Accessible Course Content Project

Background

The expansion of UC Berkeley courses to include the sharing of digital content such as documents, spreadsheets and datasets through the bCourses Learning Management System and/or course websites requires a clear set of digital focused accessibility guidelines and best practices to remove barriers to content for our students.  

This Accessible Course Materials Initiative is being undertaken in partnership by Educational Technology Services (ETS), the Disabled Students Program (DSP), Berkeley Resource Center for Online Education (BRCOE), IS&T Web Access Team, and the Library. This team will identify best practices, establish a website for anyone creating content for campus courses, and establish a mechanism for keeping the website up-to-date and answering requests for help or additional information.

In Fall 2016 a website resource was launched to assist instructors and course content creators with best practices around creating and posting accessible content. Along with best practices, the Access Content website includes links to resources and tools intented to help the campus community create content that meets campus standards. 

Project Timeline

  • Project Kick-Off: April 2016
  • Training: June 2016
  • Site Soft Launch: July 2016
  • Site Pre-Launch Partner Website Review: September 2016
  • Site Launch: October 2016

Sponsors

  • Educational Technology Services (ETS) - Functional Owner
  • Disabled Students Program (DSP)
  • Berkeley Resource Center for Online Education (BRCOE)
  • IS&T Web Access Team
  • Library

Project Goals and Objectives

The purpose of the Accessible Course Content Initiative is to provide help and guidance to the campus community in ensuring that course materials delivered in digital form are accessible to all students. In digital documents, the absence of document structure, image descriptions, color contrast, table navigation, etc. can pose major barriers to students, such as those who rely on screen readers or screen magnification.

Our aim is that once the Accessible Course Content website is rolled out, it will be seen by instructors and support staff as the source of record for best practices, policy  information, training, help guides, partner resources, etc. The website will address remediation and conversion of existing inaccessible course material while stressing the importance of Universal Design for Learning(link is external) when creating/redeveloping a course

Reports and Presentations

Access Content Website

The Access Content website(link is external) provides best practices, resources, and other helpful information instructors and course content creators can use to create accessible course materials.