Accessible Design

Greater accessibility benefits everyone and includes the full range of people's diverse abilities.
Think of it simply as access.

Design with Access in Mind

Integrate accessibility early on in the design phase of your digital information and communication projects.

When you do, you are more likely to avoid creating systemic barriers for people with disabilities and provide better experiences for all types of users.

You will also save valuable time and resources by minimizing the need for accommodations and/or remediation in the future.

Use the Access Guides.

Challenging Myths

Access is...

• For everyone, NOT just for people with disabilities.
• A civil right, NOT a problem to deal with.
• Eliminating barriers, NOT working around barriers.
• A mindset to adopt, NOT a checklist.
• A dynamic scale, NOT a static state of either/or.
• A journey, NOT a destination.
• Everyone's responsibility, NOT for a few experts to fix.
• Simple, NOT Difficult.

Universal Design

Inclusion and flexibility are key concepts in Universal Design for Learning (UDL). When we provide digital information in multiple formats, we provide our audience with more choices that facilitate greater access.

One fun and practicable way to start improving digital access is with what Dr. Thomas Tobin calls Plus-One Thinking.
If your digital information and communication is only available in one format, then consider providing one more (i.e. “Plus-one”).

• Have a text-heavy document?
  Plus-one by recording a video that demonstrates key concepts.

• Have a data table?
  Plus-one by providing an infographic or a pie chart.

• Have a multiple choice final exam?
  Plus-one by offering a paper or authentic project.
  

Digital Curb Cuts Curb cuts are one of the best examples of Universal Design. Just as curb cuts don’t only benefit people who use wheelchairs, digital accessibility doesn’t focus exclusively on individuals with disabilities. Learn the Basic WCAG Techniques to start creating content with digital curb cuts.