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Accessibility Features for ALL Our Learners
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Activity Description
Accessibility is a requirement to meet the needs of our learners with disabilities, but as we include these features in our lessons, we improve the success for all our learners.
Preparation
- Check the website to ensure it is not blocked at your site.
- Read through the lesson plan.
- Print and make copies of any handouts.
How-To
Get to know the accessibility features available online and on your devices. Here are some features to start with:
- Text to Speech: Personalize the Reading Experience, scroll down to Using Read Aloud or Get Started on Android with TalkBack
- Remove Distractions: Immersive Reader in Microsoft Edge, Video tutorial for Immersive Reader, Rea&Write for Google Chrome
- Navigation through Keyboard: Have you ever tried to access the webpage using keyboard?
- Dark Reader: Dark Reader Extension
- Mono Audio: How to play audio in mono in Android, Make Windows easier to hear
- Voice Access: Use voice access to control your PC & author text with your voice
- Voice Typing: Use voice typing to talk instead of type on your PC,
- 25 Smartphone Accessibility Settings You Need to Know About
Teacher Tips
Class activities to Introduce Accessibility Features or how can you share these features with your learners?
- Make an assignment in which the learners use the tool to complete a learning task.
- Scaffold the task utilizing the accessibility feature.
- Introduce the assignment and demonstrate how/where to find the tool.
- Have learners pair up as they work on the task using the tool.
- Gather at the end and discuss how this tool might be useful.
More Ways
Additional Resources:
- Web Accessibility Features That Benefit More People Than You Think
- OTAN Accessibility Resources
- 4 Digital Accessibility Features That Benefit Everone from Changing Paces
Program Areas
- ABE: Adult Basic Education
- ESL: English as a Second Language
- ASE: High School Equivalency Preparation
- ASE: High School Diploma
- CTE: Career Technical Education
- AwD: Adults with Disabilities
Levels
- All Levels
- All Levels
Lesson Plan
In pairs, learners discuss the devices they use. How do these devices help them? Gather as a class to share the ideas.
Accessibility features help learners with disability use the Internet and access their devices. What was discovered is that by including Accessiblity features in classrooms, all learners benefit. Here is a list of accessibility features you might use.Take a look at the list. Which ones to you use? In pairs discuss how they might benefit you: ( here is a list of ten, select the ones you want to introduce/discuss) text to speech, live captioning, closed captioning, speech to text, remove distractions, readability enhancement, dark reader, keyboard navigation, mono audio, large links and buttons, table of contents in webpages.
Demonstrate the features you have selected. In pairs have learners try the features together, then discuss how they will benefit them. Gather as a class to discuss what was discovered.
In pairs, learners select one of the features. In a Google Doc or Microsoft Word Doc have students share which feature they tried, what they think of it, how it can be used to assist learning and if they think they will use it. Learners share their document with their partner, peer edit and then share the document with the teacher.
Learners share on accessibility feature with someone outside of class. Write a paragraph about the experience. What did the other person thing? Was it easy to use? Will the other person use it?
First as pairs. discuss the lesson evaluation. Gather the class to discuss how they shared an accessibility feature with someone outside of class. Which features were most liked. Make a class list of features to use in class and at home.
Subjects
- Electives
- Intro to Computers
- Learning and Thinking Skills
- Demonstrate ability to use critical thinking skills
- Demonstrate ability to use problem-solving skills
- Demonstrate the ability to use information and communication technology
- Demonstrate the ability to view the media critically
- Reading
- Critical Thinking/Decision Making
- Learning to Learn
CTE Anchor Standards
- Anchor Standard 4: Technology - Writing Standard: Use technology, including the Internet, to produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing products in response to ongoing feedback, including new arguments and information.
- Anchor Standard 10: Technical Knowledge and Skills - Writing Standard: Use technology, including the Internet, to produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing products in response to ongoing feedback, including new arguments or information.
Standards
- Reading
- CCR Anchor 7 - Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.
- Writing
- CCR Anchor 6 - Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and to interact and collaborate with others.
- Speaking and Listening
- CCR Anchor 2 - Integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.
Tags
Creative Commons License
