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Tag: Digital accessibility

  • Teach Access Releases 2024 Impact Report, Celebrates Reaching 930,000 Students, and Unveils Bold New Strategic Plan

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    GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., December 12, 2024 (Newswire.com)
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    Teach Access, a leading nonprofit dedicated to enhancing digital accessibility education, announced its 2024 Impact Report today. The report highlights the organization’s extraordinary milestone of reaching 930,000 students with accessibility-focused education and training. Alongside this achievement, Teach Access is proud to unveil its new three-year strategic plan, charting a visionary course to advance its mission of preparing the next generation to create a more inclusive digital world.

    The 2024 Impact Report showcases how Teach Access continues to influence curriculum design and industry practices by empowering educators, institutions, and tech companies to prioritize accessibility. This remarkable reach reflects the collective efforts of Teach Access partners and supporters who have integrated accessibility concepts into coursework, workshops, and corporate initiatives nationwide.

    “Reaching 930,000 students is a testament to the power of collaboration and the dedication of our partners in education and industry,” said Kate Sonka, Executive Director. “This milestone underscores the growing recognition that accessibility is not a niche skill-it’s an essential competency for creating equitable and inclusive technology.”

    In tandem with the Impact Report, Teach Access has outlined an ambitious three-year strategic plan focused on several core pillars, including:

    • Program Expansion – To accelerate its mission, Teach Access will expand its scope outside of traditional U.S. higher-education classrooms, including international, US-based K-12 classrooms and training programs such as boot camps, to continue reaching more educators and students.

    • Program Evaluation – Teach Access will design and execute a program evaluation plan to support the organization’s ability to define its short and long-term impact toward its vision of a world where all technology is born accessible. Using data-driven insights, Teach Access will make informed decisions about current and future programming and effectively evaluate its impact on students and, ultimately, the workforce for accessible technology.

    “With this new strategic plan, we are poised to amplify our impact and lead a transformative movement toward a more inclusive future,” said Sonka. “The digital accessibility skills gap is a solvable challenge, and together, we will continue equipping tomorrow’s innovators to rise to the occasion.”

    Teach Access invites educators, industry professionals, policymakers, and advocates to join this mission and contribute to its vision for a digitally inclusive society.

    To learn more, visit teachaccess.org

    About Teach Access
    Teach Access is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization collaborating with education, industry, government, and disability advocacy organizations to address the critical need to enhance students’ understanding of digital accessibility as they learn to design, develop, and build new technologies with the needs of people with disabilities in mind. Teach Access envisions a fully accessible future in which students enter the workforce with knowledge of the needs of people with disabilities and skills in the principles of accessible design and development, such that technology products and services are born accessible.

    Source: Teach Access

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  • Registration Open for Teach Access’ Free Two-Day Virtual Student Academy on Disability and Accessibility

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    Haben Girma, the first Deafblind graduate of Harvard Law School and a renowned advocate for disability justice, will kick off the event.


    GRAND RAPIDS, MI, November 26, 2024 (Newswire.com)
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    Teach Access, a national nonprofit that supports educators to teach and students to learn about digital accessibility, invites students and lifelong learners to participate in a free, 2-day virtual workshop dedicated to fostering empathy, awareness, and skills in accessibility. Whether new to accessibility or seeking to expand knowledge, the Teach Access Student Academy will empower students to create a more inclusive world.

    • Dates: Thursday, February 20, 2025, and Friday, February 21, 2025

    • Time: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM ET (8:00 AM – 2:00 PM PT)

    • Location: Zoom

    “Accessibility isn’t just a technical skill-it’s a mindset that empowers you to create solutions everyone can access and experience, ” said Leslie Johnson, Operations & Program Manager for Teach Access. “This free training offers students and lifelong learners a unique opportunity to increase their knowledge of accessibility and its importance, learn practical accessibility skills, and connect with industry leaders passionate about inclusion. Students will not only learn about accessibility but will also gain confidence knowing how to advocate for a more accessible world.”

    Key Highlights:

    • Opening Keynote Speaker: Haben Girma, the first Deafblind graduate of Harvard Law School and a renowned advocate for disability justice.

    • Interactive Sessions: Gain practical skills and actionable strategies from academic and industry subject matter experts to incorporate accessibility into your projects.

    • Careers in Accessibility Panel: Learn how to kickstart a career in accessibility and connect with industry leaders.

    • Employer Networking Opportunity: Optionally, connect with companies looking for passionate individuals for internships and job opportunities.

    What Participants Will Learn:

    Over two days, students will build empathy and awareness of disability and accessibility through engaging sessions and inspiring talks. They will also explore career opportunities, learn practical skills, and gain confidence in advocating for inclusion. Teachers are encouraged to share this free academy with their students to inspire them to learn accessibility skills and become advocates for inclusion.

    Both days include featured sessions and hands-on activities. All sessions will be recorded and shared with registered participants. Teach Access recently partnered with Making Space, the accessible talent acquisition and learning experience platform, to connect job seekers with employers looking for individuals with accessibility knowledge.

    Don’t miss this unique opportunity to learn, grow, and make a difference. Register today and become a champion for accessibility! Communication access Real-time captioning (CART) & American Sign Language (ASL) will be provided. For assistance with registration, email Teach Access at info@teachaccess.org.

    About Teach Access

    Teach Access is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization collaborating with education, industry, government, and disability advocacy organizations to address the critical need to enhance students’ understanding of digital accessibility as they learn to design, develop, and build new technologies with the needs of people with disabilities in mind. Teach Access envisions a fully accessible future in which students enter the workforce with knowledge of the needs of people with disabilities and skills in the principles of accessible design and development, such that technology products and services are born accessible.

    Contact Information

    Kate Sonka
    Executive Director
    kate@teachaccess.org
    7736338294

    Source: Teach Access

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  • Teach Access Honored as a Finalist in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion – Education or Literacy Platform for the 4th Annual Anthem Awards

    Teach Access Honored as a Finalist in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion – Education or Literacy Platform for the 4th Annual Anthem Awards

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    GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., October 23, 2024 (Newswire.com)
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    Teach Access announced today that it has been named a Finalist in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion category of the 4th Annual Anthem Awards for its free Open Educational Resource (OER) Curriculum Repository. 

    The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences selects Anthem winners. Judges for the 4th Annual Anthem Awards include Janine Brady, Managing Director of Communications, Schmidt Futures, Haven Ley SVP, Program Strategy, Investments and Comms., CSO, Pivotal Ventures, Roma McCaig, Chief Public Affairs and Impact Officer, REI Co-op, Wendy R. Weiser, Vice President, Democracy, Brennan Center for Justice, Brett Peters, Global Lead, TikTok for Good, TikTok, C.D. Glin, President, PepsiCo, Aurora James, Activist and Fashion Designer, Fifteen Percent Pledge, Michelle Waring, Steward for Sustainability and Everyday Good, Tom’s of Maine, Trovon Williams, Sr. Vice President of Marketing & Communications, NAACP, and Singleton Beato, Global EVP, Chief DEI Officer, McCann Worldgroup, and many others. 

    Teach Access is a national nonprofit that bridges the digital accessibility skills gap—a gap in accessibility knowledge and digital skills among students graduating and entering the workforce. The Teach Access Curriculum Repository (TACR) is an (OER) developed by faculty to support teaching accessibility to students. TACR contains a variety of teaching tools, including syllabi, slide decks, assignment prompts, discussion questions, and quizzes spanning disciplines that include Business and Management, Computer Science, Game & Interactive Media Design, Graphic Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Instructional Technology, Marketing and Communications, Media and Performing Arts, User Experience, (UX) Design, Visual & Graphic Design, Web Design & Development Technical Writing, and more. The TACR is housed in Canvas, a widely used learning management system in higher education, and has helped Teach Access reach more than 900,000 students. 

    “The Finalists of this year’s Anthem Awards are truly inspiring, and I am honored to help elevate their impact,” said Anthem Awards General Manager Patricia McLoughlin. “At this moment, there is a lot of uncertainty in our world, but the tireless and extraordinary efforts of the Anthem Awards community provide hope that a better tomorrow is possible. Thank you to everyone doing this work and making an impact.” 

    This year marks the 2nd Annual Anthem Community Voice Celebration to uplift the work of Anthem Finalists. Supporters can celebrate Teach Access’ work online from October 15th to October 31st. Finalists are also running to win a Gold, Silver, or Bronze Anthem Award selected by Anthem judges. All winners for the 4th Annual Anthem Awards will be announced on Tuesday, November 19th, 2024. 

    The 4th Annual Anthem Awards was the most competitive season yet, with over 2,300 entries submitted from 34 countries worldwide. The Anthem Awards are defining a new benchmark for impactful work that inspires others to take action in their communities by amplifying the voices that spark global change.  

    About Teach Access   
    Teach Access is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization collaborating with education, industry, government, and disability advocacy organizations to address the critical need to enhance students’ understanding of digital accessibility as they learn to design, develop, and build new technologies with the needs of people with disabilities in mind. Teach Access envisions a fully accessible future in which students enter the workforce with knowledge of the needs of people with disabilities and skills in the principles of accessible design and development, such that technology products and services are born accessible.  

    About The Anthem Awards:
    Launched in 2021 by The Webby Awards, The Anthem Awards honors the purpose & mission-driven work of people, companies and organizations worldwide. By amplifying the voices that spark global change, we’re defining a new benchmark for impactful work that inspires others to take action in their own communities. The Anthem Awards honors work across seven core causes: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; Education; Art & Culture; Health; Human & Civil Rights; Humanitarian Action & Services; Responsible Technology; and Sustainability, Environment & Climate. This season’s partners include Ms. Magazine, The Female Quotient, Sustainable Brands, NationSwell, and TheFutureParty. The Awards were founded in partnership with the Ad Council, Born This Way Foundation, Feeding America, Glaad, Mozilla, NAACP, NRDC, WWF, and XQ.

    About The Webby Awards: 
    Hailed as the “Internet’s highest honor” by The New York Times, The Webby Awards is the leading international awards organization honoring excellence on the Internet, including Websites and Mobile Sites; Video; Advertising; Media & PR; Apps & Software; Social; Podcasts; Games and AI, Metaverse & Virtual. Established in 1996, The Webby Awards received nearly 13,000 entries from all 50 states and over 70 countries worldwide this year. The Webby Awards are presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS). Sponsors and Partners of The Webby Awards include WP Engine, LinkedIn, Meltwater, NAACP, KPMG, Wall Street Journal, Vox Media, Deadline, AdAge, TechCrunch, The Hollywood Reporter, The Hustle, Morning Brew, Passionfruit, Embedded, Link in Bio, Creator Economy NYC, Creator Spotlight, AIGA, Vote Save America, and The Publish Press. 

    Find The Anthem Awards Online: 

    Website: anthemawards.com 
    Facebook:  facebook.com/anthemawards 
    Instagram: @anthemawards
    LinkedIn: The Anthem Awards 

    Source: Teach Access

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  • Teach Access Opens Applications for its National Fellowship 2025 Cohort

    Teach Access Opens Applications for its National Fellowship 2025 Cohort

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    Open to Faculty and Academic Staff from Higher Education Institutions in the U.S. and Puerto Rico


    GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., October 14, 2024 (Newswire.com)
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    Teach Access, a national nonprofit that bridges the digital accessibility skills gap—a gap in accessibility knowledge and digital skills among students graduating and entering the workforce—is excited to announce the opening of applications for its Fellowship Program 2025 cohort. This program brings together educators and administrators dedicated to advancing accessibility education in their institutions. Applications are open now through Friday, November 1, 2024. 

    The Teach Access Fellowship Program engages faculty and academic staff from higher education institutions in the United States and Puerto Rico to develop communities of action focused on integrating the teaching of digital accessibility into curricula. Fellows earn a $4,000 incentive, are required to participate in 12 synchronous Zoom meetings throughout the year, and complete program deliverables and projects within established deadlines. 

    Over the year, Fellows learn from reputable experts in accessibility and disability inclusion about various topics, including disability, assistive technology, best practices for accessible design, teaching accessibility, building collaborations to address the accessibility skills gap, scaling accessibility across and beyond the curriculum, and advocating for accessibility.  

    Fellows will develop and implement innovative approaches to teaching accessibility in their courses, collaborate with other educators and advocates to promote accessibility-focused education and receive mentorship from leading professionals in academia and industry.  

    “The Teach Access Fellowship Program is open to faculty and academic support staff from diverse disciplines, including STEM, Marketing, Communications, Business, Public Health, Arts, and AI,” said Rolando Méndez, Director of Education. ”Diversity of disciplines is a key strength of the Teach Access program, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and a holistic approach to digital accessibility education.” 

    “We’re excited to launch this next iteration of the Fellowship Program, which empowers educators to integrate accessibility concepts into their curriculum and equip the next generation of professionals with essential skills for inclusive design,” said Rolando Méndez, Director of Education.  

    Teach Access strongly encourages applications from people with disabilities and educators from Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs). 

    To learn more or apply, visit: https://teachaccess.org/teach-access-fellowship-program/ 

    About Teach Access   
    Teach Access is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization collaborating with education, industry, government, and disability advocacy organizations to address the critical need to enhance students’ understanding of digital accessibility as they learn to design, develop, and build new technologies with the needs of people with disabilities in mind. Teach Access envisions a fully accessible future in which students enter the workforce with knowledge of the needs of people with disabilities and skills in the principles of accessible design and development, such that technology products and services are born accessible.  

    Source: Teach Access

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  • Teach Access Releases Two New Free Online Courses to Incorporate Concepts of Digital Accessibility Into Existing Higher Education Curriculum

    Teach Access Releases Two New Free Online Courses to Incorporate Concepts of Digital Accessibility Into Existing Higher Education Curriculum

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    GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., October 7, 2024 (Newswire.com)
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    With a grant from the Reader’s Digest Partners for Sight Foundation, Teach Access, a national nonprofit that bridges the digital accessibility skills gap, has released two new self-paced Accessibility Courses that introduce disability and the principles of accessible design across various disciplines. Adding to their existing catalog of more than a dozen courses, these courses are designed to target those teaching Industrial-Organizational Psychology and Organizational Communications at higher education levels. Teach Access understands the importance digital accessibility plays in all facets of the workforce, and they strive to incorporate concepts of digital accessibility in all disciplines. Other courses include Computer Science, Computer Software Engineering, Content Development, Game and Interactive Media, Graphic Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Instructional Technology, Introduction to Disability and Accessible Design, Technical Writing, UX Design, Web Design, and Web Development. 

    “Reader’s Digest Partners for Sight Foundation is proud to partner with Teach Access, which is driving change by equipping college faculty with the resources to develop accessible technology curricula,” said Dianna Kelly-Naghizadeh, Grant Program Manager. “These programs help ensure that tomorrow’s technologists build digital tools that are born accessible. Together, we’re expanding opportunities and creating a more inclusive future for all.” 

    Rolando Méndez, Teach Access’ Director of Education, emphasized the significance of these courses for educators who seek to prepare their students for the increasing demand for accessible digital communication in diverse organizational settings. 

    “The Industrial-Organizational Psychology course will help educators teach about the importance of hiring more people with disabilities, making recruitment processes more inclusive, and hiring for accessibility skills,” said Méndez. “The Organizational Communications course, on the other hand, will help educators teach about accessible communication strategies for both internal (employee engagement) and external audiences (reaching diverse customers) and best practices for implementing inclusive communication plans throughout an organization. These concepts are critical to creating a world accessible for individuals with disabilities.” 

    All courses are free and housed in the Canvas Course Market. They aim to assist educators in incorporating essential digital accessibility concepts into their curriculum, ensuring that students are equipped with the knowledge required to create an inclusive world for people with disabilities. Register on the Teach Access website. For more information, email info@teachaccess.org 

    Source: Teach Access

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  • Celebrating the 34th Anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act

    Celebrating the 34th Anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act

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    GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., July 25, 2024 (Newswire.com)
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    As we prepare to celebrate the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 2024, it is important to acknowledge its profound impact on promoting equality and accessibility for people with disabilities. The ADA has transformed public spaces, workplaces, and transportation systems, ensuring greater inclusion and opportunities for millions. 

    However, there is a growing need to extend accessibility principles to the digital space. The growth in digital accessibility has tried to ensure that websites, applications, and digital content are usable by everyone, including those with disabilities. Yet, despite the ADA’s mandates, many digital platforms remain inaccessible, creating significant barriers to information, services, and opportunities. According to The WebAIM Million, the 2024 report on the accessibility of the top 1,000,000 home pages found that 96% of digital content may be inaccessible to people with disabilities.

    Earlier this year, Teach Access, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering educators to teach and students to learn about digital accessibility, partnered with University of Phoenix on a survey commissioned with The Harris Poll to uncover strengths and opportunities for developing accessibility skills in the workplace. The study of 459 managers across the fields of information technology, healthcare, and education to better understand workplace commitment to accessibility, workers’ understanding and skills of accessibility, and opportunities for developing accessibility skills. “Greater emphasis is now being placed on accessible digital web content and mobile apps, and we need to better understand how prepared developers and engineers are to design and deliver natively accessible content,” said Kelly Hermann, vice president for Accessibility, Equity and Inclusion at University of Phoenix.

    The survey found that only 60% of managers report their organization incorporates accessibility into all phases of product, service, and activity development. Additionally, survey findings indicated a growing need for accessibility training and skill development. Over the past five years, 59% of managers have observed increased demand for employees with accessibility skills within their organizations, with one in ten reporting a significant rise in demand. Nearly all managers—95%—expressed a need for professional development in specific accessibility skills and topics. While no single area stands out, the three most frequently mentioned topics are: incorporating disability into diversity programs (32%), the use of assistive technology by individuals with disabilities (31%), and a general understanding of disability (30%).

    Teach Access bridges the gap between accessibility and industry by offering free programs and resources, including the Teach Access Curriculum Repository developed by faculty to support teaching accessibility to students in various disciplines. Self-paced, online courses for educators on the principles of accessible design in disciplines are available, as well as Grants, student programs, and fellowships for educators. A facilitated online course also introduces educators and administrators to basic concepts related to disability, accessibility, and Universal Design for Learning (UDL). 

    “Digital accessibility is essential for people with disabilities as it opens up new possibilities,” said Leslie Johnson, Teach Access’s Program and Operations Manager. “If we do not educate students about disability and accessibility, we risk leaving many behind. Education ensures that technology is born accessible, creating a more inclusive world.”

    On this ADA anniversary, let us celebrate the progress made while recognizing the urgent need to advance digital accessibility education to create a digital world accessible to individuals with disabilities. 

    For more information or to support Teach Access initiatives, visit: https://teachaccess.org

    About Teach Access  
    Teach Access is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization collaborating with education, industry, government, and disability advocacy organizations to address the critical need to enhance students’ understanding of digital accessibility as they learn to design, develop, and build new technologies with the needs of people with disabilities in mind. Teach Access envisions a fully accessible future in which students enter the workforce with knowledge of the needs of people with disabilities and skills in the principles of accessible design and development, such that technology products and services are born accessible. 

    Source: Teach Access

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  • Teach Access Announces 2024-2025 Digital Accessibility Grant Winners

    Teach Access Announces 2024-2025 Digital Accessibility Grant Winners

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    Teach Access Grants program, now totaling more than $350,000 since inception, supports educators in creating innovative course materials that develop a workforce skilled in making technology usable by people with disabilities. 


    EATON RAPIDS, Mich., May 16, 2024 (Newswire.com)
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    To celebrate Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) on May 16, Teach Access proudly announces the winners of its 2024-2025 Grants program, supporting 25 faculty members from diverse U.S. institutions in their development of digital accessibility concepts for their existing course curricula.  

    Teach Access is a national non-profit disability advocacy organization dedicated to bridging the digital accessibility skills gap between education and industry. Its free programs and resources help educators teach and students learn about the fundamentals of disability and accessibility. Teach Access programs have educated more than 500,000 students on digital accessibility since the group’s founding in 2016, and the group has awarded more than $350,000 in grants since 2018. 

    The Teach Access grants are a core element of the organization’s programs. Each winner receives a $2,000 grant that funds their work to incorporate teaching about accessibility into their existing courses. Grant recipients, in turn, contribute their teaching materials (such as lesson plans, assignments, tests and discussion prompts) to the free and open-access Teach Access Curriculum Repository, multiplying the impact of the grants. 

    “The Teach Access 2024-2025 grant recipients have shown exceptional dedication to the cause of accessibility,” said Kate Sonka, executive director of Teach Access. “Their curricular enhancements, prepared during the summer months, made possible with the generous support of our sponsors, will inform and inspire students about the fundamentals of accessibility, ultimately creating a more inclusive digital landscape.”  

    The 25 winners of the Teach Access grant program are: 

    • Angela Thering, SUNY Buffalo State University 
    • Bridget Marshall, University of Massachusetts Lowell 
    • Catherine Beaton, Rochester Institute of Technology 
    • Destini Kirkwood, Gray’s Harbor College 
    • Donna Schnupp, Johns Hopkins University, School of Education 
    • Emily Whiting, Boston University 
    • Evelyn Zayas, Rasmussen University 
    • Heather Leavitt, Yavapai College 
    • Herbert Lewis, Stony Brook University 
    • Hongmin Li, California State University, East Bay 
    • José G. Montañez Orengo, Inter American University of Puerto Rico, San Germán Campus 
    • Katie Ducett, SUNY Cortland 
    • Kristen Cole, San José State University 
    • Lisa Dunkley, East Tennessee State University 
    • Marie Frank, University of Massachusetts Lowell 
    • Rua Williams, Purdue University 
    • Sandra Watts, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte 
    • Shari Lanning, Colorado State University 
    • Shavonda Jackson, Alcorn State University 
    • Shelley Stewart, Hillsborough Community College 
    • Soyoung Choi, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 
    • Suhasini Kotcherlakota, University of Nebraska Medical Center 
    • Suparna Chatterjee, New Mexico State University 
    • Susan Pramschufer, University of Maryland, College Park
    • Tim Gorichanaz, Drexel University

    Winners of the prior 2023-2024 Teach Access Grants program Karen Caldwell, assistant professor at SUNY Potsdam’s School of Education and Professional Studies, and Laura Perry, director of academic technology & support at SUNY Potsdam, reflected on the impact of receiving support to create material that can be used by people with disabilities. 

    “The Teach Access Grant and resources (Teach Access by Design for instructors, the Student Academy, online materials) both inspired and informed our collaboration to embed concepts and principles of accessible, inclusive design into three quite different course topics: leadership, human capital development, and instructional design,” said Caldwell. “Our emerging proof of concepts demonstrates that students are able to recognize and apply their learning in real-life contexts beyond the boundaries of our semester-long courses,” added Perry. 

    Grant winners are instructors teaching an existing course during the 2024-2025 academic year that can incorporate curricula designed to impact a student’s knowledge of fundamental accessibility concepts and skills, and the ability to implement the principles of accessibility in technology. Teach Access focuses on colleges and universities nationwide, including community colleges and four-year institutions. Additionally, they have a strong commitment to recruiting educators from Minority Serving Institutions, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs). 

    “Teach Access’s work is ceaseless. As we celebrate the 2024-2025 grant winners, we also prepare to call for proposals for our next grant round in February 2025,” Sonka said. “We encourage faculty members from all disciplines that can incorporate accessibility concepts to apply. Let’s together ensure the future workforce inherently understands accessible design principles, creating a world where technology is inclusive regardless of ability.” 

    To learn more, please visit https://teachaccess.org/.

    About Teach Access 
    Teach Access is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization collaborating with education, industry, government, and disability advocacy organizations to address the critical need to enhance students’ understanding of digital accessibility as they learn to design, develop, and build new technologies with the needs of people with disabilities in mind. Teach Access envisions a fully accessible future in which students enter the workforce with knowledge of the needs of people with disabilities and skills in the principles of accessible design and development, such that technology products and services are born accessible. 

    Source: Teach Access

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  • Digication and Teach Access Announce Partnership to Advance Accessibility Literacy in Digital Education

    Digication and Teach Access Announce Partnership to Advance Accessibility Literacy in Digital Education

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    EATON RAPIDS, Mich., April 3, 2024 (Newswire.com)
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    Digication, a leading Ed-Tech company serving millions of users across more than 7,000 K-12 schools and higher education institutions, is thrilled to announce a strategic partnership with Teach Access, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to making digital accessibility a fundamental component of education. This collaboration, cultivated over the past year, is set to transform the digital learning landscape by integrating accessibility literacy into educational practices.

    Deepening Commitment to Accessibility

    Digication’s commitment to enhancing accessibility goes beyond compliance with standards; it’s about educating and empowering its user base. Partnering with Teach Access will bring a wealth of resources and tools to Digication’s platform, aiding in creating accessible digital content.

    Teach Access is an innovative non-profit collaboration between education, industry, government, and disability advocacy organizations. It addresses the urgent need to enrich students’ understanding of digital accessibility in designing, developing, and creating new technologies, considering the needs of people with disabilities.

    Digication and Teach Access envision a future where technology products and services are inherently accessible, with students entering the workforce equipped with knowledge and skills in accessible design and development.

    Innovative Tools for Accessible Content Creation

    Digication will introduce new features to assist users in creating accessible content, such as notifications for missing image alt text or video captions. This proactive approach ensures that all content on the Digication platform is accessible and inclusive.

    A Future of Inclusive Digital Learning

    “This partnership is a significant milestone in our mission to make digital learning accessible to all,” said Jeff Yan, CEO of Digication. “Teach Access’ expertise and resources will be invaluable in enhancing accessibility literacy among our users, paving the way for a more inclusive future in digital education.”

    Empowering Students and Teachers Through Teach Access Programs

    Digication users will have access to free programs and resources for students and educators provided by Teach Access. This includes its Student Academy, Student Ambassador Program, Faculty Fellowship program, and Teach Access Grants for educators. Teach Access has given more than $350,000 in grants to educators to accelerate the integration of accessibility principles in college curricula. Additionally, Teach Access offers a free open educational resource, Curriculum Repository, and several online self-paced courses about disability and accessibility. Programs and resources remain free and open thanks to the support of corporate sponsors, individual and gift-in-kind donations, and grant support.

    “We are grateful to Digication for this opportunity to reach their students and educators,” said Kate Sonka, Executive Director of Teach Access. “We aim to create systemic change within education so all students learn the fundamentals about disability and digital accessibility, creating a pipeline of future employees who can create technology accessible and inclusive for everyone. This collaboration greatly increases our visibility, helping us close in on our goal of reaching one million students by 2030.”

    About Digication

    Digication is a premier ePortfolio technology and assessment tool provider serving millions of users in K-12 and higher education institutions. Its mission is to facilitate dynamic and engaging learning experiences through innovative digital platforms.

    About Teach Access

    Teach Access is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization collaborating with education, industry, government, and disability advocacy organizations to address the critical need to enhance students’ understanding of digital accessibility as they learn to design, develop, and build new technologies with the needs of people with disabilities in mind. Teach Access envisions a fully accessible future in which students enter the workforce with knowledge of the needs of people with disabilities and skills in the principles of accessible design and development, such that technology products and services are born accessible.

    For more information about this partnership and to access the new resources, please visit Digication.com and TeachAccess.org.

    Contact Information:
    Kate Sonka
    Executive Director
    kate@teachaccess.org

    Source: Teach Access

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  • Teach Access Paves the Way for Teaching Digital Accessibility

    Teach Access Paves the Way for Teaching Digital Accessibility

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    Nonprofit group’s collaboration with industry, higher education, government, and disability advocacy organizations has goal of teaching 1 million students how to make technology work for disabled people.


    EATON RAPIDS, Mich., March 5, 2024 (Newswire.com)
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    Beginning as a grassroots, 100% volunteer initiative in 2016, Teach Access has now educated more than 500,000 students on digital accessibility, a milestone in the national nonprofit group’s mission of developing a workforce that designs technological products and services with the needs of disabled people in mind.

    The mission of Teach Access is to close the accessibility skills gap by providing a pipeline of skilled workers to industries so technology can be born accessible.

    It does so with a novel approach: Teach Access does not provide workforce training for employers, but instead focuses on the education space, collaborating with colleges, the technology industry and advocacy groups to build curricula that will teach the future workforce about digital accessibility and universal design.

    “We aim to create systemic change within education, so all students learn the fundamentals about disability and digital accessibility, creating a pipeline of future employees who can create technology accessible and inclusive for everyone,” said Kate Sonka, executive director of Teach Access. 

    Teach Access was certified as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organization in 2021, and provides its resources and services for free, through funding by grants, private donors and industry sponsors like technology giant Google. 

    “Accessibility is absolutely fundamental to what we do at Google. Yet, we still see that most new grads who join us have never learned about accessibility,” said Laura Allen, head of strategy & programs for accessibility & disability inclusion at Google, and board chair at Teach Access. “We are so excited about Teach Access’ mission and determination to drive this much-needed systemic change and are eager to partner on educating this next generation of students!”

    Employers say there is a strong need for the digital accessibility education that Teach Access facilitates, according to the organization’s 2022 Accessibility Skills Gap Survey: 

    Three out of four respondents (75%) reported a moderate to significant increase for employees with accessibility skills in their organizations in the last five years.

    More than 86% anticipated the demand to increase, while only 2% said it is easy for them to find candidates with accessibility skills.  

    Two out of three reported their products are not as accessible as they would like and are interested in job training for employees. 

    Teach Access has an ambitious goal and focused strategy to meet those needs. It has a target of introducing 1 million students by 2030 to digital accessibility, via free synchronous and asynchronous programs and resources for students and educators to learn about disability, accessibility, and how to incorporate accessibility into the curriculum.

    Teach Access offers courses for educators on the principles of accessible design in disciplines including human-computer interaction, computer software engineering, instructional technology, technical writing and more. It also maintains a curriculum repository, a free collection of open education resources such as syllabi, slide decks, assignment props, discussion questions and quizzes that have been developed by faculty to support teaching accessibility to students in a wide variety of disciplines.

    It also provides grants and fellowships to educators to encourage digital accessibility curricula and teaching, and sponsors programs like Study Away, which brings together students, faculty, and industry partners to explore the field of accessibility, and Student Academy, a series of free virtual webinars for students on topics of disability and accessibility.

    Teach Access Teach Access has a commitment to ensuring engagement with faculty members in educational programs that are from historically excluded and underrepresented institutions such as historically Black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribal colleges and universities, community colleges, and minority faculty at predominantly white institutions.  

    “Technology is developing more quickly than ever, from mobile apps to emerging systems and devices like wearables and sensors, and they are becoming increasingly integral to our ability to work and to conduct our social lives,” Sonka said. “Teach Access is working to ensure a workforce with knowledge of digital accessibility that it needs to make these essential products usable for the disabled population.”    

    For more information, please visit https://teachaccess.org.

    About Teach Access

    Teach Access is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization collaborating with education, industry, and disability advocacy organizations to address the critical need to enhance students’ understanding of digital accessibility as they learn to design, develop, and build new technologies with the needs of people with disabilities in mind. Teach Access envisions a fully accessible future in which students enter the workforce with knowledge of the needs of people with disabilities and skills in the principles of accessible design and development, such that technology products and services are born accessible.

    Source: Teach Access

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  • 4 Resources To Make Your Website More Accessible

    4 Resources To Make Your Website More Accessible

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    If you made a list of goals for your website, I bet three things would be near the top:

    1. Get more value out of your customers.
    2. Find new customers.
    3. Increase your website’s conversion rate, whether you want more leads or more sales.

    Each of these goals requires a functional, easy-to-use website. Yet a staggering 97% of the internet today is inaccessible to people with disabilities — meaning there are accessibility issues that can make it hard for some visitors to navigate a website or engage with its content.

    That’s a big problem — and it’s not just a matter of what’s fair or legally required. (Although the U.S. Department of Justice has repeatedly maintained that accessibility laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) apply to websites and physical locations.)

    It’s also a matter of what makes sense for your business.

    In the United States, one in four adults lives with some type of disability, from visual impairments that require them to navigate websites using assistive technology, such as screen readers, to hearing impairments that make it hard to follow videos without captions. Globally, people with disabilities — and their friends and family — control more than $13 trillion in disposable income.

    That’s a lot of potential customers who could be left behind if you don’t take steps to make your website accessible to everyone.

    Now for the good news: Every accessibility issue is fixable if you have the right tools and know what to watch for. Here are some of my favorite accessibility resources to help you:

    1. Use alt text correctly

    The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is known for publishing the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), but it has also created additional resources to help businesses better navigate digital accessibility.

    One of the most useful is the alt Decision tree, which describes how to use the alt attribute of the element in various situations. With the decision tree, you can make faster, more informed decisions on whether your image needs alt text — and, if so, what information to include.

    Alt text is a written description of an image that screen readers can read aloud — or convert to Braille — for people with visual impairments, sensory processing disorders or learning disorders.

    Done right, alt text can help paint a fuller picture of your products and services for people who use screen readers to navigate websites. Unfortunately, many businesses forget to provide alt text. Or they write something so generic — for example, an image of a restaurant menu that simply says “menu” — that it may as well not be there.

    Note: As a general rule, I always recommend writing alt text like you’re describing an image to your friend over the phone. What are the key details they need to know in order to understand the image?

    Related: How to Make Your Social Media Channels More Accessible to Everyone

    2. Check your website’s accessibility

    When it comes to digital accessibility, one of the biggest challenges is the dynamic nature of most websites. Just think about how often your website changes, whether it’s new product photos or updated website copy.

    Each update is a chance to introduce new accessibility issues to your website accidentally, so it’s important to monitor your website constantly. Unfortunately, most businesses lack the time or internal resources to test the accessibility of every new design and line of code. That’s where an automated solution like AudioEye’s Website Accessibility Checker — which runs more than 400 tests to check your content against accessible coding standards like WCAG, then generates a detailed report of accessibility issues on your site — comes into play.

    Related: How Website Accessibility Affects Your Brand’s Reputation and Success

    3. Add automated captions to your videos

    People are watching more video content than ever, but you could be leaving a large part of your audience behind if you don’t add captions to your videos.

    There are plenty of tools that can help you save time by automatically generating captions. However, it’s important to note that voice recognition technology is not perfect. Errors do occur, which can confuse or frustrate people who rely on captions.

    For that reason, I always recommend proofing automatically generated captions with human eyes and ears.

    Closed captioning is a great example of the overlap between “good” and “accessible” design. When you add captions, you aren’t just helping people with hearing impairments or cognitive disabilities — you’re helping anyone who chooses to watch the video with the sound off. For example, someone might be watching your video in a public space or while multitasking.

    Adding captions can ensure a positive experience no matter how people consume your content.

    Related: How Accessibility Teams and Executives Can Work Together for Disability Inclusion

    4. Check your color contrast

    The colors on your website might seem like a purely aesthetic decision, but they have a significant impact on how usable your website is for people with color vision deficiency (also known as color blindness) and other visual impairments.

    Low contrast between foreground and background elements (think white text on a gray button) can make it harder for people to navigate your site, engage with your content and ultimately take the actions — whether it’s filling out a contact form or making a purchase — that matter to your business.

    AudioEye’s Color Contrast Checker makes it easy to determine if your colors meet WCAG’s requirements on contrast ratio. To conform with Success Criterion (SC) 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum), you should aim to have a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 between the foreground and background color.

    Related: Launching a Business Website? Here’s What You Need to Know About Accessibility

    Take the first step toward a more accessible website

    For most businesses, there are two hurdles that can slow down accessibility efforts.

    The first hurdle is awareness. Many business leaders are unaware of digital accessibility or that it could present a problem for their online business, both in terms of user experience and legal risk. However, the rise in digital accessibility-related lawsuits is bringing more attention to the importance of accessibility.

    The second hurdle is a common misconception about the cost and difficulty of digital accessibility. Some organizations believe that making a website accessible would cost too much, or require building a new website from scratch. The truth is that there are plenty of things you can do to improve your website’s accessibility without touching a line of code.

    To help you get started with your business’s overall accessibility strategy, the W3C and the UK’s Business Disability Forum have created self-assessment tools that can help organizations understand their current level of accessibility and implement measures to improve their accessibility policies, processes, and outcomes.

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    Alisa Smith

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