty/
The Office of Student Disability Services has provided links to checklists for online course accessibility, tips for teaching online courses accessibly, best practices for working with students with disabilities among other frequently answered questions related to digital accessibility, equal access and inclusion. SDS and ADS staff are available for consultation and questions year-round.
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FAQs:
HOW DO I MAKE MY WEBSITE ACCESSIBLE?
Tips for Getting Started: Web Accessibility
HOW DO I MAKE MY PDFS OR COURSE DOCUMENTS ACCESSIBLE?
Standard PDF and word documents utilized for academic or extracurricular university activities need to be made accessible for users with disabilities. An accessible document is one that features tags, headings, and image descriptions. Tags help to create hidden structure within documents so that they are screen reader friendly and allow an individual with a print disability to access the entirety of the document, even if the user cannot physically “see” the document.
Accessible PDFs Resources:
- Ensuring your PDFs are accessible
- Making a PDF accessible with Acrobat Pro DC
- This Accessibility Checklist for virtual courses has been recommended by USM’s Digital Accessibility Group: https://learn-the-web.algonquindesign.ca/topics/accessibility-checklist/
- Additional how-to links can also be found on the Office of Equity & Inclusion’s (OEI) website https://oei.umbc.edu/electronic-and-information-resource-accessibility/