"The focus of many open education projects is to provide access to education. But what does access mean? If the materials are not accessible for each and every student, do they fulfill the mandate to deliver fully open education? The open education movement has helped people in different parts of the world access content that they would otherwise not be able to view or interact with. Open education resources reduce costs for students and allow for greater flexibility for instructors. Accessibility can help push the movement even further forward."
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The University of British Columbia OER Accessibility ToolkitCreating OER that is truly accessible to all learners is at the core of making Open truly 'open for all.' At the University of Virginia, this means following the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to remove barriers and ensure equal access to online resources and services. The University requires that all digital content meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA, with a preference to meet a higher standard of WCAG 2.2 Level AA whenever possible.
UVA Resources
Please reach out to lib-oer@virginia.edu to discuss accessibility questions and concerns. We're here to support your work! In addition, the following resources are excellent options for further learning and assistance.
- Digital Accessibility at UVA
This page serves as a portal to resources, tools, and details related to the University's digital accessibility efforts.
- 7 Pillars of Accessibility
These pillars offer foundational knowledge surrounding key aspects of digital accessibility compliance. With a 'take one step' approach, the materials provided scaffold learning.
- Creating Web Accessible Multimedia
This library guide provides information on what is needed to make sure your multimedia content is accessible before you put it on the Web.
- Self Guided Learning/Workshops
Engage with a curated list of accessibility topics at your own pace.
- Academic Captioning Project
Funded by the Provost's office and managed by the UVA Library, the Academic Captioning Project is a centrally funded effort to encourage the provision of accurate captions and transcripts for recorded academic course content.
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Reach out to the Digital Accessibility Coordinator for support, topic-specific training, or accessibility advice:
Email: digitalaccessibility@virginia.edu
Phone: (434) 924-2799
Email the ADA Coordinator Team
Accessibility & OER
- BCCampus Open Education Accessibility Toolkit, 2nd Edition
The goal of this accessibility toolkit is to provide resources for each content creator, instructional designer, educational technologist, librarian, administrator, and teaching assistant to create a truly open textbook—one that is free and accessible for all students.
- Flexible Learning for Open Education (floe)
Floe provides access to a group of resources that can help meet individual learners' needs. Find tools to help you create, adapt, or publish accessible OER for your classroom.