Accessibility and Universal Design from edX

In this course, you will learn the fundamentals of web accessibility and Universal Design for Learning. You will explore why accessibility is important in the online space, guiding principles for making accessibility digital content, and the governing bodies of web accessibility. You will also examine the principles of Universal Design for Learning, a framework for creating accessible and successful content for all learners regardless of ability. You will receive hands-on instruction on how to create accessible documents, presentations, and videos for your online content.

By the end of this course you will be able to:

Describe accessibility and its importance in the online space
Apply common web accessibility guidelines
Utilize the core principles of Universal Design for Learning
Evaluate the accessibility of digital documents, presentations, and videos

Regardless of your current experience, this course will teach you accessibility basics so that you can create amazing digital experiences for learners of all abilities.

What's inside

Learning objectives

How to establish and manage a social media presence for your business
How to create compelling social media content and optimize content to reach your target audience

How to determine when to use paid advertising and choose the right metrics to track to reach your business goals

How to establish and manage a social media presence for your business
How to create compelling social media content and optimize content to reach your target audience
How to determine when to use paid advertising and choose the right metrics to track to reach your business goals

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Provides hands-on instruction for creating accessible documents, presentations, and videos, which are essential skills for developers and content creators

Examines the principles of Universal Design for Learning, a framework for creating accessible and successful content for all learners regardless of ability

Explores why accessibility is important in the online space, which is a crucial consideration for modern web development and content creation

Teaches common web accessibility guidelines, which are essential for ensuring digital content is usable by people with disabilities

Reviews summary

Practical accessibility and udl fundamentals

According to learners who have likely taken this course, it provides a valuable introduction to the fundamentals of web accessibility and Universal Design for Learning. Students say the course covers key guidelines and offers practical, hands-on instruction on creating accessible digital content like documents and videos. Many find the explanations clear and the material relevant for their work. While providing a solid foundation, some may find it serves as a starting point that requires further, more technical study for advanced applications.

Provides a good starting point in the subject.

"This course is an excellent introduction to the world of accessibility."

"It gave me a solid understanding of why accessibility matters and where to start."

"A great foundational course for anyone new to digital accessibility."

"It covers the basics well and sets you up to learn more."

Hands-on skills for creating accessible content are learned.

"I can immediately apply what I learned to make my documents accessible."

"The parts on creating accessible presentations and videos were extremely useful for my job."

"Learning how to evaluate accessibility hands-on was invaluable."

"I appreciated the practical examples on how to implement guidelines."

Information is useful and applicable.

"The content is directly relevant to my work as an educator."

"Very useful for anyone who creates digital content regularly."

"The information on UDL was particularly relevant to my teaching practice."

"I found the guidelines covered to be exactly what I needed to know."

Concepts of accessibility and UDL are clearly taught.

"The instructor did a great job explaining complex topics simply."

"I found the principles of Universal Design for Learning easy to grasp thanks to the clear lectures."

"Everything was explained clearly, making accessibility feel less daunting."

"The video content was well-paced and the explanations were very easy to follow."

May require further study for advanced technical skills.

"While good for basics, I'll need more advanced courses for web development specifics."

"It feels like an overview, not a deep dive into technical implementation."

"Could go deeper into specific tools and coding for accessibility."

"This course is a good start, but doesn't cover everything needed for complex projects."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Accessibility and Universal Design with these activities:

Review WCAG Guidelines

Show steps

Familiarize yourself with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to better understand the technical standards for web accessibility before the course begins.

Browse courses on WCAG 2.1

Show steps

Read the WCAG overview document.
Explore the WCAG checklist.

Review 'A Web for Everyone'

Show steps

Gain a deeper understanding of accessible design principles and user experience considerations by reading 'A Web for Everyone'.

View A Web for Everyone: Designing Accessible User... on Amazon

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Read the book's introduction and first few chapters.
Focus on chapters related to user experience.

Evaluate Website Accessibility

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Practice evaluating the accessibility of existing websites using tools like WAVE or Axe to reinforce your understanding of accessibility guidelines.

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Choose a website to evaluate.
Run an accessibility audit using a tool.
Document the accessibility issues found.

Four other activities

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Create an Accessible Document

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Apply the principles learned in the course by creating an accessible document (e.g., Word, PDF) and sharing it with peers for feedback.

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Choose a document topic.
Apply accessibility best practices.
Test the document with a screen reader.
Share the document and gather feedback.

Review 'Universal Design for Learning in Practice'

Show steps

Deepen your understanding of UDL by exploring real-world examples and practical strategies in 'Universal Design for Learning in Practice'.

View Universal Design for Learning in Action: 100... on Amazon

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Read the book's introduction and case studies.
Focus on chapters relevant to your field.

Redesign a Website for Accessibility

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Undertake a project to redesign an existing website or web page to improve its accessibility, applying the principles and techniques learned in the course.

Show steps

Choose a website to redesign.
Conduct an accessibility audit of the original site.
Create a plan for improving accessibility.
Implement the redesign.
Test the redesigned site for accessibility.

Mentor Others on Accessibility

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Reinforce your knowledge by mentoring others on accessibility principles and techniques, answering questions, and providing guidance.

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Offer to help colleagues with accessibility questions.
Share your knowledge in online forums.
Lead a workshop on accessibility basics.

Career center

Learners who complete Accessibility and Universal Design will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Accessibility Specialist

An Accessibility Specialist ensures that digital products and services are usable by people of all abilities. This course directly supports the role by teaching the fundamentals of web accessibility and Universal Design for Learning. The course's focus on guiding principles for creating accessible digital content directly translates to the work of an Accessibility Specialist, who needs to be well-versed in these principles. You will also learn how to evaluate the accessibility of digital documents, presentations, and videos, which is a core skill for someone in this role. By understanding accessibility and its importance, and applying accessibility guidelines, you will be well-prepared for this career.

See salaries and explore the career path for Accessibility Specialist

Instructional Designer

Instructional Designers create learning experiences. This course equips you with the knowledge to create accessible and inclusive learning materials. You will explore the principles of Universal Design for Learning, a key framework for creating successful content for all learners, which is highly relevant to an Instructional Designer. The course's hands-on instruction for creating accessible documents, presentations, and videos directly benefits your work as an Instructional Designer, ensuring your designs are inclusive. The course offers a helpful overview of accessibility basics to help you create amazing digital experiences.

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Quality Assurance Tester

Quality Assurance Testers evaluate software and applications to ensure they meet quality standards. This course directly supports your ability to assess and improve the accessibility of digital products. The focus on web accessibility fundamentals and the ability to apply accessibility guidelines are crucial for identifying and addressing accessibility issues. As a Quality Assurance Tester, you can use the techniques of the course to evaluate the accessibility of digital documents, presentations, and videos to verify that the products meet the needs of all users.

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User Experience Designer

User Experience Designers focus on creating digital products that are easy to use and enjoyable. This course provides the foundational knowledge to design with accessibility in mind. You will learn why accessibility is important in the online space, gaining a deeper understanding of the needs of all users. The skills to apply common web accessibility guidelines and evaluate the accessibility of digital content are crucial for a User Experience Designer who wants to create truly inclusive designs. Taking this course can help you ensure that your designs are usable for the widest possible audience.

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Web Developer

Web Developers build and maintain websites and applications. This course emphasizes the importance of web accessibility, teaching you how to create digital content that is usable by everyone. You will learn to apply common web accessibility guidelines, which is essential for writing code that adheres to accessibility standards. Knowing how to evaluate the accessibility of digital documents will also help you test and improve the accessibility of your web projects. This course helps provide practical knowledge to create more inclusive and user-friendly web experiences as a Web Developer.

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Training Specialist

Training Specialists develop and deliver training programs. This course provides insights into creating accessible training materials for those programs. You will learn about Universal Design for Learning, a framework for creating successful content for all learners, ensuring that your training programs are inclusive. The hands-on instruction on how to create accessible documents, presentations, and videos is directly applicable to the materials you will develop as a Training Specialist. Additionally, you'll learn accessibility basics, which will contribute to the design of amazing digital experiences.

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Content Creator

Content Creators develop engaging and informative content for various platforms. This course helps make your content accessible to a wider audience. By understanding accessibility and its importance, you can create content that is inclusive and reaches more people. The course's focus on applying web accessibility guidelines will help you make your content more user-friendly for individuals with disabilities. As a Content Creator, by using this course's lessons on evaluating accessibility, you can improve the overall experience of your content.

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Accessibility Consultant

Accessibility Consultants help organizations improve the accessibility of their digital products and services. This course may prove useful by providing you with a strong understanding of web accessibility fundamentals and Universal Design for Learning. By learning about accessibility and its importance, you can effectively consult with organizations on how to make their online spaces more inclusive. Also, through applying common web accessibility guidelines, you can provide practical advice to clients. The skills to evaluate the accessibility of digital content that you will gain are directly applicable to your work as an Accessibility Consultant.

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eLearning Developer

eLearning Developers design and build online courses and learning modules. This course may be useful for ensuring that your eLearning content is accessible to all learners. The course's focus on Universal Design for Learning provides a framework for creating inclusive and effective learning experiences. Also, the hands-on instruction on creating accessible documents, presentations, and videos is directly relevant to the types of content you'll be developing. This course helps you create eLearning materials that cater to a diverse range of learners.

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Digital Marketing Specialist

Digital Marketing Specialists manage online marketing campaigns and strategies. This course may be useful by highlighting the importance of accessibility in reaching a wider audience. You will learn how to apply common web accessibility guidelines to make marketing materials more user-friendly for individuals with disabilities. Knowing how to evaluate the accessibility of digital content can also inform your marketing strategies, ensuring they are inclusive. This course will help you improve the overall reach and impact of your marketing efforts as a Digital Marketing Specialist.

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Technical Writer

Technical Writers create clear and concise documentation for technical products and services. This course may be useful for ensuring that your documentation is accessible to all users. By understanding accessibility and its importance, you can create documentation that is inclusive and easy to understand for a wider audience. Also, the course's focus on applying web accessibility guidelines will help you make your content more user-friendly for individuals with disabilities. You will also be able to improve the usability of your documentation as a Technical Writer by using this course's lessons on evaluating accessibility.

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Project Manager

Project Managers oversee and coordinate projects, and this course can inform how you manage projects related to digital content creation. While not directly related to project management methodologies, this course can help you ensure accessibility is considered throughout the project lifecycle. By understanding the importance of accessibility, you can advocate for inclusive design practices within your team. Moreover, the skills to evaluate the accessibility of digital content will help you assess the quality of deliverables and ensure that projects meet accessibility standards.

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Human Resources Generalist

Human Resources Generalists manage various aspects of employee relations and workplace policies. While the connection may seem indirect, this course informs how you approach diversity and inclusion within the workplace. You will learn the importance of accessibility for digital content, and you can apply this knowledge to ensure that internal communications and training materials are accessible to all employees. Additionally, understanding accessibility guidelines will help you advocate for inclusive practices in hiring and onboarding processes.

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Public Relations Specialist

Public Relations Specialists manage an organization's communication with the public. While not directly related to public relations strategies, this course may be useful in ensuring that your communications are accessible to a wider audience. By understanding the importance of accessibility, you can advocate for inclusive practices in creating press releases and other public-facing materials. Learning to apply web accessibility guidelines will help you make your content more user-friendly. This course will help improve the reach of your messages as a Public Relations Specialist.

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Technical Support Specialist

Technical Support Specialists provide assistance to users experiencing technical issues. This course informs how you address accessibility related inquiries. You will learn the importance of accessibility for digital content, and you can apply this knowledge to better understand and assist users with disabilities. Understanding accessibility guidelines will help you provide more effective support and troubleshooting tips. The ability to evaluate accessibility will help in identifying and resolving issues related to accessible content and usability.

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Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Accessibility and Universal Design.

A Web for Everyone

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Provides practical guidance on designing accessible user experiences. It covers a wide range of disabilities and offers actionable strategies for creating inclusive designs. It valuable resource for understanding the human side of accessibility and complements the technical aspects covered in the course. This book is useful as additional reading to provide a more holistic understanding of accessibility.

A Web for Everyone: Designing Accessible User...

Paperback

A Web for Everyone: Designing Accessible User...

Kindle Edition

Universal Design for Learning in Action

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Provides practical examples and strategies for implementing Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in various educational settings. It offers insights into how to create inclusive learning environments that cater to diverse learners. This book is useful as additional reading to provide a more holistic understanding of UDL and its applications. It is commonly used as a textbook at academic institutions.

Universal Design for Learning in Action: 100 Ways...

Paperback

Accessibility and Universal Design

What's inside

Learning objectives

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Reviews summary

Practical accessibility and udl fundamentals

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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