Course: Accessible Digital Design
Background: There are many webinars and workshops on accessible digital design, but they usually focus on guidelines and audit tools. The purpose of this course is to start with the people we’re designing for so we can truly understand the challenges they face which allows us to create design solutions that actually meet their needs.
Course Description: Creating websites that can be navigated and used by people with disabilities requires a different mindset, both in terms of design and development. Blind users use screen readers to read websites to them. Hearing-impaired users will use closed captioning to understand a video or podcast. People with motor difficulties may be unable to use a mouse, instead navigating by keyboard, voice or touch, while people with cognitive disorders may require a different reading level. This course walks students through what it means to be disabled and how those disabilities impact their web experiences. From there, designers will dive into scenarios of how they can employ the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)—and their creativity—to create immersive experiences that are accessible to everyone.
Course Format: This course is designed to be taught in a semester format, online. Activities will include a mix of quizzes, discussions, lectures, accessibility challenges, collaborative studio workshops, projects, and presentations, completed individually and in groups.
Course Objectives: After completing this course, learners will be able to...
- Have a greater appreciation for the challenges people with disabilities face in their day-to-day.
- Identify accessibility barriers in their own environment.
- Identify the tools disabled individuals use to navigate the digital world.
- Understand accessibility initiatives, including the ADA and WCAG 2.0.
- Think outside the typical accessibility approach based around guidelines.
- Create immersive experiences that work for anyone.