TechDis Staff Packs on e-learning accessibility

TechDis, the UKHE body dedicated to promoting accessibility of online resources to people with disabilities, has released a series of Staff Packs for e-learning accessiblity. The online 'packs', also available as CDs, are:

• Accessible e-Learning
These training materials explore the theme of accessibility in relation to simple “home grown” e-Learning, illustrating how simple techniques can greatly add to the learning experience of many students.
 Benevolent Bill - What Microsoft® Does for Accessibility
This pack looks at the range of built in features in Microsoft® Windows and Word that are either designed to enhance accessibility or can be used creatively to make learning more accessible to certain groups.
• Checking the Accessibility of your e-Resources
This pack looks at the current international guidelines for accessibility. It also investigates the available auditing tools, how they can be used and how the results can be correctly interpreted.
• Dyslexia and the use of Assistive Technology
These materials give a basic overview of the common Specific Learning Difficulties and how Assistive Technology can be implemented to assist learners.
• e-Assessment
These training materials consider the benefits of assessing online and draw out the accessibility issues, problems and solutions associated with e-Assessment.
• Introduction to Assistive Technology
These training materials provide a broad introduction to the breadth and range of assistive technologies available and the issues to consider when trying to match a learning need to a technological solution.
• Introduction to Web Accessibility
These training materials provide an introduction to the issues facing disabled people when accessing materials on the web. They also give an overview of the disability legislation in relation to website development

Although aimed at staff developers wishing to run workshops on these topics, many of the resources in the packs will be of use to content authors and developers of e-learning materials.

JISC press release

Staff Packs at TechDis website