Digital Accessibility Learning and Support Resources

Overview

This guide complements our Digital Accessibility Best Practices by offering additional tools, checkers, and learning resources to help you go deeper. Whether you're creating documents, web content, videos, or course materials, the following resources can help you learn how to make your content more accessible across formats.

Best Practices

Follow best practices to create accessible materials in the following formats:

• PowerPoint

• Word

• PDF files

• D2L’s Rich Content Editor 

Built-In Accessibility Checkers

• Microsoft Office

• Adobe Acrobat Pro

• D2L Accessibility Checker for the Rich Content Editor

Video and Audio Files

Create and post videos and audio files that have text alternatives such as captions and/or transcripts.

• Set automatic captioning for your Zoom meetings.

• Select videos and audio files that have accurate captions or transcripts.

• Use captioning tools in MediaSpace for your videos.

• Work with ITS for other captioning and transcription needs.

D2L Materials

• Be on the lookout for training on the use of YuJa Panorama, a tool designed to help you develop more accessible content for your courses.

• Delete or archive digital course content that you no longer use in that course (e.g., old versions of assignments, readings that are no longer required, duplicates). Tidying up your digital course materials now helps to clarify what needs attention.

• Add accommodations for learners using the Class list tool in D2L.

• Grant learner specific accommodations for certain quizzes or assignments in D2L using Special Access.

• Incorporate Universal Design for Learning (UDL) into your curriculum.

Publisher Materials

Evaluate publisher materials for accessibility before adopting them.

• Follow best practices recommended by the Minnesota Department of Education.

• Use 6 Simple Tricks to test for accessibility yourself.

Online Best Practices

Use free resources from Quality Matters and their AURS site.

GenAI Assistance

• Use Microsoft Copilot to help rewrite, simplify, or format content. View sample prompts and tips

Further Learning

• Explore LinkedIn Learning courses like Creating Accessible PDFs and Increase Accessibility in Digital Marketing with GenAI.

• New webinar sessions and training opportunities will launch this fall, watch for session announcements end of summer.

Supporting Students

Be a supportive and understanding resource for students by maximizing accessibility in your courses and understanding best practices.

• Utilize the free resources available from Quality Matters’ Accessibility and Usability Resource Site (AURS).

• Follow best practices in working with Students with Disabilities. 

• Understand the accommodation process at Minnesota State University, Mankato.