AWA Course Accessibility Checklist

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Printable Checklist
Introduction
How to Use this Checklist
Learning Management System
Policy
Media
Files
Web

Printable Version

If you would like to print the checklist and mark items off as you go, download the Printable Version of the checklist.

Introduction

The following course accessibility checklist is designed to help you make your course meet WCAG 2.2 level AA standards. The items listed below do not cover all WCAG 2.2 elements—some of these are met by settings and formats within the software programs we use or by our own website policies, etc. However, for course content and settings which are within the control of faculty, checking off these items will ensure that your course meets all of the WCAG 2.2 elements over which you have control.

Also included in this checklist are items intended to incorporate elements from the accessibility section of the Quality Matters (QM) Rubric.

How to Use This Checklist

The checklist is divided into five sections: Learning Management System (LMS), Policy (POL), Media (MED), Files (FILE), and Web (WEB). Each section begins with a description of the content and includes a table. In some sections, the table will simply describe items that need to be included in the course. In others, the table will describe items that will need to be checked and possibly revised for formatting in order to make the source accessible.

Sections

Learning Management System

The first section of the Course Accessibility Rubric is concerned with the use of KSU’s LMS, D2L Brightspace. Because D2L is especially designed for online distribution of course content and assessments, and because it has a powerful accessibility checker integrated within it (Blackboard Ally), all official course content should be placed in D2L so that students have digital access.

Element Identifier

Description
LMS 1

All official course content and online assessments—any documents, files, videos, links, or resources necessary for the class -- are stored and available within D2L.
LMS 2

Course layout (navbar, navigation, homepage, content organization) is readable and easy to use.

Policy

This section refers to accessibility documentation identified in the accessibility category of the QM Rubric, specifically regarding institutional policies and technology statements.

Element Identifier

Description
POL 1

Syllabus contains KSU accessibility policy and contact information for Student Disability Services.
POL 2

Accessibility statements for all technologies in the course are provided.

Media

In this section, the term “media” refers to multi-media sources, such as video and audio files.

Element Identifier

Type of Media

Description
MED 1

Audio files containing NO synchronized video or images

For any pre-recorded audio files (such as an MP3), text alternative (captions or transcript) is provided. Text alternative is 95% accurate or higher. For music files, a text description of the music is included.
MED 2

Video files containing NO synchronized dialogue or audio

For any pre-recorded video files that do not include audio, an audio alternative (i.e. audio description) with equivalent information is provided.
MED 3

Video files containing synchronized audio content

For any pre-recorded video files that include audio:

Synchronized text (captions) that are 95% accurate or higher are provided for the audio portion of the video.
MED 4

Synchronous (live) video with audio

Captions are available for all live audio content in synchronized (synchronous) video (e.g. Teams or Zoom meetings).
MED 5

Standalone images (images not in a document)

Standalone images include appropriate alternative text unless they are decorative or described in the text.

Files

In this section, the term "files" refers to any type of document file, including word processing documents (e.g. Microsoft Word), HTML pages (e.g. D2L pages, Softchalk modules, lessons created with Articulate products), presentations (e.g. Microsoft PowerPoint), spreadsheets, and PDFs. To learn more about the descriptions, click the linked resources.

Element Identifier

Type of File

Description
FILE 1

All

Images of text are not used (scans of text, pictures of text in documents, etc.) unless image is decorative; text can be customized to user's requirements; or a particular presentation of text is essential to information conveyed (a photograph of text is the subject).
FILE 2

All

Images in documents include appropriate alternative text unless decorative or described in the text.
FILE 3

All

All documents include properly-nested semantic structure when appropriate.
FILE 4

All

Tables have appropriate header rows or columns.
FILE 5

All

Tables are only used to share data and are not used for formatting purposes alone.
FILE 6

All

Text is sufficient contrast 4.5:1, unless text is not intended to be visible. Color is not used to convey meaning.
FILE 7

All

Hyperlinks are written as descriptive links, not as long links or with non-descriptive language such as "click here."
FILE 8

All

Appropriate list styles are used for lists (bullets or numbered lists).
FILE 9

Presentations

All slides include properly formatted title.
FILE 10

Presentations

Reading order of slides is checked by instructor to ensure they are read correctly.

Web

The web section of the rubric refers to any third-party resources (e.g. publisher resources, etc.) or websites that the course uses, whether mandatory or not.

Element Identifier

Description
WEB 1

Third party websites used are checked using WAVE and contain minimal accessibility issues.
WEB 2

Third party resources, (e.g. publisher ancillaries, etexts, etc.) are checked for accessibility by the instructor and contain minimal accessibility issues.