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Spring 2018 Technology Accessibility Workshops

Emerging Technology and Accessibility invites you to enhance your technology accessibility skills by participating in these workshops during the latter half of the Spring 2018 term:

  • Texthelp Tools for Reading, Writing, Language Learning, and STEM
    This hands-on workshop offers an introduction to the Texthelp tools freely available to all UA students, faculty, and staff: Read&Write, a literacy support solution with tools for reading, writing, research, and studying; EquatIO, an application that lets everyone create mathematical equations, formulas, Desmos graphs, and more on their computer or Chromebook; and Snapverter, a Google Chrome app that converts printed documents and inaccessible digital files into readable PDF files for easy sharing and reading aloud.
    Wednesday, March 28, 2:00-3:00 p.m. in Gordon Palmer Room A232
  • Introduction to Accessibility Management Platform (AMP)
    For all UA users, learn about UA’s Accessibility Management Platform and how it can help evaluate web sites for accessibility.
    Friday, March 30, 2:00-3:00 p.m. in Gordon Palmer Room A232
  • Accessible Content and Inclusive Learning with Microsoft Office
    This demonstration session introduces general principles for creating accessible content with Microsoft Office products and free Microsoft Learning Tools that provide support for reading and writing Office documents.
    Tuesday, April 3, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. in Gordon Palmer Room A232
  • Accessibility Management Platform (AMP) Office Hours
    This open help session is an opportunity to get assistance with your Accessibility Management Platform (AMP) questions.
    Friday, April 6, 10:00-11 a.m. in Gordon Palmer Room A232
  • Creating Accessible Emails
    Whether you’re sending a note to just a few contacts or crafting a campaign for broad distribution, it’s important to make sure your email messages are accessible to people with disabilities. This hands-on workshop will cover how to create accessible emails: composing messages, improving image accessibility, and adding accessible tables and lists. Participants will use Microsoft Outlook to create accessible messages, learning practices they can also apply to other email programs and marketing tools such as MailChimp.
    Tuesday, April 10, 2:00-3:00 p.m. in Gordon Palmer Room A232
  • How People with Disabilities Access Digital Content
    Participants in this session will gain a fuller appreciation of technology accessibility by exploring the user perspective: technologies and methods people with disabilities use to access websites, documents, audio, video, and other digital content, and barriers created by inaccessible design. This session includes demonstrations of assistive technology such as screen readers and magnifiers, alternate input devices, and the accessibility features built into the Mac and Windows operating systems.
    Friday, April 13, 10:00-11:00 a.m. in Gordon Palmer Room A232
  • Introduction to Web Accessibility
    The University of Alabama is committed to providing our technology users, including those with disabilities, a functional and accessible technology experience with our web presence and our instructional and emerging technologies. This session will provide an introduction to web accessibility: laws and standards regarding accessibility in higher education, the University’s web accessibility guidelines, common accessibility challenges and solutions, and resources and strategies for creating accessible documents, images, audio, video, and web content.
    Wednesday, April 18, 2:00-3:00 p.m. in Gordon Palmer Room A232
  • Accessibility Management Platform (AMP) Office Hours
    This open help session is an opportunity to get assistance with your Accessibility Management Platform (AMP) questions.
    Friday, April 20, 2:00-3:00 p.m. in Gordon Palmer Room A232
  • Creating Accessible Digital Stories with Microsoft Sway
    Microsoft Sway is a digital storytelling app that helps you quickly create professional, interactive designs for your images, text, videos and other media; it is also a more accessible alternative than Adobe Spark. This hands-on workshop offers an introduction to Sway with a focus on accessibility. Participants will learn best practices to make their Sways accessible; use the Accessibility Checker to identify and fix potential accessibility issues; and play their finished creations in Accessibility view.
    Tuesday, April 24, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. in Gordon Palmer Room A232

Registration is requested but not required.

We are also happy to offer private training sessions on these and other accessibility-related topics to members of the University community. Please contact us if we can help with your technology accessibility needs.

EquatIO Mobile is here

Last month, we introduced the Texthelp tools now freely available to UA students, faculty, staff, and departments, including EquatIO, which helps users create equations, formulas, and other math and chemistry expressions on a computer or Chromebook. Here’s a look at EquatIO Mobile, released last week, just in time for Pi Day!

Video: How to Use EquatIO® Mobile

A mobile companion to EquatIO for Google Chrome and EquatIO mathspace on the computer or Chromebook, EquatIO Mobile lets you add handwritten math, images, and more to digital documents. Currently available for use on Android devices using Google Chrome or iOS devices using Safari, EquatIO Mobile automatically finds and lets you add digital math to the active documents you have open with EquatIO on your computer or Chromebook.

There are three ways to add math:

  • Draw Math, which lets you use the touchscreen of your phone or tablet to handwrite math (handy for users who prefer to handwrite math but don’t have access to a touchscreen computer or Chromebook)
  • Record, which lets you dictate your math into your microphone
  • Math Image, which lets you take a photo with your camera (great for adding handwritten math on a scratch piece of paper, a worksheet, and whiteboard content)

After writing, speaking, or taking a picture of your math, you can add it to a document open on your computer or Chromebook. There are two upload options:

  • Save as Math, which converts spoken or handwritten work into typed math
  • Save as Image, which takes a screenshot of your math and uploads it to your document

To learn more about EquatIO Mobile, check out this Texthelp blog post: EquatIO Mobile: Digital Math in the Palm of your Hand.

Note: The first time you use EquatIO Mobile, you will be prompted to sign in using Google, Microsoft, Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn. Students should select Google and sign in using a Crimson Mail account. Faculty/staff may select Microsoft and sign in using a @ua.edu Office 365 account, or, to request authorization for an email address connected to a Google, Microsoft, Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn account, please contact accessibility@ua.edu.

Introducing Texthelp

The FRC Faculty Technology Showcase is a great place to learn how faculty are using technology to enhance learning, conduct research, and increase professional productivity. Today’s Showcase also marked the launch of the Texthelp tools now freely available to UA students, faculty, staff, and departments.

Texthelp offers a collection of Mac and PC desktop software, Google Chrome apps and extensions, and iOS and Android apps that support reading, writing, language learning, and STEM subjects. The tools are available for use on both personal and University-owned devices and can be accessed via the software catalog on the OIT website.

Read&Write

Read&Write supports reading, writing, researching, and studying. It offers a simple toolbar at the top of the screen that you can customize to meet your specific needs. It offers support with tasks like reading text out loud, understanding unfamiliar words, researching assignments, and proofing written work. It’s particularly beneficial for English language learners and users with learning disabilities, but it’s useful for all learners.

Video: Introduction to using Read&Write at University

The Read&Write toolbar is available as a Google Chrome extension and as desktop software for Windows and Mac. There are also iPad and Android tablet apps that offer many of the features of the Chrome and desktop tools.

Snapverter

Snapverter is an easy to use add-on for Read&Write for Google Chrome that transforms papers and files into readable PDF documents.

Video: Introduction to Snapverter – An Add-On for Read&Write

After installing the Snapverter Chrome app, you can use your smartphone to snap a picture of text in a book, handout, or other paper-based item or select a saved inaccessible digital file from your phone or computer and upload it to the Snapverter folder in your Google Drive. Files are converted to readable text using optical character recognition (OCR) and stored as PDFs in your Google Drive. If you’d like, you can then use Read&Write to hear text read aloud, see words explained, access translation features, and more.

EquatIO

EquatIO supports math and STEM subjects. It lets you type, handwrite, or speak to create equations, formulas, and other math and chemistry expressions on a computer or Chromebook; there’s also a library of ready-made expressions you can use to add STEM content to a document. EquatIO also supports LaTex, a typesetting and mark-up language that’s widely used for mathematical and scientific documents.

Video: Introducing EquatIO® – Make Math Digital. Make Math Together

EquatIO is available as a Google Chrome extension and as desktop software for Windows and Mac. EquatIO users can also use the EquatIO mathspace collaborative workspace and, coming soon, the EquatIO mathspace mobile app.

Ready to give Texthelp a try? Contact Emerging Technology and Accessibility to request access or to talk about how these and other technologies can support inclusive and accessible learning opportunities.

Level Access AMP training August 8th and 9th

Level Access (formerly SSB Bart Group) will be on campus for onsite AMP training on Tuesday, August 8th and Wednesday, August 9th from 9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. AMP recently updated the tool’s interface and relaunched its browser extension as ACCESS Assistant. This training will provide hands-on sessions with the AMP trainers as well as allow the opportunity for questions regarding your use and workflows with AMP. Space for this training will be limited to 30 participants and you must register to attend. We ask that you send only one or two representatives from your area. The training sessions will be recorded for access at a later date. Lunch will be provided courtesy of Strategic Communications. Please email accessibility.ua.edu if you have any questions.

WPCampus Conference Livestream July 14

Emerging Technology and Accessibility is teaming up with WebTide to host the WPCampus Conference Livestream this Friday, July 14.

The sessions will run all day, so join us as you can in Gordon Palmer Hall to take advantage of topics ranging from accessibility to analytics.

8:30 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.

GP A232  Every project is a story: Applying Storytelling to your client interactions

GP A204  The Canisius College Workflow: MU WordPress, Divi and MailChimp

GP A236  Don’t Push Rocks Uphill: Deploying WordPress wth Capistrano and Composer

9:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.

GP A232  Workshop: Acceptable application of analytics for your academic areas

GP A204  A Survey of WordPress Online Learning Plugins

GP A236  Them and us: Using the WordPress REST API to Display both public and private content

10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

GP A232  Workshop: Acceptable application of analytics for your academic areas

GP A204  I do(n’t) Belong Here

GP A236  Tools and Approaches for Managing Content, Accessibility and Web Identity at Scale

1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.

GP A232  Workshop: Finding eternal REST: An undead guide to building JS front ends for WordPress

GP A204  Open Access Publishing and WordPress

GP A236  How to Scale WordPress Across a University

2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.

GP A232  Workshop: Finding eternal REST: An undead guide to building JS front ends for WordPress

GP A204  So, you redesigned your website… Now What?

GP A236  WordPress High Performance Boosting

3:15 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

GP A232  Interview like a journalist, write like a marketer: Telling stories with hear… and accuracy

GP A204  Mobilizing 200 Reluctant Content Creators

GP A236  Level up Your WordPress Security

ACRL 2017 Accessibility on the Horizon

Hello from Baltimore, Maryland! This week, Rachel Thompson is joining UA Libraries’ Melissa Green for the Association of College and Research Libraries’ annual conference. Along with Vanderbilt University’s Melissa Mallon, they will present the panel, “Accessibility on the Library Horizon: The NMC Horizon Report > 2017 Library Edition”. This session examines, through the lens of accessibility, the important developments in technology presented in the latest NMC Horizon Report > Library Edition and offers a discussion of technologies on the five-year horizon for academic and research libraries, how they are expected to transform teaching and learning, and their potential to enhance and diminish accessibility and learning for students with disabilities.

Online Resources for ACRL panel

Spring 2017 Accessibility Webinars & Workshops

CIT’s Emerging Technology and Accessibility is excited to announce the spring accessibility training schedules. The webinars and workshops include:

Webinars

  • Getting to know the Accessibility Management Platform (AMP) Interface Webinar
    For all UA users, learn about UA’s Accessibility Management Platform and how it can help you evaluate web sites for accessibility. 
    Thursday, February 16th 1:30-2:30 p.m. This is an online session.
  • Accessible Office Documents Webinar
    Monday, February 27th 9:00-9:45 a.m. This is an online session.
  • Alt-Text Best Practices Webinar
    Thursday, March 2nd 10:00- 10:45 a.m. This is an online session.
  • Accessible PDFs Webinar
    Wednesday, March 8th 10:00-10:45 a.m. This is an online session.
  • Accessible Blackboard Course Webinar
    Wednesday, March 29th 1:00-1:45 p.m. This is an online session.
  • Captioning Tegrity Recordings with Docsoft Webinar
    Tuesday, April 4th 2:00-3:00 p.m. This is an online session.
  • Universal Design for Learning Webinar
    Friday, April 7th 10:00-11:00 a.m. This is an online session.

Workshops

  • Accessibility Management Platform (AMP) for Web Developers:
    For UA web developers, learn about UA’s Accessibility Management Platform and how it can help you evaluate web sites for accessibility.
    Monday, February 20th 10:00-11:00 p.m. in Gordon Palmer Room A232
  • Accessibility Management Platform (AMP) for Content Managers:
    For UA web content managers, learn about UA’s Accessibility Management Platform and how it can help you evaluate content for accessibility.
    Tuesday, February 21st 1:30-2:30 p.m. in Gordon Palmer Room A232
  • Accessibility Office Hours and Work Session
    Bring your web accessibility questions or evaluate a site or page.
    Friday, March 3rd 9:00-10:00 a.m. in Russell Hall Room 124

The workshops and webinars begin this week!  Webinar access information will be sent shortly before the session. For more information or to register, please visit UA’s Technology Accessibility website and navigate to the “Workshops” tab.

WPCampus Virtual Conference

The Center for Instructional Technology’s Emerging Technology and Accessibility is teaming up with WebTide to host the WPCampus Virtual Conference on Monday, January 23rd.

The sessions will run all day, so join us as you can in Gordon Palmer Hall to take advantage of topics ranging from accessibility to student engagement:

9:00-9:45am
GP A232: From Moodle to WordPress – what we learnt and why we moved
GP A236: Level Up: Centralized News and WordPress

10:00-10:45am
GP A232: Empathy and Accessibility for the Web
GP A236: The Case for the WordPress REST API

11:00-11:45am
GP A232: Effectively manage and scale WordPress multisite and the importance of insights
GP A236: The Making of a Web Team

12:00-12:45am
GP A232: Shaping User Roles for Higher Education
GP A236: Learning from Drupal: Implementing WordPress in a Drupal-Majority Institutional Environment

Programming Note
GP A232 “Room 1” sessions will migrate to A342 for the remainder of the day’s schedule.

1:00-1:45pm
GP A342: “Let’s just build it!”: Seven years of framework development at Boston University
GP A236: WordPress as an LMS

2:00-2:45pm
GP A342: Easy, Affordable Digital Signs with WordPress
GP A236: The Magic of Teaching Using WordPress: 10+ Ways to Easily Transform Classes & Excite Students

3:00-3:45pm
GP A342: Showing up: learning how to make a contribution
GP A236: Spoonful of Content Sugar – Reducing Friction in Subject Matter Expert Participation

4:00-4:45pm
GP A342: Higher Ed WordPress Showcase
GP A236: Site Directories and Member Profiles: A Custom Post Type Story

Discover more details about the WPCampus session programming by visiting their website at https://online.wpcampus.org/.

Making Accessible PDFs

Check out our friends at the UA Teaching Hub!

Nathan Loewen and Miyoshi Juergensen teamed up to create a fantastic guide to making accessible PDFs. Check it out!

https://accessibility.ua.edu/accessibilityresources/accessibilityresources-accessible-pdfs/