Accessibility

Modern Classrooms Project is committed to making learning experiences accessible for all students. In this quick guide, you’ll find resources and tips for making your classroom accessible for all students, including students with special needs and students who are emergent bilinguals. For additional resources, review our extended Accessibility Guide.

Instructional Videos

  • Consider your Media Player: Make sure the video playing platform you use supports closed captioning and screen reader usage.

  • Test Videos across Devices: Is the video easy to access and watch across computers, tablets, and phone screens?

  • Legible Text: Make sure text on screen is large enough to read easily. Provide blank space between lines of text for easy reading.

  • Add Subtitles: Add alt text (a written description) to all images embedded in videos. Learn how to add subtitles to videos.

  • Color and Presentation: Make sure your video foreground and background colors contract enough to make each distinct to the eye.

  • Support Low-Vision Viewers: Verbally describe all visual content that is being displayed on the screen as if your video was being broadcast on the radio. If giving directions on screen, be sure to describe the directions out loud as well.

  • Make Sound Accessible: Be mindful of distracting computer sounds (e.g., stylus tapping or clicking sounds). Try recording videos using high-quality headphones to avoid quiet or muffled voice recordings.

Self-Pacing

  • Offer Cues: Student with special needs benefit from having visual cues (gameboard, signage around the room) and auditory cues (bells, timers) to guide them through daily activities.

  • Support Executive Functioning Online: When designing your LMS for students, consider adding clear headers and icons for sections of materials; provide checklists for easy tracking of activities; provide hints to help students get started on problems.

Mastery-Based Learning

  • Consider Space and Sound: Will any students require access to a separate, quiet space for mastery checks?

  • Support during Mastery Checks: Do students know who to ask if they have a question? Do students need access to a text reader? Do students require support for filling out the mastery check (writing assistance, recorder)?

  • Format: Is the text large enough for all readers? Will you create a paper and electronic version of mastery checks?


NOTE: This information is meant to offer general support to Modern Classroom teachers and is not intended to replace the advice and resources of your school and district support services. Please consult each student’s Individualized Educational Program (IEP) and your school’s resources regarding accessibility.

References:

Fleming (2020). New strategies in special education as kids learn from home.

Thompson (2013). 30 web accessibility tips. University of Washington, AccessComputing

Lewis (2017). Best practices for creating accessible video for blind and low-vision viewers. 3PlayMedia.

Universal Design for Learning on Campus. Executive function in online environments.

Do2Learn. Accommodations.

 

Interested in more classroom-tested tools and techniques?