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Company: United Educators, Bethesda, MD
Company Description: For more than 30 years, United Educators (UE) has protected educational institutions with our liability coverage, targeted risk management resources and expert claims handling. All UE members have access to EduRisk®, an extensive suite of risk management resources, including multimedia learning courses, created to help prevent bad things from occurring on school campuses.
Nomination Category: Web Achievement - Specialty
Nomination Sub Category: Achievement in Online Training
 Nomination Title: Creating Accessible Digital Materials
- Which will you submit for this nomination, an essay of up to 525 words describing the nominated achievement(s), OR a video of up to five (5) minutes in length describing the same? CHOOSE ONE:
Written essay of up to 525 words
- If you are submitting a video of up to five (5) minutes in length, provide the URL of the nominated video here, OR attach it to your entry via the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above, through which you may also upload a copy of your video:
- If you are providing a written essay of up to 525 words about your nominated web achievement(s), provide it in this space:
Total 382 words used.
Studies show that about 20% of American undergraduate and 12% of post-graduate students have a disability. These students face many unnecessary hurdles that they must learn to overcome, often at great expense to their own mental well-being. Meanwhile, institutions increasingly face legal challenges related to inaccessible websites and instructional materials as students with disabilities fight for their right to an equitable education. While it takes hard work and dedication to earn a diploma, students with disabilities shouldn’t face unnecessary obstacles in receiving the knowledge they need to succeed. Every student pursuing higher education deserves an equal opportunity to prove themselves academically. To teach higher education instructors the importance of accessibility for all their students, United Educators developed our course, “Creating Accessible Digital Materials.” This course introduces learners to the basics of digital accessibility and ‘Universal Design,’ the federal laws that require accessibility, and the web regulations that direct accessibility standards. Whether it’s a PowerPoint presentation, a weekly assignment handout, or a department website, educators can help every member of their academic community succeed by ensuring all students can access resources properly, regardless of ability. The course teaches about the wide range of disabilities that students may live with and the environmental obstacles that may impede their learning process, examining best practices for dismantling barriers and learning practical applications to provide a better learning experience for everyone. Users learn about assistive technology that people with disabilities use to navigate the world and how digital materials need to be designed to work with these technologies, understanding that education goes far beyond a one-size-fits-all framework. Most importantly, learners see that people with disabilities deserve an education that works for them, without any barriers that restrict them. Working closely with disability subject matter experts at Gallaudet University and Access Ingenuity, “Creating Accessible Digital Materials” was made available in February, 2022, to our 1600 member institutions to aid them in designing all materials, regardless of audience, with accessibility firmly in mind. Ignoring the needs of students with disabilities is simply not an option anymore. Featuring engaging scenarios and beautifully rendered animations that bring the subject starkly to life, the course aims to empower faculty and staff to level the playing field and make their campus a better environment for all students to learn and grow.
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