Our topic today was how to make our training more accessible. It is not simple to make an event accessible for all, but it is necessary that we try. Consider physical accessibility (or mobility concerns), language accessibility (including American Sign Language), etc. as issues (opportunities) to consider. On the call were Maurice Coleman, Paul Signorelli and Jill Hurst-Wahl.
Tips:
- If there is a microphone, use it.
- If you are working with an interpreter (sign language or non-English), try to give the person a script or notes in advance. Also speak at a pace that is comfortable for the interpreter. (Make the interpreter part of your presentation. That person is actually presenting with you.)
- Be mindful of your learners and their needs.
- Use the accessibility checker that is built into some products like Microsoft PowerPoint.
- In a face-to-face session, make sure everyone can see you (line of sight). Be sure to keep your face towards the audience. Some people make be trying to read your lips.
- Ask your audience upfront : “How can I make the session better for you?”
- Loud noises — e.g. lots of people talking at once — can be disorienting for people, who are sensitive to sound. For someone who is blind, a room full of sound is like fog for a sighted person.
- Check the languages that are spoken in your community. Can you offer handouts in languages that are frequently spoken in your community?
- In selecting colors for your presentation, be aware that some people are color-blind and may not be to distinguish the colors.
Resources:
- ADA Compliance for Online Course Design – There are MANY tips in this article.
- Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM) – Explained. – collection of standards and specifications for web-based electronic educational technology
- Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM) – Wikipedia page
- One minute SCORM overview
You can listen to the episode here. In two weeks, Samantha Adams Becker will be joining us on the show. She does consulting, writing, and presenting on teaching and learning.
T is for Training 