Accessibility & DEI

Multicultural and intellectual diversity and respect for the dignity and rights of the individual are core values at KU. We practice these values in course design and media production through collaborative efforts.

Design with Accessibility in Mind

KU Accessibility Resources

Resources for creating accessible online course content are available to instructors through the Student Access Center, KU Information Technology, and the KU Libraries. 

  • To promote accessible design efforts, CODL instructional designers:
    • Review course documents, videos, websites, activities, and assessments for accessibility according to Quality Matters standards. 
    • Suggest possible alternatives for resources and materials that are not accessible or are too challenging to convert to an accessible format.
    • Assist in the conversion of essential materials if accessible versions are otherwise unavailable, such as from a publisher. This includes the tagging of PDF, Word, and PowerPoint files for proper reading order and identifying images that need descriptions to provide full context and logical sequence for screen readers used by students with disabilities.
  • CODL media production specialists provide accurate closed captioning for all video productions.

Guidelines for Adopting Publisher Content

From Portland Community College

Here are some questions to ask before adopting publisher content:

  • Are the videos captioned and audio transcribed?
  • Can the content be accessed by a screen reader?
  • Are all activities navigable and usable by a student using only a keyboard?
  • Does the vendor have a VPAT or WCAG 2.0 AA compliance statement?

How Can I Request Accessible Content From My Publisher?

From Dallas Community College

Below is an email template that instructors can use to contact their publisher in order to confirm that all materials, tools, websites, etc. are accessible to students with disabilities.

Subject: Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) Request

Hello,

I need to know if the content you are providing for my course is accessible to students with disabilities, ADA compliant, and follows Federal Section 508 and WCAG guidelines. If not, please let me know what steps are being taken to ensure that all students have equal access to the content produced by your company.

I would also like to be sent a link to your Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) and WCAG 2.0 information to keep on file.

Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT)

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)

Additional Resources