Making Digital Materials Accessible for Individuals With Disabilities

Course overview

he advancement of technology has facilitated access to information rapidly, making material more widely available than ever; however, in the rush to embrace new means of instruction and information sharing, accessibility needs may have been overlooked. In 1996, the U.S. Department of Justice clarified that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements apply to all programs offered on the internet, which include all educational digital materials for clients, patients, students, and the general public, as well as all digital professional conference materials. This means that web page materials, and formalized online courses and programs, must be made available to qualified individuals with disabilities. Healthcare or education professionals who are producing digital materials must be aware of the regulations, as well as the electronic resources available to create and modify these documents, to ensure that all materials are in compliance with the ADA.