Dive Brief:
- Stephen F. Austin State University helps faculty create accessible materials for online courses that ensure students of all abilities will be able to participate.
- The focus on accessibility is central to the school’s course planning, eCampus News reports.
- A guiding accessibility document determines administrative and academic department roles, and student testers help ensure course accommodations are effective before they are offered in classes, according to the article.
Dive Insight:
Stephen F. Austin State serves a number of students with disabilities and has, in turn, adapted to accommodating that population. The university may serve as a model for its peers as they decide how to place a greater emphasis on online course accessibility. While it did not admit to any wrongdoing, the Harvard-MIT partnership for massive open online courses, edX, agreed to a settlement with the Department of Justice last week that requires additional work on its accessibility resources over the next year and a half. The modifications will make edX courses more accessible for students who are deaf, blind, or have other impairments.