Accessible Online Learning community group

Hello,

 

Thought people on this list might be interested in this proposed community
group:

https://www.w3.org/community/groups/proposed/ 

 

Here’s the group’s description:

 

Accessibility is often provided through accommodations. Schools are legally
obligated to provide accommodations to enrolled students with identified
disabilities,

based on their needs—sign language interpreters in lectures for deaf
students, digital copies of textbooks for students who are blind or have
reading difficulties,

extended time on exams for students who need more time due to cognitive or
physical disabilities. With online learning, the obligations are less
clear—for

example, with MOOCs, where students around the world are taking courses but
are not enrolled at the sponsoring school or organization. Also,
accommodations

are not well established—sign language interpreters and note takers are
typically accommodations for the physical classroom. How does an
organization ensure

they are meeting obligations and giving online students the support they
need participate fully and to be successful? Providers of online learning
are

best off delivering courses that are accessible out-of-the-box, without the
need for special accommodations. And many of the features that provide an
accessible

experience for people with disabilities benefit all learners. For example,
lecture transcripts are an excellent tool for study and review. However,
without

deliberate attention to the technologies, standards, and guidelines that
comprise the Web Platform, accessibility may be difficult to achieve, and
learners

with disabilities may be left behind. The activities of the Accessible
Online Learning W3C Community Group take place at the intersection of
accessibility

and online learning. We focus on reviewing current W3C resources and
technologies to ensure the requirements for accessible online learning
experiences

are considered. We also identify areas where additional resources and
technologies are needed to ensure full participation of people with
disabilities

in online learning experiences.

 

Léonie.

 

-- 

@LeonieWatson Tink.UK Carpe diem