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AccessibilityLeadership

Preparing for New ADA Digital Accessibility Standards

by Matt Russell
written by Matt Russell

A new U. S. DOJ rule aims to ensure that web content and mobile apps are accessible for people with disabilities

The U. S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has introduced a new rule aimed at making digital content and mobile applications more accessible for people with disabilities. On April 24, 2024, the Federal Register published the DOJ’s final rule updating regulations for Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This rule mandates that state and local governments, including public K-12 and higher education institutions, ensure their digital materials are accessible. Schools must now undertake a thorough review and update of their digital content to comply with these new accessibility standards.

The Importance of Accessibility

State and local governments provide many services through websites and mobile apps. Inaccessibility can create significant barriers for individuals with disabilities. This inaccessibility can prevent them from accessing crucial information and can exclude them certain school programs. Non-compliant content examples include videos without captions for deaf users, websites with inadequate text contrast for those with low vision, and digital platforms lacking keyboard alternatives for mouse commands.

U. S. Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized the rule’s significance, stating it “represents the DOJ’s commitment to preventing the exclusion of individuals with disabilities from accessing government services and programs. Schools must actively work towards meeting these new standards.” In other words, it’s all about accessibility.

Steps to Achieve Compliance

1. Conduct a Digital Inventory

Schools should begin by creating an inventory of their digital materials. This process involves identifying all digital content, including websites, mobile apps, and social media posts, and assessing which materials are accessible and which require updates to meet the new standards.

2. Meet Technical Standards

The new rule mandates compliance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Version 2.1, Level AA. These guidelines, developed by the World Wide Web Consortium, provide a comprehensive framework for making web content more accessible. Schools must ensure their digital materials, including text, images, videos, and interactive elements, adhere to these standards. This may involve updating websites to allow text resizing, providing captions for videos, and ensuring all interactive content is keyboard-navigable.

3. Understand Compliance Deadlines

The regulation takes effect on June 24, with compliance deadlines varying by the population size of the local jurisdiction. For K-12 schools in areas with populations of 50,000 or more, the compliance deadline is April 24, 2026. Smaller districts have until April 26, 2027. Public state universities also face the 2026 deadline, while community colleges in smaller areas have until 2027 to comply. If a district is an independent school district, it would use the population estimate in the most recent Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates.

Future Implications and Support

The DOJ expects the new regulation to increase the demand for accessible content from third-party vendors. This shift is likely to result in more vendors providing accessible digital textbooks and materials, aiding schools in their compliance efforts. Schools will need to work closely to ensure all third-party content meets WCAG standards.

If you have more questions about this rule or the ADA, you can call the Department’s ADA Information Line.

For members of TCEA, staying informed and proactive in these compliance efforts is essential. Embrace the changes, seek support when necessary, and commit to creating accessible digital spaces for all. To get you started, check out this blog “How to Make Your Website More Accessible.”

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Feature image asking, "Are you using alternative text?"
AccessibilitySocial Media

How to Increase Accessibility with Alternative Text (Alt Text)

by Lindsay Foster
written by Lindsay Foster

Maybe you wear glasses. Maybe you only need reading glasses. However, 253 million of the world’s population live with vision impairment: 36 million are blind and 217 million have moderate to severe vision impairment (American Federation for the Blind). Providing alt text can support a wide variety of learners, improve navigation for those who have text-based browsers or limited internet connections, and assist search engine optimization (SEO) in locating your information.

What Is Alt Text?

If you’re wondering how to use the “alt text” that appears on images in your school’s Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook page, but don’t know what it means, you’re not alone. For those who may use a screen reader or if an image fails to load, alternative text, also known as alt text, appears in place of the image and offers a description if one has been added. This has been featured in the news of late as individuals and corporations have leveraged the alt text field for hyperlinks, caption credits, and source citations rather than to facilitate understanding. 

Here are some tips that you can use to provide accessible materials in your social media presence.

The ABCs of Alt Text

When composing alt text, it’s important to remember your ABCs:

Accurate: Be as accurate as possible. When you are able to name individuals, such as “Superintendent Smith” or “Principal Jones,” do so. If you have a group of students at a football game using “Cypress Hill High School students at a football game” is sufficient, for example. 

Brief: Many alt text tools limit descriptions to 120 characters (approximately). If you need more than that to describe a complex image such as a map, chart, or graph, consider adding alt text that directs the person to a longer description. The alt text of an image on a website might read, “Longer description link is available below the image” while the alt text of a Twitter post might read, “Longer description is available in post as a shortened URL.”

Complete: Remember that the purpose of alt text is to offer a person who cannot view the image the same information as a person who can view the image. If your image includes dates, times, locations, etc., be sure to include that in your alt text description. Put the most important information first. “Sun rising over the desert: ACME logo” is better than “ACME logo: Sun rising over the desert.”

Image used with example alt text "TCEA Annual Convention attendees smile and laugh during opening keynote session." Image used for examples of good, better, and best alt text. The example alt text is below the image in the blog post.

For example, alt text for this image might read: “TCEA Annual Convention attendees smile and laugh during the opening keynote session.”

Examples of Good, Better, and Best Alt Text in Context

Take a look at this Creative Commons Zero image and the examples of good, better, and best alt text for it. Tip: A screen reader will identify that there is an image and will read the description, so there is no need to begin your alt text with “image of” or “picture of.”

This image is used for examples of good, better, and best alt text. The example alt text is below the image and included in the blog post.

Good Example: “A large statue of a woman holding a torch in her fully raised right hand and a book in her left.”

While this is an accurate description of the image, it doesn’t offer any context (national monument, location, significance, etc.) 

Better Example: “The Statue of Liberty on Ellis Island in New York City against a blue sky with wispy clouds.”

This is a better Alt Text description because it names the statue, offers a location, and gives a description of the weather conditions. However, consider how the changes below would make the description the best for a news story regarding immigration:

Best Example: “The Statue of Liberty on Ellis Island in New York City serves as a powerful symbol for prospective immigrants, as she stands ready with her torch raised in her right hand and holding the text in her left.”

When creating your alt text consider the context of the situation as well as the function of the image. If an image of books is a link to the library catalog, “Search the Library Catalog” is much more useful than: “Photo of a collection of books and other reading materials scattered on a table.”

Check Grammar, Spelling, and Punctuation in Alt Text

Check your spelling, grammar, and punctuation. These are key for a screen reader to pronounce and offer the information to the listener correctly. If you are dictating using speech to text, verify that the tool translated your words to text correctly as well. Everyone has seen what can happen when artificial intelligence misinterprets speech!

Using Alt Text on Social Media Platforms

Instagram

Instagram logo

For Instagram Stories

Instagram has a creative alt text feature for stories. Once you have taken a video on stories, you can access a sticker called “captions,” and auto-generated captions are visible on Instagram.  

Screenshot showing Instagram Stories Captions Sticker.
Instagram Stories Captions Sticker

Another way of adding captions on Instagram is by going to the text sticker and adding the captions manually. This will be more accurate than the auto-generated ones. And this feature will be more helpful if you speak a language other than English. 

For Instagram Images

The process of adding alt text for images is quite easy for Instagram. In the last step of posting, just before you share, tap “Advanced settings” at the very bottom of the screen. Then under “Accessibility” tap “Write alt text.”

Screenshot showing where to find alt text for an instagram photo post.
Where to Find Alt Text in Instagram

Twitter

Twitter logo

For Images

Twitter has made its platform more accessible with the alt text feature for images. They also have a higher character limit (1000) than LinkedIn, so you can be as descriptive as you wish to be! In the app or using a browser, just click on “+ALT” in the bottom right corner of the image. A box called “Description” will appear where you can add the alt text for your images.

Screenshot showing where to access the alt text feature for a Twitter post.

For videos

Twitter users can add subtitle files to videos. 

Facebook

Facebook logo

For Images

On the web-based version of Facebook, under edit image, you will find “Alternative text.” Select this option and enter your custom description.

Screenshots showing how to add alt text to a Facebook post on the web-based platform.

On the app, look for the three white horizontal dots on the right side next to the “x.” When selected, the “Edit alt text” option appears.

Screenshots showing how to add alt text using the Facebook app.

Facebook has a feature that auto-generates a description on its own as well. This feature is usually not as descriptive or completely accurate. This description can always be customized, even after the picture is posted. So a brand can go to their older images and select the option “change alt text” to make all of their content accessible.

For Videos

The videos on Facebook also auto-generate captions, but there is an option to edit the caption frame by frame. This is an excellent feature for those who do not have subtitle files ready with them, they can upload native videos and customize the captions on Facebook itself. Be aware that auto-captions are only 70-80% accurate and can often miscommunicate information. Be sure to check the captions before publishing. Alternatively, the channel has given the option to upload subtitles files as well!

More on Alt Text and Accessibility Topics

I hope you’ve found this information helpful and information on your journey to making all content accessible. Know any other tips and tricks? Add them in the comments!

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Google Tips and Tricks

Google’s Appointment Schedules Provides More Options and Accessibility

by Jennifer Bergland
written by Jennifer Bergland

Google has recently made some major improvements to their solution for scheduling appointments using Google Calendar. Appointment Schedules make it possible for any individual to use the system regardless of what email server they use. This new solution also sets up a booking page making it super easy for individuals to find and use. 

Getting Started with Appointment Schedules

In order to get started using the new Appointment Schedules, you first need to turn it on in your Google Calendar settings. 

  1. On a computer, open Google Calendar.
  2. Click on the gear icon and scroll through the general settings to Appointment schedules.
  3. Check the box next to Create appointment schedules instead of appointment slots.
    • To turn off appointment schedules, uncheck the box.

Create an Appointment Schedule

You can only create an appointment schedule on your calendar in week or day view, so make sure one of those two views is enabled.

1. Create an event as you normally would, but select Appointment schedule instead of Event, and then title it. 

2. Determine how long each meeting will last and choose the block of time for these appointments. 

Scheduling Options

You have some options for when the scheduling window will open, how far in advance individuals can sign-up for an appointment, and when individuals may reserve an appointment. It is important to remember that time slots won’t show up on your calendar until they meet the criteria you set in the Scheduling Window. For example, if you determine that individuals cannot sign up for an appointment until two weeks before the appointment, you won’t see any available slots on your calendar three weeks from now. However, in a week, they will be there because you are now two weeks before that date. 

Create a Buffer Time

You can also add some buffer time between appointments and choose how many bookings you want in a day. This is nice if you want to give yourself some time to take care of personal needs or take breaks between appointments.

Booking Page

As mentioned above, one of the best features of Appointment Schedules is that you direct individuals to your Appointment Schedules webpage, not your calendar.  For each schedule, you have the ability to pre-determine if these appointments will be in person, on the phone, via Google Meet, or to be determined later.  You can also provide a description of the appointments. 

To sign-up, individuals will click on a slot and insert their information. Because I set up the example below as phone call appointments, the phone number field is required. 

Once they complete the set-up process, individuals will get a confirmation for their appointment in their email as well as a calendar invite to add it to their calendar. 

To get to your booking page, click on one of the appointment schedule events on your calendar. It will open up a box that has a link to your booking page. 

Practice Makes Perfect

Since Google has given us more options, it may take some practice for you to become familiar with how appointment scheduling works. So my advice is to create some to practice! Google has all the information you need to use this new feature on their Google Calendar Support site.

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digital accessibility
Content Creation

How to Encourage Digital Accessibility

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

Supporting digital accessibility remains a key priority for schools and organizations. As a blogger and website designer, I often despaired of my efforts in the area of digital accessibility. What actions should I take to make content more accessible for others? How could I better optimize my text for screen readers?

When I began working as a school district technology director, I was able to address the issue, and I’ll share several digital accessibility rubrics.

Did You Know about WAVE?

WAVE is suite of tools to help web you make your web content more accessible. Use the form at https://wave.webaim.org/, enter the web page address of your page and submit the form. You can find Firefox and Chrome extensions for evaluating pages. You can also find site-wide WAVE tools for evaluating pages. Learn More.

Why Make Content Accessible

For me, the answer is simple. When I don’t make content accessible, there is a world of people who are cut off from the content. As Kaitlyn Nielsen points out, accessible content improves access for all. She says:

Content is a critical part of your accessibility strategy. It improves the web experience for all users, not just people with disabilities.

In 2020, Raymond Rose, a TCEA member, wrote this as a comment on a previous blog entry:

“I wish that you’d include some information about making the website fully accessible (WCAG 2.1 AA). A survey of some 6k LEA websites a year ago found that only ~60% passed the webAim WAVE review.

We know that tool does not pick up all the accessibility issues. If teachers are doing websites for communications, they should be communicating with everyone.”

As you might surmise, there are a wealth of tools available to content creators. The question I have: How can we leverage these tools to improve digital accessibility? It’s an important question, and one that I can’t take credit for asking.

The Need for a Simple Rubric

In a recent TCEA Community chat, Raymond made an assertion I had to respond to.

“It would be nice if there were a simple rubric to assess digital accessibility,” said Raymond Rose. He then said, “Unfortunately, that doesn’t exist.” How could I resist the challenge of trying to make a simple rubric?

The rubric I curated and adapted addresses some key areas that Raymond identifies as important, as well as others. In his TCEA Community remarks, he highlights the United States Department of Justice. The US DOJ says:

…businesses “can currently choose how they will ensure” web accessibility. DOJ identifies the “Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and the Section 508 Standards. The federal government uses these for its own websites… (Source: Morgan Lewis)

Keep in mind that creating a simple rubric can be difficult. The topics are tough and can be technical. It’s important to have some way to assess the tools we use as educators.

I wish that you’d also include a comment about the accessibility or lack of accessibility for students with disabilities for each tool you review. Teachers should not be using a tool if it is not fully accessible. Source: Raymond Rose

It’s easy to get lost in the weeds, especially with a holistic or analytic rubric.  To avoid confusion, I decided to use a single point rubric format.

The Single Point Rubric

Mary Dietz (2000) created the single point rubric. As Jennifer Gonzalez (Cult of Pedagogy) points out:

  • For teachers, they are easier and faster to create. Why? You don’t have to spend time thinking up ways people can fail to achieve the ideal.
  • For students, they are simpler to understand and process.

You can also use them to focus users on reflection, as you will see in my version of the single point rubric. It’s simple! The header has three columns:

  • Glows: How do you address this in your work?
  • Outcome(s): Identify intended outcome
  • Grows: How can you get better at this in your work?

When I first started, I had more complex column headers. I stripped out unnecessary words. The rest of the rubric tries to do the same. Give it a try, either for your organization or for your content and resources.

digital accessibility

View complete rubric | Get a copy of the Google Doc

Reading and reflecting on the Grows question for my own work, I could see there might be room for growth. How would such indicators and questions cause your organization to grow?

More Rubrics and Resources

What? You wish there were more rubrics? You wish the rubric above addressed more areas? You may be longing for more complexity. If you’d like to see other examples, explore this Wakelet Collection.

digital accessibility
Screenshot by author
View Wakelet Collection

Feature Image Source

Screenshot by author

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Special Needs

Global Accessibility Awareness

by Diana Benner
written by Diana Benner

Global Accessibility Awareness Day falls on May 21, 2020. The purpose of the day is to get everyone talking, thinking, and learning about digital access. As educators, we want to support students with disabilities, students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), and teachers using accessibility features.

Background

The idea of a Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) started with a single blog post written by Joe Devon. Being a web developer, Joe wanted to raise awareness and know-how on making websites accessible to everyone. Consequently, he joined forces with Jennison Asuncion, an accessibility professional, to start GAAD.

The day is celebrated on the third Thursday of May. Both in-person and virtual events will be held on May 21, 2020. In addition, there are ways you can experience accessibility first hand in order to celebrate the day.

TCEA Accessibility Resources

To celebrate Global Accessibility Awareness Day, we’ve curated some TCEA resources below.

App Resources Every Special Needs Teacher Should Bookmark

This is a list of great apps specifically for teachers and staff who use iOS or Android devices and work with students with special needs.

Built-In Chromebook Accessibility Features

Did you know that Chromebooks come with built-in accessibility features? For that reason, Chromebooks can help expand student learning experiences.

Closed Captions in Google Slides

Explore the new, automated closed caption feature in Google Slides that will make presentations more accessible for your audience. In short, your audience will be able to read what you are saying.

Communication Beyond Barriers with Ava

If you are hard of hearing or deaf, communication with others can sometimes be a problem. As a result, a new app now provides a fast solution that removes any barriers.

Enhance Accessibility with Chromebooks

Explore Chromebook add-ons and extensions that will ensure learning accessibility for all students.

Give Struggling Readers a Better Way to Read

Looking for a way to help struggling readers? Try this Chrome extension in order to make it easier for them to read and understand.

Grackle Your Google Docs

Are you sure the Google Docs you create are accessible by all your students? If not, find out how easy it is to check with Grackle Docs. Your Google Docs will be accessible, as well as more readable.

How to Inspire a Passion for Learning with Audio Books

Human-read audio books are at the heart of this teacher’s strategy to support struggling readers. Learn how to inspire a passion for learning with audio books. Most importantly, students will have another way of enjoying books.

Improve Your Students’ Reading Experience with Chrome

Discover how extraordinary the Chrome browser is with this list of reading tools. Undoubtedly, they will help your students have a more successful reading experience.

Make Your Google Docs More Accessible

Take a look at these best practices that will help you create Google Docs that will be more accessible and usable by your students.

More Ways to Make Your Google Docs Accessible

Are you looking for more ways to make your Google Docs accessible? Check out additional best practices below in order to create easy-to-use Google documents.

New PowerPoint Translator Makes Captioning Possible

Accessible learning becomes a reality with Microsoft’s newest offering. As a result of this feature, you will be able to make same language subtitles.

Protect Your Eyes with Chrome Extensions

Learn about four different Chrome extensions that can protect your eyes. As a result, they will make reading easier, even for dyslexic students.

Reading Made Easy in the Chrome Browser

Getting through the extraneous content and ads on websites can be a trial these days. Finally, there are several solutions that will make reading easier.

Remote Learning for Special Education Teachers

If you are facing challenges as a special education educator during this tech-heavy remote learning time, discover three responses to the challenges.

Supporting Bilingual Students with Reading and Writing

Did you know that Chromebooks come with built-in accessibility features? Learn some ways in which Chromebooks help expand student learning experiences as well as help with reading and writing.

The Role of Technology in Special Education

Millions of US students take part in special education. Traditionally, meeting special needs was a challenge. New tech, however, offers new opportunities.

When Text to Speech Matters

Turning text to speech and vice versa gets easier every day. Explore solutions that will undoubtedly delight your ears with text to speech.

Website Accessibility for All

Making sure that the information posted to your district website can be used by all is critical. Here are resources to ensure website accessibility.

Mark the Day

Be sure to take some time out of your day to increase your awareness, as well as share your knowledge about digital accessibility. Let us know in the comments below how you will be marking the day.

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accessibility
ChromebooksSpecial Needs

Built-In Chromebook Accessibility Features

by Diana Benner
written by Diana Benner

Chromebooks are so powerful that they come with built-in accessibility features right out of the box. In order to unlock learning experiences for students with diverse needs, abilities, and learning preferences, try some of the accessibility features listed below.

Increase the Size of the Browser Content

Press Ctrl + Plus (+) to increase the size of the browser content. Ctrl + Minus (-) will decrease the size and Ctrl + 0 will reset it. The rest of the desktop will be unaffected. (This is great when you want to highlight a particular section of a website or even for those of us with “older eyes.”)

Increase the Size of All Items

Press Ctrl+Shift+Plus (+) to increase the size of the browser content. Note that the status tray and tab strip enlarge, too. Ctrl+Shift+Minus (-) will decrease the size.

Turn on the Built-In Full-Screen Magnifier

Magnifying Glass

To turn on the magnifier, click the snowman (three dots in the upper right-hand corner of the Chrome browser) > Settings > Advanced > Manage Accessibility Features (under Accessibility category) > Enable Screen Magnifier. Pressing Ctrl + Search + M will also get the magnifier to appear. To adjust the magnifier, hold Ctrl+Alt and scroll two fingers on the touch pad.

Use High Contrast Mode

To make the screen a little bit easier to see, use High Contrast Mode which inverts all colors. To enable this, click the snowman (three dots) > Settings > Advanced > Manage Accessibility Features > Use High Contrast Mode. Pressing Ctrl + Search + H will also toggle the contrast on and off.

Adjust Mouse Cursor

Some students may prefer a larger mouse cursor. To enable this, click the snowman (three dots) > Settings > Advanced > Manage Accessibility Features > Show Large Mouse Cursor.

Adjust Mouse Cursor

Highlight the Mouse Cursor When Moving

Colored circles can highlight the mouse cursor when it’s moving on the screen. To enable this, click the snowman (three dots) > Settings > Advanced > Manage Accessibility Features > Highlight the Mouse Cursor When It’s Moving.

Highlight Mouse Cursor

Hear Text Read Aloud

When your students want to hear certain words or passages, all they have to do is highlight what they want to hear and then press Search+S once Hear Text Read Aloud is enabled. To enable this, click the snowman (three dots) > Settings > Advanced > Manage Accessibility Features > Enable Select-to-Speak. Once enabled, you will also notice a small speaker icon appear in the status tray. Students can click the speaker icon to select text that they want to hear.

Use the ChromeVox Screen Reader

The built-in ChromeVox screen reader makes everything accessible using synthesized speech. Press Ctrl+Alt+Z to enable or disable it at any time.

Microphone

Enable Dictation

It might be easier for students to speak into any text field instead of typing. To enable dictation, click the snowman (three dots) > Settings > Advanced > Manage Accessibility Features > Enable Dictation. Once enabled, you will notice a microphone icon appear in the status tray. Students can then place their cursor in a text field, click the microphone icon, and begin speaking. Pressing Search + D will also enable the microphone.

Chromebooks help extend and expand student learning experiences, including those with disabilities and diverse approaches to learning. To learn more about accessibility in Google for Education products, click here. In addition, check out some of these TCEA TechNotes blog posts on accessibility.

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ed tech news
Educational Trends

Ed Tech News Roundup: 5G, Accessibility, and Profitability

by Andrew Roush
written by Andrew Roush

Howdy, folks! Welcome to another in a series of periodic ed tech news roundups. We hope you enjoy this one, and if you have a story you’d like to see included, let us know.

The Next Generation

Wireless providers have been rolling out 5G networks for a few years. This fifth generation of wireless transmission is poised to bring more devices into the world of cellular communication, and with faster speeds. What will that mean for education? A lot.

  • The new cellular technology will expand access to educations, as well as create more immersive learning experiences, according to former teacher and writer Larry Bernstein. [EdTech]
  • Meanwhile, the rollout of 5G networks requires the installation of new cellular towers, a move that has seen pushback around schools and in residential areas across the country, notably in Chicago, South Carolina, and Los Angeles. [CBS Chicago, Post and Courier, Los Angeles Times]

Access Granted

Accessibility is one of the most vital and powerful uses of ed tech. As technology advances, new ways of making learning available to all students are growing along with it.

  • In their look ahead to 2020 trends, EdTech sees continued creativity and utility in tech for accessibility. [EdTech]
  • Among all the spaces being opened by technology, the gaming industry is making a major push to create games that are designed around special-needs learners. [EdWeek Market Brief]

Market Forces

Educational technology has not only become a day-to-day part of life in education, it’s become a big business. Here’s how the ed tech market is growing into a new decade.

  • U.S. ed tech firms closed out the previous decade with a whopping $1.7 billion raised in funding in 2019. [EdSurge]
  • A review of ed tech trends suggests continued growth in the market in the coming years — including the minting of more billionaires in the industry. [Forbes]

…And Finally

Trading Valentines in class is a time-honored tradition, and most people can remember collecting cards from classmates in little construction-paper boxes. A small Illinois museum is currently recreating a 1950’s Valentine’s Day celebration, letting visitors step back into a vintage classroom party.

unsplash-logoPhoto: James Wainscoat
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ChromebooksGoogle Tips and Tricks

Enhance Accessibility with Chromebooks

by Diana Benner
written by Diana Benner

Are  you struggling to enhance accessibility with Chromebooks in your classroom? Allow TCEA to showcase several tools and resources. In this blog entry, you will find  a few accessibility add-ons and extensions for Chromebooks.

Make Learning Accessible on Chromebooks

Find a list of Chrome apps and extensions for special needs grouped by topic. Special thanks to Eric Curts for sharing his wonderful ideas.

Communication

  • Picto4Me – Allows you to create, edit, download, and play pictographic communication boards.

Focus

  • Simple Blocker – This tool helps students to stay focused on their work by blocking distracting websites. The user can choose the sites to block, how long to block them, and include optional password protection.
  • uBlock Origin – A simple but powerful ad-blocking extension that removes distracting ads from websites.
  • Move It – This extension can be set to periodically stop students working and have them do something physical. Research supports movement during study to improve retention.

Readability

  • OpenDyslexic – This extension overrides all fonts on web pages with the OpenDyslexic font and formats pages to be more easily readable.
  • High Contrast – This tool can make webpages easier to read by changing the colors to increase contrast, invert the colors, or switch to grayscale.
  • Readline – Although designed as a speed reading tool, you can adjust the speed to the lowest setting and use this extension to easily read text one word at a time.
  • Visor– This screen overlay tool darkens the page except for a horizontal band you can move up and down as you read, helping the student focus.
  • Color Enhancer – For people who are partially color-blind, this tool can help adjust and improve webpage colors.

Reading Comprehension

  • SummarizeThis – Copy and paste any text into the app to get a summarized version of the most important information.
  • sentiSum – Get a summarized version of any web page.
  • Google Dictionary – Double-click any word on a web page to get a pop-up with the definition and audible pronunciation.
  • Books That Grow – Books That Grow is a leveled reading app that contains eBooks that are set for each user’s reading ability.

This list is just a few of the many Chrome add-ons that can enhance accessibility in your classroom. Be sure to see another list of helpful add-ons that enhance readability and reading comprehension. Make sure to register for Get Your Google On webinars each month where we showcase additional ways to utilize the power of G Suite for learning. If you discover other apps and extensions that work with the Chrome browser to help students with accessibility, please share in the Comments section below.

 

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website accessibility
LeadershipTechnical Support

Website Accessibility for All

by Lori Gracey
written by Lori Gracey

If you are responsible for your district or campus website, then you are already familiar with the need for it to load quickly, to work on mobile devices, and to look good. But you may not be as familiar with the need to ensure that it is accessible to all individuals, including those with disabilities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in five adults in the United States has a form of disability that impacts their use of a standard website; that’s more than 53 million people. And that’s why website accessibility is crucial.

How Disabilities Affect Website Design

According to the Virginia Department of Education, there are four categories of disabilities that affect website design:

  • Visual disabilities – blind, low-vision, vision impaired, elderly, including the following specific conditions: myopia, color blindness, glaucoma, and ocular albinism
  • Auditory disabilities – hearing impairments, including presbycusis, acoustic trauma, auditory processing disorder, and otosclerosis
  • Motor disabilities – physical disabilities limiting access to device-dependent web content, including repetitive stress injury, cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s, and muscular dystrophy
  • Cognitive disabilities – intellectual/development disabilities, including Down’s syndrome, autism, global developmental delay, and dyslexia

That’s an overwhelming list for a webmaster, to be honest. Here’s a better way to think about the problems that can prevent your website being accessible to everyone. If any of these are true of the site you maintain, then you need to make corrections.

  • Missing alternative text describing images for blind and low-vision users
  • Content inaccessible for users unable to navigate with a mouse
  • Inaccessible color combinations for textual information
  • Uncaptioned or inaccurately captioned videos
  • Inaccessible documents

Website Accessibility Resources

Once you’ve identified the areas on the website that need work, there are lots of resources to help you. Below are some of the better ones.

The most comprehensive web accessibility resources are from W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) WAI. It’s a large website with numerous links and tools. Here are some specific pages that should be helpful for getting started.

This site, again from the Virginia Department of Education, includes specific tools to address each of the common problems with accessibility.

This article from Terrill Thompson, “Good Examples of Accessible Websites,” provides basic evaluations of specific sites. It includes some very common sense and simple solutions as well.

Some of the tools recommended to districts to assess their current compliance include the following:

  • HiSoftware Cynthia Says Portal is a web content accessibility validation solution. It is designed to identify errors in your content related to Section 508 standards and/or the WCAG guidelines.
  • FireEyes is a free tool for testing websites for 508 compliance.
  • Tenon’s free checker is another free tool to test your site’s accessibility.

If you offer downloadable documents in Word, Google Docs, or PDF format on your website, you also want to ensure that those documents are accessible by all. You can use this detailed resource “Creating Accessible Documents” or this one to help. Also, if you need to provide subtitles for videos on your website, you can use the free tool Subtitle Horse.

Whether you maintain the website yourself or you pay a company to do that for you, it’s important that the content and information you post there is able to be seen and used by all. Take steps today to check on your site’s accessibility.

This blog was updated with additional resources on November 14, 2017.

 

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AI/VR

How AI Boosts Learning

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

How can you design learning experiences for students that resonate with them? You offer different ways for students to understand information and show they have learned it. You also design lessons to be interesting and motivating for all students. Doing that can be tough, which is why AI chatbots can be such an aid. Let’s take a look at how AI boosts learning.

AI Meets UDL

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) offers three principles for learning design. Those include:

  • Multiple means of representation. This ensures information is presented in different ways, like reading text, processing images as diagrams and infographics. It also means audio, video, and hands-on activities.
  • Multiple means of action and expression. That is, students can show what they’ve learned in a variety of ways. This could be writing, drawing, speaking, or prototyping.
  • Multiple means of engagement. Relevant topics, games and simulations, collaboration are the hallmarks of this principle.

AI chatbots can assist you with creating materials in multiple formats, as well as crafting specific learning goals. AI can’t do everything for you, but it can make the job easier. Let’s explore a few ways.

Image created by author showing five areas impacted by AI and UDL.
Image created by author showing five areas impacted by AI and UDL

1. Smart Learning Paths

AI may soon serve as a personal learning assistant for students. Consider this scenario using AI tools like Gemini and Brainsy AI:

Ms. Johnson inputs her students’ learning goals and preferences into Brainsy AI. The AI works its magic. It creates customized learning plans that adapt in real-time. Students zoom through content at their own pace, with the difficulty adjusting on the fly. It’s like having a tailor-made education for every kid in the class!

Other AI options, like TeacherServer, Colleague AI or Curipod, are available, too. The main benefit of these tools? Assist you in the creation of lesson plans, activities, and assessments. More important, these are customized, or personalized,students’ needs.

2. Always There AI Tutors

How can schools offer one on one attention? You might try relying on tools like ChatGPT Custom GPTs like Math Mentor, Khanmigo, and Cognii as teaching assistants. Students can use AI to engage in decomposition of complex problems. Consider this vigenette:

Math used to be David’s nemesis, but now he’s got AI tutors in his corner. These tools break down complex problems, offer step-by-step guidance, and adapt their explanations until that “aha!” moment hits. It’s like having a patient, knowledgeable tutor available around the clock.

For language learners, TalkPal AI offers conversation practice. Need students to interact with historical figures? Try Hello History. It allows students to chat with historical figures.

3. Breaking Learning Barriers

For audio accessibility, Speechify offers support to students who may be dyslexic. Speechify offers a free Chrome extension, automated textbook reader, and PDF read aloud support.

Consider this vignette:

With Speechify, Emily can have her assignments read aloud, adjust font sizes, and tweak contrast settings. It’s not just about access – it’s about empowering every student to engage with content on their terms.

Canva AI, read more about it in these blog entries, offers design tools with built-in accessibility features.

4. Bridging Language Gaps

“Could you translate this for me?” I remember translating endless worksheets and resources for my third grade bilingual classroom. I kept a Velasquez translation dictionary by my side. Those days are long past, thank goodness. Most AI chatbots can do translation on the fly now. Others offer a bit more, like Twee.

This story of an English language learner captures some of the ways Twee can assist emerging bilinguals:

Maria, an English language learner, uses Twee to tackle her English homework. Key vocab and tricky concepts? Explained in a snap. Now Maria can focus on mastering the language, not wrestling with confusing idioms and grammar rules.

AI-assisted tools, like Microsoft’s Speaker Coach, can assist the teacher in vocabulary, pacing, and more effective classroom interactions. Other tools like QuestionWell and QuizWizard can generate quizzes specific to topic, gamifying with rewards. What’s more, they make YouTube videos with captions into interactive quizzes.

5. Fast Feedback for Growth

Providing real time feedback remains all important, given the research on its effectiveness. An AI tool like TeachTappy make feedback easier, faster, and relevant. Consider this vignette:

Mr. Thompson uses TeachTappy to give instant feedback on assignments. Students can tweak their work, resubmit, and keep improving. It’s like having a tireless teaching assistant, helping students refine their skills in real-time.

Aside from assessment tools mentioned already, here are two more for quick assessments:

  • Use Conker or QuizBot. They can generate multiple-choice quizzes for just-in-time low-stakes assessments.
  • GotFeedback for personalized student feedback.

Putting AI to Work

There are many AI tools out there. The ones shared in this blog post are to make you aware of the variety possible. You are encouraged to try some out, but pick one or two to use consistently.

Your AI Teaching Kit

Ready to dive in? Check out the table below for a quick reference guide to get started. Each student need now includes a question to help you pinpoint exactly how AI boosts learning in different circumstances.

Student NeedQuestionAI Integration with UDLSuggested AI Tools
Personalized LearningHow can I create a learning playlist tailored to each student’s needs?Create customized learning paths based on individual student data and learning objectivesBrainsy AI, Colleague AI, Curipod, Kangaroos AI
One-on-One SupportHow can I provide individualized tutoring when I can’t be everywhere at once?Offer adaptive feedback and guidance through natural language processingChatGPT, Cognii, TalkPal AI, Hello History
AccessibilityHow can I make learning materials accessible to students with diverse needs?Enable text-to-speech, font adjustments, and high contrast modesSpeechify, Canva AI, Formative AI
Language SupportHow can I help English language learners understand complex content?Provide real-time translations and language learning supportMeta, Twee, Quizlet Plus
Emotional SupportHow can I offer emotional guidance to students when I’m not available?Recognize emotional cues and respond with empathy and coping strategiesClaude, Woebot, Wysa, Speaker Coach (for teachers)
Real-time FeedbackHow can I give immediate, constructive feedback on student work?Provide instant feedback on assignments with suggestions for improvementTeachTappy, Conker, QuizBot, GotFeedback
Handwriting AssistanceHow can I help students who struggle with handwriting complete their work?Convert handwritten notes and assignments to typed textGoogle Cloud Vision API, Microsoft Azure Computer Vision, MyScript
Reading SupportHow can I support students who need text read aloud to comprehend content?Read text materials aloud and create interactive reading experiencesSpeechify, QuestionWell, QuizWizard

Have you tried any of these AI tools in your classroom? Share your experiences in the comments below. Let’s learn from each other and keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in education!

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