Accessibility and 508 Compliance for eLearning

The world is filled with many people, and every one of them is different, from hair color to age, to financial status and abilities. It is these gifts of uniqueness that allow our eyes and world to be open to the potential of not only what currently is, but what can be.

Within this world, there are those individuals who have disabilities that are sometimes not easily navigable in our modern world. The use of technology, cutting-edge and ever-changing as it is can sometimes still lag in opening doorways to those who have a disability.

When we factor in the multitude of disabilities that range from visual to motion, learning to hearing we can see how many people there really are that deserve our attention and focus technologically to better their lives as well as our own.

What is Section 508

This rehabilitation act is a WCAG 2.0 law that requires that government agencies and the contractors that work with them make their information and electronic technology readily available to those individuals who have disabilities. There is a certain level of standards that are outlined and required, such as the use of labels and textbook descriptors for format elements and graphics.

It also works to address the usability issues of such things as multimedia presentations, style sheets, and other plugins and electronic forms. This compliance works to prevent barriers in the section of information technology. In adhering to this compliance, it will allow those individuals with disabilities to have access to new opportunities and encourage the development of other new technologies.

For specific disabled individuals, the way we currently use an e-Learning course or Website can be challenging at best, if not wholly impossible.

Thankfully since 2001, the government has required through WCAG 2.0 that all content that is being created is 508 Compliant and software is being built with functions that create accessible, engaging, and interactive e-Learning courses.

Why It’s Important for E-Learning

The importance of the 508 Compliance through WCAG 2.0 is so that all disabled individuals will have access to materials and information that everyone else has access to without regard to disability.

For instance, with eLearning, they can listen to web pages and use refreshable braille to view any content electronically. Using magnification, they can enlarge words, and voice commands can be used to open documents and browsers. Even navigating the web without any mouse or keyboard can be accomplished, allowing those individuals with disabilities to have access to information and technology.

Making it possible for individuals with disabilities to have access to information and technology can assist them in a variety of areas that were never possible before, such as with eLearning, improving their personal and business lives. Jobs are more available and easily accomplished for them; they are better able to use their creativity as well as simple everyday tasks like shopping for groceries, paying bills and researching information, eLearning offers them the ability to excel at education.

What Software is Used

There is a wide range of software and hardware that offers accessibility and can be implemented to assist the disabled to excel in our modern world. Screen readers and magnifiers, head sticks and joysticks as well as alternative keyboards and speech input systems are some of the hardware that is enabling the disabled to live better lives in our modern world.

The software includes speech recognition software, reading assistance software, and alternative input software. These types of software were designed to take into consideration the various types of disabilities individuals have so they may have information accessible to them.

Speech recognition software allows a person to control the computer and enter texts or commands via a headset versus the use of a computer keyboard or mouse.

Reading assistance software combines speech verification technology with science-based technology to add strength to fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary for those with difficulties.

For those individuals who have minimal mobility or no mobility, they can control the computer and perform actions through blinking, breathing, gazing or foot controls, head and mouth sticks can also be used alternatively depending on the person's unique situation. These are easily adaptable to each and situation.

The Idea of Universal Design and Inclusion

This 508 Compliance prevents the exclusion of those with disabilities by requiring that when products concerning software and hardware or technology are created, they offer accessibility to everyone regardless of age, ability, or circumstance.

All technology that is created will be of universal design, offer easy accessibility, and have 508 Compliance, that can be implemented and used by everyone and anyone, period. This universal design with regards to software and hardware must take into consideration the needs and requirements that every human deal with physically, mentally, emotionally, and through learning. In doing this, we create the potential for a better future for those whose life path is varied from our own.

In Conclusion

In our ever-changing world of technology that seems to move at a fast rate, it can seem to limit and overwhelm those with disabilities to access and use the technology everyone else is using. When individuals with disabilities are limited and overwhelmed, combined with their circumstance and ability, this can create further challenges in their lives that add to a sometimes already tough situation.

By having the 508 Compliance through WCAG 2.0, it ensures that the disabled are offered the same accessibility and information that everyone else receives regardless of their situation. 508 Compliance has the potential not only to empower disabled individuals but create a brighter future for them filled with hope, possibilities, and connectedness. This empowerment alone has the power to overcome their situation so that they may share in the same dreams that we all have.