Instructional Materials
Technology and Learning Program Instructional Materials Accessibility Web site
The instructional materials accessibility component of ATI requires that course-related instructional materials are available to students with disabilities in an accessible format at the same time as they are available to other students.
Textbook and Course Packs
Textbooks should be ordered at least six weeks in advance of the start of the semester. This is because the DSS office needs enough time to determine if an electronic version of the text is available and adequate, or if they need to create a new electronic version by scanning the regular book.
Course packs should be duplicated through the AS Bookstore in partnership with the Print Shop. They can create an accessible electronic version of a course pack if a student needs one. Off-campus duplication services do not create accessible versions.
Online Course Materials
Faculty should use the Blackboard Vista learning management system to communicate and post content for students. Content files uploaded to Vista need to be in an accessible format. While Word, HTML, PowerPoint and Acrobat PDF files can each be made accessible, these features are not always used when the documents are created and so the files may not be accessible. TLP offers workshops, tutorials and consultations to help faculty learn to create accessible documents in these formats, starting with the course syllabus.
Faculty should use the Blackboard Vista learning management system to communicate and post content for students. Content files uploaded to Vista need to be in an accessible format. While Word, HTML, PowerPoint and Acrobat PDF files can each be made accessible, these features are not always used when the documents are created and so the files may not be accessible. TLP offers workshops, tutorials and consultations to help faculty learn to create accessible documents in these formats, starting with the course syllabus.
Tutorials and Guides
- Tutorial with Examples: Creating an accessible syllabus (sjsu.edu)
- Tutorial: Create accessible Word documents (WebAIM.org)
- Tutorial: Create accessible PowerPoint documents (WebAIM.org)
- Tutorial: Create accessible Acrobat (PDF) documents (WebAIM.org)
- Tutorial: Creating accessible documents with Office 2003 (CSU Faculty EnACT project)
- Tutorial: Creating accessible documents with Office 2007 (CSU Faculty EnACT project)
- Reference Guide: Differences between MS Word 2003 and MS Word 2007 in accessibility features (pdf)