Education andUniversal Design in

Assessment and Evaluation

Ron StewartTechnology Advisor

Association on Higher Education and Disability

Our Goals

To determine the impact of the specific disability on the learning task at hand.

To implement recommendations and specifications for curricular adjustment that do not impact the pedagogical integrity of the learning environment.

To develop a skill set in the learner that does not require long term outside intervention whenever practicle.

Specific Obligations

Reasonable and Appropriate Accommodations.

Access to all Publications.Access to all Sites and Facilities.Access to all Programs and Content:

Web PagesCoursepacks and CoursewareInteractive CoursesSMS, LMS, and CMS systems

Accessing the Learning Space

Is the Environment Accessible?Is the AT compatible with the IT?Does the User have the Skills?

IT SkillsAT Skills

Have Options been Identified?Inaccessible System ComponentsEssential Elements of InstructionImpact on Teaching and Learning

Accommodations

What is the impact of the recommendation on the curriculum?

Are the recommended accommodations curricularly and environmentally appropriate

How are the recommendations going to be implemented and maintained?

How are the recommendations going to be paid for?

Are the recommendations generalizable and transferable?

Challenges

Online Issues

Inaccessible Interface ElementsChats, Discussions, Interactive ToolsMissing and Misleading Alternatives (Alt’s)Pages not Properly TitledConfusing Navigation StructureControls not Properly LabeledNested Frames and TablesTabular Data not Properly LabeledMouse only Actions

Online IssuesInconsistent Page StylingPage Text ReflowAutomatic FeaturesSupport for High-Contrast ModeLayout LockedLack of Site Meta HeadingsTesting Environments

Timing OutLack of Status Indication

Alternative Presentations (ALT’s)

Proper and Regular Use of Alternatives:Minimal Means of NavigationAllows Content to be ChunkedProvides “Important” ContentEliminates DistractersIncreases Content Effectiveness

PowerPoint Access

PowerPoint AccessibilityProvide the Presentation File to StudentsDon’t Overload SlidesDon’t Use Color to Convey MeaningCarefully Select Colors and FontsAvoid Animation and TransitionsEmbedded Content may not be Accessible

PowerPoint Access

Provide an Outline EquivalentText Box Content is not ProvidedNo essential Graphical Content is PresentedNo embedded Content is PresentedMaterial may need to be Reorganized

Provide an HTML EquivalentCreate in HTML OriginallyUse a Conversion UtilityDo not use “Save as Web”

PDF Access

Properly Structure Source FilesProper Reader ConfigurationLegacy File ConversionConvert not PrintInsure PDF is Properly TaggedProvide Alternative Formats

Test Access

Timed TestingIs it Necessary?Is it Equitable?

Alternative TestingIs it EquivalentAcademic Integrity

Impact of the ATNative AccessibilityAlternative EvaluationIntegrity of the Instrument

Strategies for Success

Promote Independence

Use unmodified technology whenever possible.

Implement modifications that can be rapidly learned and used.

Implement modifications that are easily transferred to the work environment.

Implement modifications that are easily generalizable, and not domain or content specific.

Cost Effectiveness

Analyze campus wide needs and strategically locate technology.

Leverage existing systems whenever possible.

Target acquisition to meeting the highest area of need.

Develop a long term strategic plan, and plan your acquisition accordingly.

Lower Costs

Use “off the shelf” technology when possible.

Replace traditional “labor intensive” accommodation models.

Analyze the learning situation and make acommodations based on the pedagogy.

Multipurpose and repurpose technology resources.

Building a Learning Community

Reduce all barriers to full inclusion.

Develop collaborative and cooperative partnerships.

Develop solutions based on “real world” needs and goals.

Develop long term solutions based on the needs of the campus community, its partners and the students with disabilities.

For More Information

Ron StewartTechnology AdvisorAssociation on Higher Education and Disability

Voice: 609 213-2190E Mail: ron@ahead.orgWWW: http://ahead.org