Accessible documents are key to ensuring that all people can access your content. Creating accessible documents and modifying current documents to become accessible are both simple processes once you know how to use the tools at your disposal.
- Create documents that are screen readable and well structured. This includes using 鈥渟tyles鈥 to create headers and clear and simple language, fonts (typically sans-serif fonts), and type point (12pt for body text).
- Provide text alternatives for all images, graphics, audio, and video.
- Ensure that all text has a strong contrast to the background color (test by printing out on a black & white printer) and avoid using images of text
- Do not use color or sensory characteristics alone to convey meaning (i.e., indicate a category or type of information or to switch topics)
- Use headings for columns and rows in tables; use introductory paragraph to describe designs of complex table layouts.
- Provide unique hyperlink labels which are descriptive of the content which is linked. In other words, change "To view the latest accessibility policy, click here" to "View the accessibility policy." Screen readers will only be able to read what is in the link, so a page that lists "click here" multiple times for various links is not helpful to the user.
- Convert documents to a universally accessible file format (recommendation is Adobe Acrobat Reader / PDF format).
- Add an Accessibility Disclaimer to documents that has you/your department鈥檚 information that reads, 鈥淚f you are having problems accessing this document please contact [Department Name] at [departmentemail@sctcc.edu] or call [Department Phone Number]. TTY users may call MN Relay Service at 711 to contact the college.鈥
Adobe Acrobat Pro has a feature called 鈥淎ccessibility Check鈥 that will automatically go through your document and check that it is accessible.
Microsoft Word has many features that support in the creation of accessible content. They, like Adobe, have an Accessibility Checker feature
PowerPoints are often overlooked as needing to be accessible. It is important to have accessible PowerPoints, so your content is available to all your audience.
黑料不打烊 has secured limited funds for online course videos to be captioned. If you have a video(s) in Kaltura/MediaSpace for fall semester that you need captioned, follow these instructions.
Requesting captioning will require the use of MediaSpace. While many of you have used this resource, for some this is new. The process听for accessing this page is quite simple. To access MediaSpace, go to your D2L/Brightspace link. Then, under tools, select 鈥淢ediaSpace.鈥
Those of you utilizing Kaltura software to develop video/lecture are ahead of the game.听Faculty wanting to have a video captioned that they鈥檝e听created using Kaltura MediaSpace can start with step听2v.
Login听to media space:听
To upload a file or share a YouTube link, go to the top of the page and select听鈥淎dd New鈥
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OPTIONS: Five options are displayed. There are likely only two you will be using for captioning: Media Upload and/or Youtube. (To be听perfectly honest, I don鈥檛 know how the other options function)
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Media Upload:听For your personal recordings or content you have downloaded onto your computer. This process is very intuitive.
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Once you have a lecture/talk completed, you can either 鈥渄rag and drop鈥 or 鈥渃hoose a file to upload.鈥
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Naming your file: Once uploaded, please include the course name听and听your name in the required name field.
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Additional Fields:
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You can choose to add a collaborator if you are co-teaching or have a TA or office coordinator with whom you are working.
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You must choose between: Private, Unlisted or Public. If you are posing in D2L, it should be (at a minimum) 鈥渦nlisted.鈥
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You may also add additional files at the bottom of the page.
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Once you have completed the process, click听Save.
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Then, click on your name at the top of the page and听select 鈥渕y media鈥.听(Your page will not say 鈥淭om Sagerhorn.鈥)
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Select听the video(s) you would like to have captioned by checking the box on the left column of your page.听Then听under听鈥淎ctions鈥 select 鈥淐aption & Enrich鈥 from the pulldown menu.
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Ordering Captions page: You will have a number of fields to complete on this page. It is important that you do the following:
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Institution: There are multiple options in the campus pull down -->听choose 黑料不打烊.
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Service: Professional is the default. Choose this option, as the 鈥渕anual鈥 option is 80% at best.
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Source Media Language: English is the only option.
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Feature:听Captions is the only option
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Turnaround time:听We ask that you choose听鈥渂est effort鈥. If you ask for less time, a member of our team will reach out and ask why this shortened turnaround time is necessary. Choosing less time is only an option if there is a major concern.
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Instructions & Notes:听This information is relayed to the vendor who is creating captioning. We do not see this information once submitted. You are welcome to provide them with as many instructions as you determine to be appropriate.
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Submit听and you are finished. Your file will be returned to you in approximately 48 hours.
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Email Confirmation upon completion:听You will receive an email confirmation, when captioning is complete.
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TO ADD AND CAPTION A YOUTUBE VIDEO:听There are certain YouTube videos that do not allow for third-party viewing or sharing. In such听circumstances, faculty are encouraged to identify 鈥渆quivalent alternatives鈥 that can be provided in an accessible format.
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Begin in your 鈥淢y Media Page鈥 and from the 鈥淎dd New鈥 pull down menu, choose YouTube.
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Video Page Link:听Paste the Link, and click 鈥淧review鈥. Be sure to complete the Fields appropriately. Most will auto-fill from听Youtube. Choose 鈥淯nlisted鈥 so you can share the file in your D2L page. Then click save at the bottom of the page.
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Return to your 鈥淢y media鈥 page:听Then follow the directions for submitting a video for captioning.
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Keep in mind that you can also caption your own videos in MediaSpace听too.
Requesting Video Captions document.听
Unlike Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act which require a reasonable accommodation be made after a qualified individual with a disability makes a request, the laws relating to online document accessibility are in effect at all time for all users.
Under of the Rehabilitation Act, institutions accepting Federal dollars must make their web and electronic documents accessible to screen readers and other assistive technologies.
In addition to the Federal law, agencies of the state of Minnesota are subject to state of Minnesota laws and accessibility guidelines (, , , the , and
Review the guidelines and sites above for specific details of the laws and standards.
Minnesota IT Resources Accessibility Training:
- Experience how people with disabilities access digital technology