This information is provided as a resource to help make electronic media and technology accessible.

Digital Accessibility is the ability to access electronic resources, such as a website, mobile application, electronic document, electronic media or equipment, that is easily navigated and understood by a wide range of users, including those who have visual, auditory, motor or cognitive disabilities.  This applies to all resources that are public facing and within the district or school that students or staff may access that may not be available to the public.

What does accessibility mean?

This is the degree to which a device, product, program, software, service or environment is available to a given user.  For instance, if a test is given in class on paper only, it would have a low degree of accessibility to a visually impaired student, but would still have a degree of accessibility for a hearing impaired student that is able to read it.  However, if the same test was given with an electronic version that could be read with a screen reader along with a paper version, then the test has a much higher degree of accessibility to all students.  Websites and documents tend to need the highest level of accessibility for all audiences since they are public facing.

What makes technology accessible?

Accessible technology has to be designed in a way where it can be accessed by all audiences. This includes websites, electronic documents, software, hardware, video and audio resources.  Consider some of the following audiences and how they may access district information:

• Most individuals who are blind will use either audible output (mostly using screen reading software) or tactile output (such as braille device).
• Individuals with learning disabilities such as dyslexia may use audible out or Text-to-Speech (TTS) devices.
• Other visual impaired individuals may use magnification software or they may enlarge the font on the screen to be able to read it.
• Individuals with fine motor impairments may use more keyboard commands instead of the mouse or possibly head pointers, mouth sticks or eye-gaze tracking systems.
• Individuals who are hearing impaired and not able to access audio content need video resources to be close-captioned and audio resources to have transcripts that can be read.
• Individuals will be using a variety of devices such as phones, tablets or other devices with a variety of screen sizes and navigation gestures for interacting with digital content.

Accessible technology means that all of these types of users and many more not mentioned should be able to access the district's digital content.

How do I make digital content and technology accessible?

There are a number of resources on this part of the site.  See the following pages for more information:

• Creating and Developing Accessible Websites
• Creating Accessible Documents
• Creating Accessible Media
• Procuring Accessible Technology

Where can I get help?

Ottawa Area Intermediate School District is committed to assisting in making all resources accessible to all audiences.  If you are in need of any kind of assistance, please see our Getting Help page.