Each year, the third Thursday of May is designated as Global Accessibility Awareness Day. The purpose of this day is to focus on digital access and inclusion for the more than one billion people worldwide who live with disabilities.
Digital accessibility is the design of products, services and online spaces so they are usable by individuals of all abilities. This includes people who are blind or visually impaired; deaf or hard of hearing; or who have mobility challenges, cognitive difficulties and other disabilities. When digital products and services are accessible, everyone can participate fully in society. People with disabilities can access the information and services they need to live independently, work and participate in their communities on their terms.
“Education changes lives. Making the university accessible to our whole community means we can serve more Idahoans and help people fully develop their talents to bring them to the world,” said Dr. Marlene Tromp, Boise State president. “I’m grateful for the work happening across campus to open our digital spaces to every prospective student, employee, donor and anyone who interacts with Boise State in the digital environment. We are striving to create a university where everyone has the opportunity to create their best future and to give back.”
How to make content more accessible
There are several techniques to make digital content and services more accessible. Some of the most common include:
- Providing text alternatives for images and other non-text content
- Making sure that forms and controls are intuitive and user friendly
- Providing captions for video content
- Ensuring websites and apps are compatible with assistive technologies
Boise State resources and support
The university offers a number of resources to help create more accessible and inclusive spaces.
- Visit Boise State’s Accessibility and Universal Design for Learning website for resources and information about accessibility at the university.
- Boise State Webguide features accessibility learning resources and information about achieving web accessibility compliance per university policies.
- Boise State’s Educational Access Center provides academic accommodations for students and accessibility resources for faculty.
- Human Resources provides employment-related accommodations for employees.
Free ‘Fix Your Content’ event
All day on May 18, Anthology Ally (previously Blackboard Ally) is bringing back Fix Your Content Day, a 24-hour global competition committed to creating accessible and more inclusive digital learning content. Divisions are encouraged to work together to improve the accessibility of their Canvas course materials using the Ally accessibility tool and make a positive impact on inclusive learning around the globe.