Headings Mark Sections
It’s necessary to use headings in order for assistive technology to navigate correctly. Headings also need to be in correct nesting order. The title of the page will typically be heading style 1 (H1), and then major sections will use heading style 2 (H2).
Accessible Images
If an image is bearing relevant content to a learner or user, the image needs ALT text, or alternative text. The ALT text needs to communicate the educational or meaningful purpose of the text. For the image below, for instance, “eggs in a basket” would be descriptive but may not communicate the full meaning in context. Depending on the context, “Eggs in a basket symbolize the many roles we try to balance in our lives” could communicate a metaphor in context of a point about time management.
Closed Captions for Video
Video requires synchronized captioning in order to be accessible. Further, captioning supports Universal Design for Learning in that many learner demographics benefit. For instance, a learner watching the video in a noisy cafe can turn on closed captions in order to grasp more of the educational material at the same time as a deaf learner can obtain the information through captions.
While it’s possible to caption one’s original videos to ensure accessibility, there is much media available online that may not be captioned correctly. Auto generated captions are not considered accessible.
To search for captioned videos in YouTube, enter the search terms plus “CC.” To find the video below, I searched for “time management, cc.”
Access for All
Implementing accessibility best practices requires some attention but can eventually become a natural part of the design process. Following accessibility guidelines for headings and presentation of media like images and video ensures that more learners can access educational information and thus promotes the success of all students.
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