When
videos are used as an essential part of classroom instruction
or workplace training, how can they be made more accessible
not only for people with visual or hearing impairments,
but many others as well? Christiaansen outlines several
strategies for accessibility and notes how the same
accommodations that make videos more usable for hearing-
or visually-impaired users also enhance learning for
people with different learning styles, learning disabilities,
or English as a second language. Professor Christiaansen
chairs UW-Madison's Committee on Access and Accommodation
in Instruction. (April 2000)
Project
IMPACT and Introductory Design Tips for Increasing the
Accessibility of Web-based Courses
by Todd Schwanke, Bhagwant Sindhu, and Roger Smith, UW-Milwaukee
UW-Milwaukee's
Project IMPACT (Integrated Multi-Perspective Access
to Campus Technology) aims to make that campus and its
technological and physical resources more usable for
all. The authors, all affiliated with Project IMPACT,
provide an overview of the program and offer tips for
improving Web-based courses. Don't miss the helpful
resource section! (April 2000)
UW-Madison
Joins Nationwide DO-IT Prof Project, Pursues Other Avenues
for Accessibility and Accommodation
by Alice Anderson, Division of Information Technology,
UW-Madison
The
Madison campus, in partnership with Madison Area Technical
College, has joined the national project DO-IT Prof
(DO-IT stands for Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking,
and Technology). This prestigious national program is
currently developing national guidelines and professional
development modules that will provide higher education
faculty and administrators with the tools they need
to work effectively with students with disabilities.
(April 2000)
Access
for Everyone, Everywhere: The Web Accessibility Initiative
of the World Wide Web Consortium
by Lisa Jansen, Learning Support Services, UW-Madison
Jansen
introduces the beginning Web designer to the concept
of accessible Web pages and outlines the World Wide
Web Consortium's (W3C) guidelines for such. As with
the case of video captioning and video description,
attention to Web page accessibility increases the usefulness
of resources not only for users with disabilities, but
many others as well. Includes several examples of UW
campus resources on accessible Web design. (April 2000)
Managing
Graduate School with a Learning Disability: A Profile
of Judy Risch, UW-Madison
by Jennifer Smith, TTT Editor
Keeping
up with the intense reading load of graduate school
can be hard. But what if you have a learning disability
like dyslexia that compromises your ability to read
quickly and absorb content via the printed word? Learn
about the personal experiences and study strategies
of one UW-Madison graduate student who has developed
a multifaceted, technological approach to keep up with
her studies. Risch is enrolled in a joint degree program
between the Law School and School of Education and attributes
her success to a wise use of technology. (April 2000)