{"id":513,"date":"2025-08-28T20:29:39","date_gmt":"2025-08-29T03:29:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/elearningfaculty-redesign-dev\/?page_id=513"},"modified":"2026-05-20T12:37:11","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T19:37:11","slug":"get-started-now","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/elearningfaculty\/guides-resources\/digital-accessibility\/get-started-now\/","title":{"rendered":"Get Started Now"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"section section-white body-section-wrapper alignfull wp-block-bc-sitka-spruce-body-section\">\n\t<div class=\"container-xl\">\n\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\n<div class=\"body-section-content col-md-8\">\n\t\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-brutus-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-6988c30c6ce3cc2a84bdfef3c5dac646\">Making Course Materials Accessible<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-mayflower-blocks-lead lead\">There are a number of high-impact practices that you can adopt now to ensure that your course content is accessible to all students and meets the current legal standards. Prioritize these practices and follow the step-by-step guide below to get started now on making your course content accessible. <\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<hr class=\"section-divider\" \/>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"accordion-section-wrapper section section-xlight\">\n\t<div class=\"container-xl\">\n\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\n<div class=\"accordion-section-content col-md-8\">\n\t<div class=\"accordion-section-heading\">\n\t\t<h2>Adopt an Accessibility-First Mindset<\/h2>\n\t\tHere are several high-impact practices that will help you adopt an accessibility-first approach.\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-mayflower-blocks-collapsibles accordion\" id=\"accordion_c223184d-98d5-4825-bd6a-8e8c86042d1d\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-mayflower-blocks-collapse accordion-item\"><h3 class=\"accordion-header mb-0\" id=\"heading_79efdc38-18a7-4fae-8be9-995ff6741d07\"><button class=\"accordion-button bg-primary text-bg-primary\n\t\t text-white collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-target=\"#collapse_79efdc38-18a7-4fae-8be9-995ff6741d07\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse_79efdc38-18a7-4fae-8be9-995ff6741d07\">Remove Outdated Digital Course Materials<\/button><\/h3><div id=\"collapse_79efdc38-18a7-4fae-8be9-995ff6741d07\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse \" aria-labelledby=\"heading_79efdc38-18a7-4fae-8be9-995ff6741d07\" data-parent=\"#accordion_c223184d-98d5-4825-bd6a-8e8c86042d1d\" data-bs-parent=\"#accordion_c223184d-98d5-4825-bd6a-8e8c86042d1d\"><div class=\"accordion-body \">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Faculty should review all course material and remove unused and outdated content to streamline the learning experience and reduce cognitive load for students. TidyUP is a tool available in Canvas that can scan courses and identify unused files and provide information about Canvas elements (published\/unpublished), making this review process more efficient. Removing clutter helps students focus on current, relevant materials and ensures that only accessible, high-quality resources remain in your course.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-mayflower-blocks-collapse accordion-item\"><h3 class=\"accordion-header mb-0\" id=\"heading_8cc9fc63-f9a6-4f5e-ba19-ed6dc26afff6\"><button class=\"accordion-button bg-primary text-bg-primary\n\t\t text-white collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-target=\"#collapse_8cc9fc63-f9a6-4f5e-ba19-ed6dc26afff6\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse_8cc9fc63-f9a6-4f5e-ba19-ed6dc26afff6\">Opt for Web-Based Content Over Files, Scans, and PDFs<\/button><\/h3><div id=\"collapse_8cc9fc63-f9a6-4f5e-ba19-ed6dc26afff6\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse \" aria-labelledby=\"heading_8cc9fc63-f9a6-4f5e-ba19-ed6dc26afff6\" data-parent=\"#accordion_c223184d-98d5-4825-bd6a-8e8c86042d1d\" data-bs-parent=\"#accordion_c223184d-98d5-4825-bd6a-8e8c86042d1d\"><div class=\"accordion-body \">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When possible, provide HTML versions (for example, websites or Canvas pages) of assigned readings and text-based content over scanned files or PDFs. Web-based content is inherently more accessible than PDFs and scanned documents because it automatically adapts to different screen sizes, allows students to adjust text size and colors, and works seamlessly with screen readers. Since most students access course materials on their mobile phones, web-based content provides a superior user experience across all devices. Unlike PDFs, web content can be easily edited and updated without requiring students to download new versions.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-mayflower-blocks-collapse accordion-item\"><h3 class=\"accordion-header mb-0\" id=\"heading_026849d1-d83e-4f33-b854-d0eaa37086ed\"><button class=\"accordion-button bg-primary text-bg-primary\n\t\t text-white collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-target=\"#collapse_026849d1-d83e-4f33-b854-d0eaa37086ed\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse_026849d1-d83e-4f33-b854-d0eaa37086ed\">Commit To Using BC-Supported Digital Tools<\/button><\/h3><div id=\"collapse_026849d1-d83e-4f33-b854-d0eaa37086ed\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse \" aria-labelledby=\"heading_026849d1-d83e-4f33-b854-d0eaa37086ed\" data-parent=\"#accordion_c223184d-98d5-4825-bd6a-8e8c86042d1d\" data-bs-parent=\"#accordion_c223184d-98d5-4825-bd6a-8e8c86042d1d\"><div class=\"accordion-body \">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">BC-supported tools such as Canvas, Cidi Labs, Panopto, Microsoft Office, and Zoom are vetted and approved because they have robust accessibility features and built-in accessibility checkers. Using these approved tools ensures that all students, including those with disabilities, can participate fully in course activities without encountering unnecessary barriers. Additionally, when you use supported tools, you have access to technical assistance and can be confident that the tools will be maintained and updated to meet evolving accessibility standards.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-mayflower-blocks-collapse accordion-item\"><h3 class=\"accordion-header mb-0\" id=\"heading_b83f1d79-b1ac-44a6-8184-cb7b086f4c97\"><button class=\"accordion-button bg-primary text-bg-primary\n\t\t text-white collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-target=\"#collapse_b83f1d79-b1ac-44a6-8184-cb7b086f4c97\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse_b83f1d79-b1ac-44a6-8184-cb7b086f4c97\">Make Use of Accessibility Checkers<\/button><\/h3><div id=\"collapse_b83f1d79-b1ac-44a6-8184-cb7b086f4c97\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse \" aria-labelledby=\"heading_b83f1d79-b1ac-44a6-8184-cb7b086f4c97\" data-parent=\"#accordion_c223184d-98d5-4825-bd6a-8e8c86042d1d\" data-bs-parent=\"#accordion_c223184d-98d5-4825-bd6a-8e8c86042d1d\"><div class=\"accordion-body \">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition to built-in accessibility checkers in Canvas, Cidi Labs, and Microsoft Office products, the college provides additional tools in Canvas such as Ally Accessibility Checker and UDOIT. These tools automatically identify common issues such as missing alt text, poor color contrast, and improper heading structure that can create barriers for students with disabilities. Regular use of accessibility checkers builds your awareness of best practices and helps you create more inclusive content from the start.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-mayflower-blocks-collapse accordion-item\"><h3 class=\"accordion-header mb-0\" id=\"heading_037fbda9-c4f7-4434-ab64-073df1a9e29e\"><button class=\"accordion-button bg-primary text-bg-primary\n\t\t text-white collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-target=\"#collapse_037fbda9-c4f7-4434-ab64-073df1a9e29e\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse_037fbda9-c4f7-4434-ab64-073df1a9e29e\">Seek Help From Faculty Support Systems<\/button><\/h3><div id=\"collapse_037fbda9-c4f7-4434-ab64-073df1a9e29e\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse \" aria-labelledby=\"heading_037fbda9-c4f7-4434-ab64-073df1a9e29e\" data-parent=\"#accordion_c223184d-98d5-4825-bd6a-8e8c86042d1d\" data-bs-parent=\"#accordion_c223184d-98d5-4825-bd6a-8e8c86042d1d\"><div class=\"accordion-body \">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/elearningfaculty\/faculty-support\/\">Interactive eLearning<\/a>\u00a0offers live online support, in-person support, one-on-one support, and support via ticketing requests to help you implement accessibility best practices in your courses. The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/drc\/\">Disability Resource Center (DRC)<\/a>\u00a0provides academic accommodations to students with a barrier related to a disability or health condition and can assist faculty by reviewing accommodation requests\u2014fill out an Access Form and the DRC will contact you to schedule a meeting to determine accommodations. Leveraging these support systems not only improves your course accessibility but also ensures you have expert guidance when addressing student needs and compliance requirements.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<div class=\"block-wrapper alignstandard\">\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block-wrapper alignstandard\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-brutus-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-b49609b3cfb82526064b02256f1efddd\">Step-by-Step Guide:<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block-wrapper alignstandard\">\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block-wrapper alignstandard\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left has-brutus-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-cd069bf4b944d7f14deff82aad370c3a\">STEP 1 &#8211; Reflect<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block-wrapper alignstandard\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left\">Identify challenges, learning needs and available resources<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block-wrapper alignstandard\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:400\">What are the biggest challenges you face in making your courses digitally accessible? Consider the following questions:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block-wrapper alignstandard\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:400\">What is your baseline knowledge of digital accessibility?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:400\">How much inaccessible material do you need to address?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:400\">Does your content contain complex material (e.g., lecture videos, equations, data visualizations)?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block-wrapper alignstandard\">\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block-wrapper alignstandard\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-brutus-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-03df741af5d8a00382920585c2da1f33\">STEP 2 &#8211; Review Your Courses and Content<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block-wrapper alignstandard\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Evaluate your courses and content to understand the student perspective and identify issues<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block-wrapper alignstandard\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Go through the course yourself<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use automated tools to identify issues<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Try out assistive technologies<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block-wrapper alignstandard\">\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block-wrapper alignstandard\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-brutus-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-162528c6b6d8a8759537c2f665ce9933\">STEP 3 &#8211; Clean Up Your Course Site<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block-wrapper alignstandard\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Remove files and pages in your course(s) that you no longer use<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block-wrapper alignstandard\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The more files you keep in your course site, the more content you will need to remediate for accessibility. Use TidyUP or manually go through your course sites and files.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block-wrapper alignstandard\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-mayflower-blocks-alert alert alert-info\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>TIP:<\/strong> Avoid over-relying on files. Convert content that does not need to be downloaded or edited into Canvas pages, quizzes or assignments. Files are less usable on mobile devices and are more time consuming for you to maintain in the long run.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block-wrapper alignstandard\">\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block-wrapper alignstandard\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-brutus-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-3f534d1a5d90400e16326a7324195669\">STEP 4 &#8211; Prioritize Areas to Address<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block-wrapper alignstandard\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Identify and prioritize course content to address first<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block-wrapper alignstandard\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Determine instructional content to address first. For instructors teaching several courses, begin by revising classes that serve as prerequisites, frequently include a DRC student, or have large class sizes. This checklist will help you prioritize your work and start making improvements now:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block-wrapper alignstandard\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Remove outdated online course content<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Choose accessible reading materials<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Include alt text or captions for visual elements shown<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use accessibility checkers on course documents<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Activate auto captioning in Panopto and Zoom<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check course accessibility checker results (Ally in Canvas) and address issues where possible<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Forward more challenging remediation needs to the appropriate support channels<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block-wrapper alignstandard\">\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block-wrapper alignstandard\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-brutus-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-6f78895b24b55e147dfa4b996eca1e49\">STEP 5 &#8211; Plan Your Approach<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block-wrapper alignstandard\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Depending on Steps 1-4, each instructor&#8217;s approach may look a bit different<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block-wrapper alignstandard\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Depending on Steps 1-4, each instructor&#8217;s approach may look a bit different. We recommend writing out your plan to stay organized and be intentional about getting the work done.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block-wrapper alignstandard\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Apply the Three R&#8217;s Review Strategy: Retire, Replace, or Remediate<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Review core skills and best practices<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Select and familiarize yourself with essential tools<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Write out a plan to follow<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block-wrapper alignstandard\">\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Step-by-Step Guide: STEP 1 &#8211; Reflect Identify challenges, learning needs and available resources What are the biggest challenges you face in making your courses digitally accessible? Consider the following questions:&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2741,"featured_media":0,"parent":455,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template--no-sidebar.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-513","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/elearningfaculty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/513","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/elearningfaculty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/elearningfaculty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/elearningfaculty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2741"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/elearningfaculty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=513"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/elearningfaculty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/513\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2637,"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/elearningfaculty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/513\/revisions\/2637"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/elearningfaculty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/455"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/elearningfaculty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=513"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}