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MS Word Accessibility

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UDL

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Open Educational Resources (OER)

“MS Word Accessibility + UDL,” licensed CC BY-NC-SA, is adapted by Jen Awwad from “Accessibility + Universal Design for Learning” by Joanna Thompson.

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What does it mean for learning materials to be accessible?

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Legal Background

  • Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act apply to CUNY
    • No qualified individual with a disability can be excluded from participation in or denied the benefits of services, programs, or activities of a public entity
    • Enforced by the Department of Justice and Office for Civil Rights, Department of Education

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Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

  • “...a framework aimed at dismantling participation and learning barriers for all students by centering learner variability in curriculum development” (Waitoller & King Thorius, 2016; Rose & Meyer, 2002) �
  • Focused on students becoming “expert learners”!�
  • Educators separate learning outcomes from the means of achieving them so that there are multiple options for every learner (Waitoller & Thorius, 2016)�

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Three guiding principles:

    • Multiple means of representation: “what” of learning
    • Multiple means of action and expression: “how” of learning
    • Multiple means of engagement: “why” of learning

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UDL: Accessibility in MS Word

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Accessibility in Word: An Overview

Components to consider: �

    • Titles and headings
    • Lists
    • Link text
    • Alternative Text (alt-text)
    • Tables
    • Color and Contrast

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Accessibility in Word: Tools

There are tools built into Microsoft Word to check the accessibility of your documents!

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Run Accessibility Checker on PC:

  1. Open up your word document.
  2. Select the "File" tab
    • This will take you to the "Info" section
  3. Click the "Check for Issues" button in the "Inspect Document" area
  4. In the drop down menu select "Check Accessibility"

Run Accessibility Checker on Mac:

  1. Open up your word document.
  2. Select "Review" tab in the document ribbon.
  3. Select "Check Accessibility" in the review ribbon.

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Using the Accessibility Checker

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Step 1. Select File

Step 2. Select Inspect Document

Step 3. Select Check Accessibility

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Using the Accessibility Checker

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Step 4. Examine Errors and Warnings

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Making Headings Accessible

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Watch the following video to learn how to make documents accessible.

Reference

OhioRSCTV. (2021, April 6). Creating accessible documents with Microsoft Word Headings. Ohio OOD. Retrieved September 14, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B80ph-iDbn4.

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Activity

Now it’s your turn to try.

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In two or three columns

  1. Pull up your syllabus or course material in MS Word
  2. Pair up!
  3. Based on our discussion, determine what elements of your or your partner’s document are inaccessible or could be made more accessible

Questions to get you started:

  • If the document was read aloud to you, would you be able to understand all elements?
  • If you were only able to see certain colors, would the document’s full meaning still be conveyed?

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Thanks!

Any questions?�You can find me at:

  • jawwad1@una.edu

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References

Alim, S. H., Baglieri, S., Ladson-Billings, G., Paris, D., Rose, D. H. Valente, J. M. (2017). Responding to “Cross-Pollinating Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy and Universal Design for Learning: Toward an Inclusive Pedagogy That Accounts for Dis/Ability”. Harvard Educational Review, 87(1), 4-25.

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Rose, D. H. & Meyer, A. (2002). Teaching every student in the digital age: Universal design for learning. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

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Waitoller, F. & King Thorius, K. A. (2016). Cross-pollinating culturally sustaining pedagogy and universal design for learning: Towards an inclusive pedagogy that accounts of dis/ability. Harvard Educational Review, 86(3), 366-390.

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Special thanks to all the people who made and released these awesome resources for free:

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