For more than the past decade, Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act has required U.S. government agencies to make eLearning accessible to students with disabilities, including loss or impairments of sight, hearing, speech, mobility, strength, dexterity, and reach. Section 508 standards also apply to eLearning developed by vendors for U.S. government agencies, and private-sector organizations are starting to request or require 508-compliant eLearning. These standards apply to all eLearning content delivered on the Web, including Adobe Flash content. However, it is not always clear how to make Flash and other eLearning content Section 508-compliant.
Participants in this session will see how to apply the principles of accessibility to creating Section 508-compliant Flash content. You’ll view a Flash-based course through assistive technology, then dissect it to see how the course was constructed to meet Section 508 requirements. You’ll also hear about methods for applying Section 508 standards for eLearning elements such as video controls, closed captioning, color and contrast, and alternative text, and you’ll receive a list of free and low-cost resources for continuing your learning about Section 508, and for developing and testing your own Section 508-compliant eLearning projects.
In this session, you will learn:
- About the requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act as they apply to eLearning development
- eLearning development techniques for ensuring accessibility for all students
- About alternatives to use when accessible development is not possible
- How to test your eLearning for compliance using free and low-cost resources
Handout(s)
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