Universities and technical colleges use a variety of course management systems for online learning. Increased use of distance education such as online classes has made postsecondary education a possibility to students living in rural areas and fulltime employees. However, these distance learning classes can also easily become a barrier for students with disabilities. If the materials used in courses such as Word, PowerPoint, and PDF documents are not made accessible or the CMS itself is not accessible, students with disabilities are losing this educational opportunity.

Why should I care about accessibility of educational web material?
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act mandates that web-mediated material be accessible for all learners. As electronically-mediated instruction transforms higher education, the need to ensure electronic accessibility for all learners becomes an ever-increasing practical, legal and moral obligation.

Common accessibility problems in PowerPoint presentations:
1. Graphics, figures, logos, and flow-charts are not accessible for many people using assistive technologies.
2.The text is not available for screen reader users if the information is not structured within auto layouts provided by PowerPoint program.
3. Poor contrast between background and text makes the information difficult to read on the screen.
4. Multimedia (i.e. streaming video) could present a real challenge for deaf people and for people with visual impairments.

Please keep in mind that there is no a single solution to make PowerPoint presentations accessible, so explore the different options that we present to better fit your needs. Read more here: http://www.cew.wisc.edu/accessibility/tutorials/pptmain.htm

For Microsoft Word and Images click here: https://www.microsoft.com/enable/training/office2010/

Learning about PDF Accessibility: http://www.adobe.com/accessibility/pdf/pdf-accessibility-overview.html

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ADA 508 information can also be found on the Distance Education home page under instructor resources - Instructor Online Handbook http://www.elac.edu/online/instructorResources.htm

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