Hi
We are hoping to persuade departments to validate their pages with Bobby
- or something similar. We have also made info available for UCW staff
at:
http://www.worc.ac.uk/services/equalopps/webac.htm
This is only a start - and we hope to do much more this year, including
offering staff development sessions on accessible web page design.
The increasing use of online teaching/courseware is a further issue that
needs to be considered. An activity developing in popularity at UCW
(and many other HEI's, I'm sure) involves students' contributions to an
online discussion or debate linked to a specific course topic. This
activity may be assessed - so involvement is not voluntary. The
potential problems for students with dyslexia are considerable unless
strategies are in place to facilitate proofing before submission. As far
as I am aware, no UCW courses currently ask students to engage in 'real
time' online debates - but I'm fairly sure that happens in some HEI's.
Assurances that submissions will not be marked down - or even criticised
- for poor spelling/grammar are unlikely to alleviate the stress/terror
which may be associated with 'revealing all' to ones non-dyslexic peers.
Even if (like me) you've felt a bit of a twit after dropping a clanger or
two (or more!) when posting to Dis-forum, it's still impossible to
imagine what some dyslexic students go through in preparing an email to
an open forum.
Regards
Peter Hill
Peter Rainger wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I am conducting a quick review of the issue of accessibility of
> Electronic resources for staff and students. This means websites and
> all the issues of web-design and accessibility in that sense but also
> Electronic resources such as an online Library catalogue.
>
> I would very much like to hear from anyone at a HE (or FE) Inst.
> that has policy or guidance on accessibility of their electronic
> resources.
>
> for example questions such as :
>
> Do any of your staff receive training or have access to support staff
> with 'accessibility knowledge' or info leaflets written by your uni?
>
> Does your uni have policy or guidance of Electronic Media Formats,
> e.g. the use of PDF's ( ie Adobe Acrobat Portable document files)
> and their assosiated accessibility problems?
>
> yours
>
> Peter Rainger
> 07980308106
--
Peter Hill
Disability Coordinator
University College Worcester
Henwick Grove
Worcester
WR2 6AJ
Tel 01905 855413
[log in to unmask]
[log in to unmask]
|