This is an archived page that describes a project from 2014-2017. It has been superseded by the Digital Accessibility Office.

The Accessibility Initiative officially began April 14, 2014. Since then we have made progress toward the general Information and Communication Technology accessibility barriers and subsequent remediation steps that students with disabilities, specifically including vision impairments, may be facing in accessing the following services, programs and activities, as identified in the Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division’s (DOJ) February 18, 2014 correspondence:

  • Google Apps for Education
  • Digital Textbooks
  • Digital Signs
  • Online student portal
  • Websites for homework and course-related content
  • Online placement and diagnostic exams

Milestones Reached

The following milestones have already been reached through the initiative.

Google Apps 

The following tasks were completed to improve accessibility awareness for Google Apps:

  • Documented all CU-Boulder Google Apps core and marketplace apps including full descriptions of the services provided and information on the differences between the licensing/terms of use between the apps.
  • For all core Google Services, created specific accessibility documentation on how to select a different service and alternative accessible client option(s).
  • For Sites, created specific Google Sites guidelines for creating accessible site content.
  • For File Storage, created specific accessibility instructions for using local file synchronization.
  • For Docs, Sheets and Slides, created specific accessibility instructions for creating/exporting Docs, Sheets and Slides into alternative formats with increased accessibility.
  • OIT reviewed and updated Google Apps accessibility documentation to ensure alignment with the draft campus accessibility policy.

Desire2Learn 

OIT completed the following tasks to improve accessibility for Desire2Learn:

  • Provided instructors with information about the accessibility of Desire2Learn and strategies for creating accessible content.
  • Provided students with guidance to assist them with using D2L with screen readers.
  • Communicated D2L accessibility guidance via the OIT website.
  • Performed a usability study to identify specific issues that students with visual disabilities have with D2L.
  • Along with the ICT Accessibilities Remediation Team, addressed issues related to D2L accessibility within our span of control, communicated issues related to D2L accessibility not within our span of control, and is working with the vendor to make improvements.
  • Published updated accessibility documentation on the D2L service page.

Turnitin

OIT provided recommendations for using Turnitin on the OIT website for students and faculty, and provides information to the Honor Code Office regarding recommendations.

VoiceThread

OIT informed students and faculty of accessibility capabilities and supporting documentation for use of VoiceThread by means of workshops and information on the OIT website.

Qualtrics

OIT completed the following tasks to improve accessibility for Qualtrics:

  • Provided users with instructions on OIT website for checking the accessibility of surveys they create and notify them of accessible and non-accessible question types.
  • Evaluated the "allow non-accessible surveys" setting on our Qualtrics instance in order to determine whether ICT should be disabled.
  • Obtained information from the vendor regarding whether alternatives exist for screen reader users.

McGraw-Hill Campus

OIT provided the campus, via the OIT website, the McGraw-Hill accessibility resources.

Online Learning Initiative (OLI) - Carnegie Mellon

OIT evaluated if there was a continued need for the OLI service. OIT worked with the primary instructor that uses the tool and disabled the service.

Kaltura

OIT completed the following tasks to improve accessibility for Kaltura:

  • Created a plan for implementation and support of the 508 compliant media player. 
  • Communicated to students and faculty members about the 508 compliant media player in the KMC (Kaltura Management Console) via the OIT website, KMC administrators and Disability Services Office.
  • Provided instructors with guidelines for producing accessible media, including instructions via the OIT website.
  • Published updated accessibility documentation on the Kaltura service page.

iTunesU

OIT completed the following tasks to improve accessibility for iTunes U:

  • Provided iTunesU content creators, on the OIT website, guidelines for producing accessible media, including instructions for creating audio descriptions.
  • Provided instructions for accessible searching of iTunesU on the OIT website.
  • Advised faculty how to provide students with accessible ways of accessing iTunesU media and communicate via the OIT website.

In Progress

The following tasks and activities are currently in progress.

Digital Textbooks (e-texts)
Start Date: May 5, 2014
Targeted Completion Date: Fall 2015

We shall complete the following tasks to improve accessibility for textbooks and course materials:

  • Create, implement, support, and publicize an OIT centrally managed service to address digital accessibility of textbooks and course materials and make those services available to faculty and staff.
  • Put into place a policy that will address timing of the release of textbooks (title, author, ISBN, edition, publisher) and supplemental published course materials at the time of registration for courses.
  • Provide instructions and training to faculty and staff that addresses the creation and converting of digital textbooks and course materials in an accessible manner.  

Digital Signs
Start Date: April 14, 2014
Targeted Completion Date: March 2016

OIT has performed an accessibility audit of all known digital signage on the CU-Boulder campus. From these findings, OIT has initiated an additional project that will determine levels of responsibility necessary by OIT and by those campus entities using digital signage to meet all accessibility requirements for all known digital signs on the CU-Boulder campus.

Portals
Start Date: April 14, 2014
Targeted Completion Date: April 2016

OIT has audited in scope aspects of the portal, portal features and linked-to services for accessibility. From these audits a remediation plan has been developed and OIT, along with the ICT Application and Technical Services Remediation Team, is actively working to carry out the plan. Some of the tasks have been completed and the team works to complete remaining tasks. The tasks include:

  • Provide interim suggestions for accessible workarounds for all issues while the full solutions are underway.
  • Correct those accessibility shortcomings identified in the audit that can be corrected by OIT and CU-Boulder University Communications developers.
  • Create service requests to University Information System (UIS) for remediation for issues in customer PeopleSoft code created by Oracle and assign a resource to manage those requests on an ongoing basis.
  • Develop remediation requests for each individual application for issues in external vendor products and assign a resource to manage those requests on an ongoing basis.
  • Develop an umbrella list of remediation requests to UIS for all components in custom PeopleSoft code created by UIS developers and specific requests regarding individual or specific accessibility problems.
  • Create remediation plans and submit them to the appropriate webmaster for issues in CU web pages managed by University Communications or a department.

Online Placement and Diagnostic Exams
Start Date: April 14, 2014
Targeted Completion Date: October 2015

OIT completed a full audit of accessibility features of all in scope placements and diagnosis exams. OIT is working to complete the following tasks:

  • Develop plans to correct accessibility shortcomings that can be corrected by OIT developers.
  • Create remediation plans and submit them to the appropriate webmaster for issues in CU web pages managed by University Communications or a department.
  • Develop remediation requests for each individual application for issues in external vendor products and assign a service manager to manage those requests on an ongoing basis.
  • Provide interim suggestions for accessible workarounds for all issues while the full solutions are underway.