Let's talk about online teaching and accessibility. Shifting courses online is an opportunity to build in accessibility from the beginning. #thread #criptechnoscience
1. If you already use an online course manager, you may be familiar with some basic accessible teaching strategies: Image descriptions for all images and videos, 2.captions and/or transcripts for all videos, 3.PDFs with OCR (Optical Character Recognition) for screen reader access
3. Check in with your students about their access needs around online material. They may have not disclosed these previously if the course was primarily in person. They may need screen reader access, reduced screen time, live transcription, etc.
4. Ask about internet connection availability and available technology. Do not assume everyone has access to fast internet or cameras for livestreaming.
5. Consider alternatives to video as Zoom, etc. may not be able to handle the extra load of so many more users. Alternatives could be: discussion boards, small group discussions on Google docs with report-backs, small groups with text chains and report backs.
6. Consider adding in extra time for completing discussions and assignments. Discussions do not have to happen in real-time during class times. They could be due at the end of the week. Students who are sick may not have the energy for a 90-minute discussion board or lecture.
7. Consider reducing screen time for folks who get migraines or have other issues (I ration my screen time to 1-2 hours per day max). Making text available for printing out, or making it possible to participate in Zoom calls with voice only and no image can help reduce problems.
8. Ask students to participate in hacking and tinkering with the educational process. Use the opportunity for course redesign to teach them valuable lessons related to your topic.
9. Build in elements of pleasure and connection to counteract social isolation. Begin class by asking how everyone is doing. Encourage them to check in on each other.
10. BTW, all of the above suggestions come from disability culture and community. Disabled people have been using online spaces to teach, organize, and disseminate knowledge since the internet was invented. #criptechnoscience
11. Recognize that these types of remote access have been denied to disabled people. Requests for remote access to classrooms and conferences are routinely denied. Mention this in your classes so that students know they are benefitting from crip tech and praxis.
12. Use class presentations as opportunities to encourage students to incorporate image description and plain language, to pre-circulate electronic access copies, and to think about the form of presentation. For more resources, visit u.osu.edu/composingacces…
12. Follow orgs like Disability Justice Culture Club @disabilityjust1. @DisVisibility 's #AccessisLove campaign, the Harriet Tubman Collective (harriettubmancollective.tumblr.com), @sinsinvalid. Donate when you can.
