Montana State University is committed to ensure equal access to information, programs and activities through its technologies, web pages and services. This web page provides resources for students, faculty and staff to help accomodate accessibility in information technology.

 

What is accessible technology?

Accessible technology is technology that has been designed in a way so that it can be accessed by all users. This includes electronic documents, websites, software, hardware, video, audio, and other technologies. People who interact with technology are extremely diverse. They have a wide variety of characteristics, and we cannot assume that they’re all using a traditional monitor for output, or keyboard and mouse for input. Consider these users:

Most individuals who are blind use either audible output (products called screen readers that read web content using synthesized speech), or tactile output (a refreshable Braille device).

Individuals with learning disabilities such as dyslexia may also use audible output. This is often referred to as Text-to-Speech (TTS).

Individuals with low vision may use screen magnification software that allows them to zoom into a portion of the visual screen.

Many others with less-than-perfect eyesight may enlarge the font on websites using standard browser functions, such as Ctrl + in Windows or Command + in Mac OS X.

Individuals with fine motor impairments may be unable to use a mouse, and instead rely exclusively on keyboard commands, or use assistive technologies such as speech recognition, head pointers, mouth sticks, or eye-gaze tracking systems.

Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing are unable to access audio content, so video needs to be captioned and audio needs be transcribed.

Individuals may be using mobile devices including phones, tablets, or other devices, which means they’re using a variety of screen sizes and a variety of gestures or other user interfaces for interacting with their devices and accessing content.

Accessible technology works for all of these users, and countless others not mentioned.

 

Experiencing inaccessible IT? Please let us know.

Montana State University strives to ensure that people with disabilities have access to all services and content, including those delivered using information technology (IT). If you experience a barrier that affects your ability to access MSU websites, videos, on-line forms, or other IT, please send a detailed message to helpdesk@montana.edu.

For additional issues or needs related to accessibility or accommodations at the MSU, please send a request to disabilityservices@montana.edu

Teaching and Learning Online: Accessibility Resources

 

For Students

Students with documented disabilities can request accommodations by contacting Disability Services. Please see their page at this link https://www.montana.edu/disabilityservices/ for more information.

 

For help using specific technologies, including keyboard shortcuts and instructions for screen reader users, see the section below on Accessibility of Technologies Used at MSU.

 

For Instructors

MSU University Information Technology and other units on campus have compiled a toolkit of technology recommendations for teaching online. Visit Academic Technology and Outreach’s Learn Anywhere page here https://ato.montana.edu/learnanywhere/.

 

When choosing and using technologies to support teaching, it’s important to understand how those technologies can impact accessibility for students with disabilities.

MSU Library Resources

A guide that compiles information about accessibility best practices for instruction, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), tutorials & resources, as well as accessibility of MSU library resources.

https://guides.lib.montana.edu/accessibility/bestpractices

Academic Technology and Outreach Resources

Help for Instructors on making educational content accessible for students with disabilities.

http://ato.montana.edu/accessforall/

Cisco Webex Resources

https://www.webex.com/accessibility.html

 

Accessibility of Technologies Used at MSU

Following is a collection of accessibility-related help pages for technologies that are commonly used at the Montana State in support of online teaching and learning. These resources include tips for instructors, as well as keyboard shortcuts and step-by-step instructions for using the tools with screen readers.

EquatIO: A math accessibility solution for those who prefer to listen to math in any document or web page, or to create math content with voice or handwriting. EquatIO allows users to take a screenshot of the inaccessible equation to convert it to accessible math that will automatically be read aloud. EquatIO can be used to dictate equations and formulas aloud. It understands what is said and turns the spoken input to written expressions. EquatIO can also be used to write math freehand on the device and to turn that into digital math. https://www.montana.edu/uit/equatio/index.html

D2L Accessibility: https://www.d2l.com/accessibility/

Webex Accessibility: https://www.webex.com/accessibility.html

Read&Write Gold: A literacy support software.  It provides tools that can be used online or in desktop apps that reads on-screen text, look up definitions, help with vocabulary, turn documents and web pages into MP3 files, assist with research and much more. Once installed, the Read&Write Gold customizable toolbar can be integrated and used with applications like Microsoft Word, web browsers (like Internet Explorer and Chrome), Adobe Reader (PDFs) and many others.  https://www.montana.edu/uit/rwg/

Microsoft Accessibility

Topics include: 

  • Vision: Need a larger screen? A brighter screen? A narrator to read text? Find out about accessibility tools and features for people who are blind, color blind or have low vision.
  • Hearing: For those who are hard of hearing, have hearing loss or are deaf, our specialized features can provide solutions, including closed captioning, mono sound and live call transcription.
  • Neurodevirsity: Tools such as dictation and Windows Hello sign-in can make the digital world more accessible for those who live with dyslexia, seizures, autism or other cognitive differences.
  • Learning: Our applications for people living with learning disabilities can help increase focus, concentration and understanding. Aplications also include tools to improve reading and writing skills.
  • Mobility: Our suite of products helps people living with arthritis, quadriplegia, spinal cord injuries and other mobility issues to navigate the digital world in non-traditional ways.
  • Mental Health: Learn more about assistive technologies for people living with issues such as bipolar disorder, anxiety, PTSD, depression or ADHD. Our products can help with distraction, reading and concentration.
  • Windows 10 Operating System Accessibility: Windows 10 brings meaningful innovation to all people, whether you have a disability, a personal preference, or a unique work style. With a robust set of built-in and third-party accessibility features, Windows adapts to you.
  • Microsoft 365 Accessibility: Microsoft 365 is accessible by design to help people and organizations be more productive and inclusive as they create, communicate and collaborate from any device. Find out how Microsoft 365 helps make everyone more efficient and independent.

Learn more about tools from Microsoft to support accessibility

Apple Accessibility

Topics include: 

  • Vision
  • Mobility
  • Hearing
  • Cognitive

Learn more about tools from Apple to support Accessibility 

 

Still have questions or concerns about accessibility? Please contact the UIT Helpdesk at helpdesk@montana.edu with specific questions.

 

Accessibility info from Computer Manufacturers 

Lenovo: https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/compliance/accessibility-features/

Dell: https://www.dell.com/en-us/lp/accessibility

Apple: https://www.apple.com/accessibility/


Creating Accessible Documents

When creating content, there are a few basic steps that should be followed in order to assure your content is accessible. The core steps needed for accessibility are the same regardless of whether your document is in HTML, Microsoft Word, Adobe PDF, or another document format:

This page provides more information on Creating Accessible Documents.

https://guides.lib.montana.edu/c.php?g=1018857&p=7380001

 

Creating Accessible Videos

Videos should be produced and delivered in ways that ensure that all members of the audience can access their content. An accessible video includes captions, a transcript, and audio description and is delivered in an accessible media player. See below for more details about each of these features. This information was written specifically for people producing or delivering video at the University of Washington (UW). Most is applicable to people outside the UW; when content is UW-specific that will be made clear in the instructions.

 

Captions

Captions are text versions of the audio content, synchronized with the video. They are essential for ensuring your video is accessible to students, employees, and members of the public who are deaf or hard of hearing. They also help non-native English speakers to understand the video, make it possible to search for content within the video, help all students learn the spelling of technical terms spoken in the video, and make it possible to generate an interactive transcript where users can click anywhere in the transcript to watch the video where that text is spoken.

 

Live Captioning and Description

If live events are simulcast over the Web, live captioning is needed in order to provide access to the audio content for audience members who are deaf or hard of hearing. Similarly, live description may be needed if key visual content will otherwise not be verbalized, such as in a dramatic production. At the University of Washington, these services are coordinated through the Disability Services Office or Disability Resources for Students. Please contact either of these offices to learn how to request these services.

Transcript

A transcript is a text version of the media content. A transcript should capture all the spoken audio, plus on-screen text and descriptions of key visual information that wouldn’t otherwise be accessible without seeing the video. Transcripts make video content accessible to everyone, including people who are unable to view the video due to accessibility problems or technical limitations. They are also helpful for people who want to quickly scan or search a video’s content but do not have the time to watch the entire video.

If you have captioned your video, a transcript is available as one of the optional output formats produced by the closed captioning process. This is true of both the free online tools and the commercial service providers. To make the transcript available simply link to it from your web page, wherever you link to or display the associated video.

 

Captioning, Subtitles and Transcript Resources

Technology is increasingly used in delivering academic courses and resources. Some courses are offered completely online; others combine on-site and online components into a hybrid format.

It is important to ensure the IT components of a course are accessible to and usable by all students. These include documents, videos, and websites. These digital resources often need to be remediated for accessibility as an accommodation to one or more students with disabilities. This presents tremendous challenges for faculty and staff and creates a burden for students as they fall behind while waiting for accessible resources. Therefore, it is always best to proactively ensure all digital resources are accessible from the onset.  This enables all students with and without disabilities to participate fully in the course, and the accessibility solutions often benefits all students (see below for specific examples).

See this link for additional guidance for making online course materials accessible.

https://guides.lib.montana.edu/c.php?g=1018857&p=8269702

 

Creating Accessible Documents

Some digital documents are more accessible than others. The most accessible document format is HTML, so the best choice for distributing content is a web page, created using the rich text editor in a content management system or learning management system such as D2L. Care must be taken to ensure web pages are accessible. For example, headings must be tagged as headings at appropriate levels to form an outline of the document content, and images must be briefly described for non-visual users by entering “alt text” in the relevant form field when adding the image.

If you choose to distribute documents in another format such as Adobe PDF, Microsoft Word or Microsoft PowerPoint, know that these formats support accessibility, but documents are not accessible by default. Authors must take care to follow the guidelines for creating accessible documents. Many of the issues are the same as for web pages (e.g., use appropriate headings, add alt text to images) but the techniques vary across document authoring tools. For additional information see Creating Accessible Documents.

See this link for additional guidance for making online course materials accessible.

https://guides.lib.montana.edu/c.php?g=1018857&p=8269702


Creating Accessible Videos

Video offers an excellent medium for teaching, particularly if used to complement other teaching methods such as text and activities. However, video can present accessibility challenges to some students. Fortunately, there are standard, widely supported solutions to all the problems. For example, students who are deaf or hard of hearing need captions in order to access the audio content; and students who have blindness or low vision need to have all visual content described verbally. If this isn’t possible within the main program audio, the video can be supplemented with a separate narration track that describes the visual content using a technique called audio description.

See this link for additional guidance for making online course materials accessible.

https://guides.lib.montana.edu/c.php?g=1018857&p=8269702

 

Student Accommodations

Montana State University - Bozeman has a proud history of accommodating persons with disabilities, and the staff at the Office of Disability Services is committed to ensuring equal educational access and full participation in all of the university's programs, services and events

https://www.montana.edu/disabilityservices/student.html

 

Faculty and Staff Accommodations

https://www.montana.edu/disabilityservices/faculty.html

 Parent Information

https://www.montana.edu/disabilityservices/parent.html

 

 

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