{"id":29,"date":"2017-11-21T15:26:05","date_gmt":"2017-11-21T21:26:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/accessibility\/?page_id=29"},"modified":"2023-06-07T08:08:24","modified_gmt":"2023-06-07T13:08:24","slug":"accessible-syllabus","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/accessibility\/accessible-syllabus\/","title":{"rendered":"Creating an Accessible Syllabus"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-modular-content-collection><p>The following recommendations were developed collaboratively by representatives from the Provost&#8217;s office, Disability and Access Services, IT and the Library, and include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Design standards for accessibility<\/li>\n<li>Suggested syllabus statements for Disability and Access Accommodations<\/li>\n<li>Using Accessibility checker tools<\/li>\n<li>Using Google Docs or sharing as PDFs<\/li>\n<li>Additional resources on designing syllabi considering accessibility and Universal Design for Learning<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Design Standards for Accessibility<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Headings<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Structure the document logically using headings, available in Word, Google Docs and Moodle text editor<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This improves readability for all by allowing users to scan the page for content areas, as well as creating a table of contents for users of screen readers<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Hyperlinks<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When linking, use descriptive hyperlink text, rather than cutting and pasting the full URL into the document (e.g. \u201cAssigned Reading: <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/udloncampus.cast.org\/page\/planning_syllabus#.W9HLARNKjUI\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UDL Syllabus Guidelines<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d instead of \u201cAssigned Reading: <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/udloncampus.cast.org\/page\/planning_syllabus#.W9HLARNKjUI\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">http:\/\/udloncampus.cast.org\/page\/planning_syllabus#.W9HLARNKjUI<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This improves readability, and provides an indication of where the link will go which is useful for everyone, especially those using screen readers<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lists<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wherever it makes sense, use the bullets (or numbered) lists feature of your document tool or Moodle text editor rather than manually creating lists or listing items in long sentences<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Screen readers rely on lists to make connections between the items when reading this content to a non-sighted user<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Color Contrast<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ensure a strong color contrast between foreground and background anywhere you use color, and ensure that color is never the sole means of providing emphasis of important material: always use boldface type + color to denote important information<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For online content, use <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/webaim.org\/resources\/contrastchecker\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">WebAIM\u2019s color contrast checker<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to check for sufficient color contrast.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Document accessibility checkers in Word and Google Docs will also evaluate use of color for sufficient contrast<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Captions &amp; Alternate Text<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Provide a caption under images or alt text (the tagline a screen reader speaks to a non-sighted user) for any images you include in your syllabus\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"gmail_default\">\n<div class=\"gmail_default\">\n<h2>St. Olaf Suggested Syllabus Statement for Inclusivity<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<p>A full list of Suggested Syllabus Statements can be found on the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/student-life-committee\/suggested-syllabus-statements\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/student-life-committee\/suggested-syllabus-statements\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1632489439278000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHdJrUNQwSHQdX_9cIyqBFx3ZaE3w\">Student Life Committee website<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"gmail_default\">\n<h3>Accommodations<\/h3>\n<h4>Option #1<\/h4>\n<p>I am committed to supporting the learning of all students in my class. Students seeking accommodations, please contact Disability and Access staff at\u00a0<a href=\"tel:%28507%29%20786-3288\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">507-786-3288<\/a>\u00a0or by visiting\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/academic-support\/dac\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/academic-support\/dac\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1632489439278000&amp;usg=AFQjCNFdSi9gSjM3gpPsz2fD4u9acF-5xQ\">wp.stolaf.edu\/<wbr \/>academic-support\/dac<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h4>Option #2.<\/h4>\n<p>I am committed to supporting the learning of all students in my class. If you have already registered with Disability and Access (DAC) and have your letter of accommodations, please meet with me as soon as possible to discuss, plan, and implement your accommodations in the course. If you have or think you have a disability (learning, sensory, physical, chronic health, mental health or attentional), please contact Disability and Access staff at\u00a0<a href=\"tel:%28507%29%20786-3288\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">507-786-3288<\/a>\u00a0or by visiting\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/academic-support\/dac\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/academic-support\/dac\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1632489439278000&amp;usg=AFQjCNFdSi9gSjM3gpPsz2fD4u9acF-5xQ\">wp.stolaf.edu\/academic-<wbr \/>support\/dac<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div>\n<h4>Suggested addition\u00a0if your course normally would prohibit computers in class:<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div>Laptops and\/or other digital equipment may not be used in this class unless you have made special arrangements with the professor.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Using Built-in Accessibility Checkers<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The following tools will help you check your syllabus design for accessibility. We recommend running these prior to sharing syllabi with students.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.grackledocs.com\/how-it-works\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Grackle Docs for Google Docs\/Slides<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/support.office.com\/en-us\/article\/use-the-accessibility-checker-to-find-accessibility-issues-a16f6de0-2f39-4a2b-8bd8-5ad801426c7f\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Microsoft Word 365<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/webaim.org\/techniques\/word\/word2016win#checker2016\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Microsoft Word 2016 for Windows<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/support.office.com\/en-us\/article\/use-the-accessibility-checker-on-your-mac-to-find-and-resolve-accessibility-issues-3b84295e-d55b-49f1-b443-523ec45a5232\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Microsoft Word for Mac<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use Google Docs for Syllabi<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are several usability advantages to providing the syllabus as a Google doc:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can link to the Google doc from your course in Moodle and elsewhere<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It&#8217;s easier for you to maintain, because you can update the document and have it be &#8220;live&#8221; in your Moodle course without downloading and reuploading<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Students can interact with it as a digital resource, without having to download it and keep track of it on their personal device (though they still can download it if they want to)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This avoids the multiple-versions-of-your-syllabus-in-multiple-locations problem<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can take advantage of Grackle Docs accessibility checker to make designing for accessibility much easier<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sharing Syllabi as PDFs<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whatever you use to create your syllabus (Word, Google Docs, Pages, etc) the most widely sharable format is PDF, so unless you\u2019re linking to a Google Doc in an online course, export your completed syllabus as a PDF to share and archive the digital file<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PDFs are more universally openable on users computers and devices<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PDFs can retain formatting and \u201clook\u201d of original document across devices<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Note &#8211; PDFs are not editable as easily as a Word document and should be used when end-user editing is not desired\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Additional Resources<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/accessibility.umn.edu\/instructors\/accessible-syllabus\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accessible Syllabus guidelines<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from the University of Minnesota\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLzQUbREIMsF6s0g3F8VTXkm_epcuJjWxz\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Designing an accessible syllabus video playlist<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> created by the University of Minnesota &#8211; a video walkthrough of how to format a syllabus according to principles above.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"http:\/\/udloncampus.cast.org\/page\/planning_syllabus#.W8pC5hNKjUI\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UDL Syllabus guidelines<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from UDL On Campus &#8211; these address accessibility, but go beyond accessibility to encourage a Universal Design for Learning approach to creating a syllabus that engages students by outlining how the course will provide multiple means of engagement, action and expression, and representation. \u201cInstructors can use the syllabus, therefore, as a powerful way to communicate or model how they will implement UDL principles and guidelines in the classroom.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"http:\/\/enact.sonoma.edu\/ld.php?content_id=39359387\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UDL Syllabus Rubric<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/enact.sonoma.edu\/c.php?g=789377&amp;p=5650618\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UDL Universe<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; this rubric breaks down the elements of a traditional syllabus and provides guidelines for how each element can move from traditional syllabus to UDL syllabus design<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Getting Help with Accessibility in your Documents and Online Courses<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Digital Scholarship Center at St. Olaf (DiSCO) staff are available to assist you with reviewing formatting and performing accessibility audits on your documents and online course content. Visit help.stolaf.edu to submit a request for assistance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><!-- begin-migrated-from-panel-builder --><!-- end-migrated-from-panel-builder --><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The following recommendations were developed collaboratively by representatives from the Provost&#8217;s office, Disability and Access Services, IT and the Library, and include: Design standards for accessibility Suggested syllabus statements for [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":323,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-29","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P9461o-t","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/accessibility\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/29","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/accessibility\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/accessibility\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/accessibility\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/323"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/accessibility\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/accessibility\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/29\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":594,"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/accessibility\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/29\/revisions\/594"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/accessibility\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}