Guide to Global Accessibility Awareness Day
The San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) recognizes the importance of web accessibility and inclusion – every person, regardless of their ability or device, deserves to experience web-based services and content with the same success as those without disabilities. Global Accessibility Awareness Day is on May 18 and it began in 2011 to raise awareness about digital access and inclusion for people with disabilities.
About Web Accessibility
Web accessibility occurs when technology, websites, and tools are created so people with disabilities can understand, perceive, maneuver, and contribute to the web. Web accessibility benefits people with auditory, cognitive, neurological, physical, speech, and visual disabilities. It also benefits people without disabilities, including those on mobile phones, the elderly, individuals with slow Internet, those with circumstantial limitations, and individuals with temporary disabilities.
- Introduction to Web Accessibility, W3C WAI
- Cognitive Disabilities and the Web, Where Accessibility and Usability Meet?, The National Center on Disability and Access to Education
- Visual Disabilities, WebAIM
- Auditory Disabilities, WebAIM
Centering Student Voices and User Stories
SDCOE seeks to elevate students’ voices and engage with their experiences in school through listening. This section provides videos about the importance of inclusion, understanding, and accessibility for students and adults with disabilities, learning differences, and impairments.
Watch the SDCOE video panel featuring students with learning differences talking about their experience in school.
Additional video resources include:
- Through Your Child’s Eyes, Understood
- Web Accessibility Perspectives Videos: Explore the Impact and Benefits for Everyone, W3C WAI
Guidelines that Support Accessibility
These guidelines can help create accessible content and keep web accessibility in mind.
- Quick Reference Web Accessibility Principles, WebAIM
- Section 508 Checklist, WebAIM
- WebAIM’s WCAG 2 Checklist, WebAIM
- Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, W3C
Creating Accessible Materials in the Classroom
These resources offer a variety of assistive technology tools that can be used to support accessibility and create a more accessible digital experience. Dive into these links to learn how to create accessible materials.
Designing Accessible Learning
- Digital and Non-Digital Learning Best Practices Course, SDCOE
- Designing for and Fostering Accessibility Course, SDCOE
- Understanding Disabilities course, SDCOE
General Resources
- Celebrating GAAD: Accessibility Resources for Educational Communities, Office of Educational Technology
- Contrast Checker, WebAIM
- Guidelines for Creating Accessible Content Course, SDCOE
Software Specific Resources
- Create and Verify PDF Accessibility, Adobe
- Accessible Technology and Tools, Microsoft
- Make Your PowerPoint Presentations Accessible to People with Disabilities, Microsoft
- Make Your Word Document Accessible to People with Disabilities, Microsoft
- Make Your Document or Presentation More Accessible, Google Docs Editors Help
- Google Workspace for Diverse Learners, Google for Education
Classroom Resources
- AT Resource FlipKit, Open Access; North Inland SELPA
- DCMP Media Center, Described and Captioned Media Program
- How to Add Remote ASL Interpreters on Zoom Conference Meetings, Languagers
- Simultaneous Interpretation for Google Meet, web extension from Chrome Web Store
- Use Sign Language View in Microsoft Teams, Microsoft
Books for Students
The following books and book collections highlight the disability experience and the importance of understanding and celebrating differences.
- 15 Books to Celebrate Disability Pride, The New York Public Library
- A Day with No Words by Tiffany Hammond (ages 4-8)
- All the Way to the Top by Annette Bay Pimentel and illustrated by Nabi Ali (ages 4-8)
- It’s OK to be Different: A Children’s Picture Book About Diversity and Kindness (ages 2-6)
- Schneider Family Book Award, American Library Association
- Select Bibliography of Children’s Books about the Disability Experience, American Library Association
- The Abilities in Me Foundation book series (18 books) by Gemma Keir and illustrated by Yevheniia Lisova
- When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed and illustrated by Victoria Jamieson and Iman Geddy (ages 9+)
Universal Design for Learning
Universal design for learning (UDL) is a framework to improve and optimize teaching and learning for all people, and aims to change the design of the environment rather than to change the learner. When environments are intentionally designed to reduce barriers, all learners can engage in rigorous, meaningful learning.
- About UDL, CAST
- What is UDL? (video)
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More to explore
Families can chat with community organizations, and learn about community resources and services. In addition, visitors can access health screenings for COVID-19, blood pressure, vision, and cholesterol.
The San Diego County Office of Education is launching an Asian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern, and Desi American art showcase in an effort to highlight local youth and young adult visual artists.
SDCOE has a variety of professional learning opportunities available to San Diego County educators at low or no cost this summer. Review them by topic and date and register to attend.
LGBTQIA+ Pride Month is an opportunity to celebrate and honor youth and community members as well as foster a school climate where students, staff members, and families who identify as LGBTQIA+ can live their authentic lives and be treated with dignity and respect.
The Migrant Education Region 9 parent conference connected nearly 275 parents and students with learning opportunities, community and health services, and local businesses.
The San Diego County Office of Education has joined Contra Costa County and Glenn County offices of education in a statewide effort that focuses on supporting students with disabilities, students with dyslexia, and students who are dually identified by providing professional learning for K-12 educators.