Category: Accessibility-Main

These seven tips are a starting point for creating accessible course content; for additional information or if questions arise, please contact Aaron Holmes, Access Specialist at aholmes@miracosta.edu

1. Add a Disability Accommodations statement:
   
   Please review Page 3 of MiraCosta’s syllabus checklist for examples of recommended language:
   
   Disability Accommodations
   If you have a disability or medical condition impacting learning and have not yet been authorized to receive academic accommodations, you are encouraged to contact the Student Accessibility Services (SAS) office (formerly known as Disabled Students Programs and Services or DSPS). The SAS office can be reached at (760) 795-6658, or by email at sas@miracosta.edu. The SAS office will help you determine what accommodations are available for you. If you’re requesting my assistance utilizing any authorized accommodations, please contact me as soon as possible.
   
   OR
   
   If you have a disability, you are encouraged to contact Student Accessibility Services (SAS) (formerly known as Disabled Students Programs and Services or DSPS) at 760.795.6658. Their Oceanside campus office is located in Building 3000, adjacent to Parking lot 3C. They will help you determine what assistance is available for you.
   
   OR
   
   If you have a hidden or visible disability, which may require classroom or test accommodations, please contact me as soon as possible. If you have not already done so, please register with Student Accessibility Services (SAS) (formerly known as Disabled Students Programs and Services or DSPS) at 760.795.6658. Their Oceanside campus office is located in Building 3000, adjacent to parking lot 3C.
   
   
2. Add links to Vendor Accessibility information for specialty products used in your course.
   
   
3. Create instructional content with accessibility in mind. Review and apply the following accessibility principles:
   • Structure
   • Images
   • Links
   • Tables
   • Color
   • Captions & Audio Descriptions
     
4. Create accessible instructional content based on application.
   • Microsoft Word 365
   • PowerPoint
   • Google Slides
   • Google Docs
     
5. Accessibility Checkers: always use the software’s built-in Accessibility Checker (Pope Tech Instructor Accessibility Guide in Canvas, Word, Adobe Acrobat, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.). Follow the Repair recommendations provided by the Accessibility Checker to fix errors.
   
   Resources: 
   • Microsoft Office Accessibility Checker
   • Adobe Acrobat Accessibility Checker
   • Canvas Built-in Accessibility Checker
   • PopeTech Accessibility Checker for Canvas (this provides more thorough checking and support than the built-in Canvas tool)
     
6. Ensure Readability Divide large blocks of text into smaller more manageable sections; avoid complex sentences; use sans-serif font at approximately 12 points. Ensure reading order is correct when screen readers are used (beware text boxes and other non-sequential methods for adding text).
   
   Resources: Website Readability assessment tool