The document summarizes an online presentation about accessible eLearning. Susi Miller, an eLearning accessibility expert, discussed dos and don'ts for creating accessible eLearning content. Key points included using plain language, alternative text for images, color contrast, keyboard accessibility, and not using time limits unless learners can control them. James Baverstock then provided an overview of the Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations and compliance requirements for websites, documents, and mobile apps. The presentation concluded with a Q&A section.

1. HE/Public Sector Update June 2021
HE/Public Sector update
Accessible eLearning dos and don’ts
with Susi Miller
Susi Miller, eLearning accessibility expert
James Baverstock, AbilityNet
Annie Mannion, AbilityNet (host)

2. HE/Public Sector Update June 2021
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option on the control panel
• Additional captions available:
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• Slides are available at www.slideshare.net/abilitynet
• Slides, a transcript and recording www.abilitynet.org.uk/Susi-Miller
• Please use the Q&A window to ask questions
• Feedback form to ask any follow up questions post-webinar
Welcome

3. HE/Public Sector Update June 2021
“We support people of any age,
living with any disability or
impairment, to use technology
to achieve their goals at home,
at work and in education.”
AbilityNet: A Digital World Accessible to All

4. HE/Public Sector Update June 2021
• Susi Miller, eLearning accessibility expert
• James Baverstock, Senior Accessibility and Usability
Consultant, AbilityNet
• Q&A
Today’s session

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• @Mark Poll.
How confident are you that you
deliver accessible eLearning?

6. HE/Public Sector Update June 2021
HE/Public Sector Update: Accessible
eLearning dos and don’ts
Susi Miller
22 June 2021

7. HE/Public Sector Update June 2021
eLearning accessibility dos
• Use plain English
• Use clear and accessible fonts and formatting
• Add alternative text to any images which add meaning
• Make sure all interactions and media players are keyboard accessible
• Use accessible headings, lists and tables
• Make sure text and background items have good colour contrast

8. HE/Public Sector Update June 2021
Key takeaway – colour contrast
1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum) Level
AA
For any text and the background it
appears on, choose colours that have
a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1. This
applies to ‘normal’ size text which
W3C defines as 17 point or smaller
for regular text and 13 point or
smaller for bold text.

9. HE/Public Sector Update June 2021
WebAIM
https://webaim.org/resources/
contrastchecker/

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NoCoffee Vision Simulator
NoCoffee vision simulator for
Firefox
https://addons.mozilla.org/en
-GB/firefox/addon/nocoffee/

11. HE/Public Sector Update June 2021
No Coffee Vision Simulator

12. HE/Public Sector Update June 2021
eLearning accessibility don’ts
• Don’t forget good contrast on interactive items
• Don’t create inaccessible links
• Don’t create inconsistent navigation or quiz feedback
• Don’t use non-inclusive language
• Don’t use ALL CAPITAL LETTERS
• Don’t use time limits unless learners can control them

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Key takeaway – time limits
2.2.1 Timing adjustable - Level
A
Do not set time limits for any
activities in eLearning resources
unless learners can turn them off,
adjust or extend them. This applies
to the length of time learners have
to complete quiz questions, the
amount of time content remains on
the page, etc.

14. HE/Public Sector Update June 2021
Key takeaway – control over content
2.2.1 Timing
adjustable - Level A
Make sure that learners
have control over any
content which moves,
scrolls or updates
automatically as this also
effectively imposes a time
limit.

15. HE/Public Sector Update June 2021
HE/Public sector dos and don’ts

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Work across your organisation
Work across your organisation

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Learn from your learners
Learn from your learners

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Quotes
Visual Impairment
Most frustrating of all is the
“Can’t you get a sighted person
to help you?” response which
I’ve encountered many times.
- Kirsty Major
Hearing Impairment
A thing I find very frustrating is if
videos have captions, but people
have relied on automatic
captioning and not taken the time
to make them useful for hearing
impaired people. - Jake Harrison
Mobility Impairment
One of the modules I studied had a
mind map which was inaccessible
for me… the problem was caused
by the fact that only one form of
assessment was allowed. - Esi Hardy
Cognitive Impairment
One of the most challenging things
for me is if assessment questions
and instructions aren’t written in
clear language. - Luke Westwood

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Work with your tool’s constraints
Work with your tool’s constraints

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Remember your staff
Remember your staff

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Don’t expect change to
happen quickly
Don’t expect change to
happen quickly
“Patience is not sitting and waiting, it is
foreseeing. It is looking at the thorn
and seeing the rose, looking at the
night and seeing the day.” Rumi

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Don’t let WCAG get you down
Don’t let WCAG get you down

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WCAG POUR

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Designing Accessible Learning Content

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Don’t be discouraged by a
lack of leadership
Don’t be discouraged by a
lack of leadership

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Greta Thunberg
“If you look through history, all the big
changes in society have been started by
people at grassroots level.
People like you and me.”

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• Designing Accessible Learning Content - Kogan Page
20% discount with AHR20.
• eLearning accessibility training courses www.elahub.net
• susi@elahub.net
• linkedin.com/in/susimiller1
Contact Susi

28. HE/Public Sector Update June 2021
Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations
(PSBAR) recap
James Baverstock, AbilityNet

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The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications)
Accessibility Regulations 2018 (PSBAR)
1. Websites, intranets, online documents and apps must
comply with accessibility requirements to be “perceivable,
operable, understandable and robust”
2. Websites and apps must have an accessibility statement
3. Government is required to monitor compliance
PSBAR recap

30. HE/Public Sector Update June 2021
All public funded organisations except:
• Non-government organisations like charities (unless provide
essential public services or aimed at disabled people)
• Schools or nurseries - except for the content the public need to use
their services
• Public sector broadcasters and their subsidiaries
Includes 3rd party content and tools under the control of the public
body
Regulations apply to ~ 44,000 UK websites

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Accessibility standard: EN 301 549
• Aligned to WCAG 2.1 Level AA
• Web Content Accessibility Guidelines - International standard developed by the W3C
• P – Content should be perceivable
• O - Users should be able to operate webpages
• U – Web pages should be understandable
• R – Robust pages should be displayed similarly with different browsers
• WCAG 2.1 Primer: https://alphagov.github.io/wcag-primer/index.html#wcag-2-1-
getting-started

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Exclusions
• Downloadable documents published before Sept 2018 - unless in active use
• Pre-recorded media (e.g. videos, podcasts) published before Sept 2020
• Live video
• Online maps and mapping services if accessible alternatives are available
• 3rd party content that is not under the control of the public sector body
concerned
• Archived websites

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See it as an
opportunity to
communicate
to your users
about how you
can support
their access
needs
Include:
• An evaluation of the accessibility of the site
• Which parts of your service do not meet accessibility
standards and why
• Alternatives to content that’s not accessible
• How to contact you to report accessibility problems
• A link to the website they can use if they’re not happy
with your response
Accessibility statements

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Mobile apps
June 2021
Websites
created before
23 Sept 2018.
Sept 2020
Websites published after
23 Sept 2018.
New intranets/extranets
content after 23 Sept 2019
Sept 2019
Timeline for implementing regulations

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• If you have in-house developed apps make sure they are checked for accessibility
• Most public sector organisations are more likely to use 3rd party apps. Note that
CDDO (formerly GDS) have issued updated guidance that only apps where both of
the following apply are in scope:
• Mobile apps designed and developed by or on behalf of a public sector body
(NOT unbranded off-the-shelf apps)
• Mobile apps for use by the general public (NOT specifically defined groups such
as employees or students)
• If your 3rd party apps are in scope, speak to suppliers ASAP and publish a statement
by 23rd June
Mobile apps – coming into scope this month

36. HE/Public Sector Update June 2021
Mobile app requirements
• Requirements for apps are basically WCAG 2.1 AA, but there are
some success criteria that do not apply to mobile apps (detailed in
EN 301 549)
• Statements for apps should be available on the website of the public
body that developed the app or alongside other information available
when downloading the application. Best practice is to also make it
accessible from within the app

37. HE/Public Sector Update June 2021
• Don’t forget to update your accessibility statements
• Remember to test new features as you add them to sites
• Take full advantage of user feedback
• Use automated checkers – including Microsoft Office Accessibility
Checker for documents
• Spread accessibility knowledge widely through your organisation –
don’t just rely on a few experts
Top tips

38. HE/Public Sector Update June 2021
Q&A
Please use the Q&A window
You’ll be directed to a feedback form at the end of the broadcast
Slides, transcripts and a recording of this webinar will be shared
via follow up email

39. HE/Public Sector Update June 2021
Accessibility training courses
10% discount code: AbilityNetWebinar10
Book now: www.abilitynet.org.uk/training
Courses coming up include:
• Thurs 24 June: How to produce accessible videos
• Thurs 8 July: How to begin your own accessibility testing
• Wed 14 July: PDF accessibility

40. HE/Public Sector Update June 2021
• NEW! Elearning modules for HE and FE: www.abilitynet.org.uk/elearning-
modules
• Download the free McNaught & AbilityNet HE & FE Maturity model:
www.abilitynet.org.uk/maturitymodel
• Accessibility services: www.abilitynet.org.uk/digital-accessibility-he-and-fe
• Expert resources:
www.abilitynet.org.uk/my-study-my-way & mcmw.abilitynet.org.uk
More HE & FE focused services

41. HE/Public Sector Update June 2021
Thank you
• AbilityNet newsletter: www.abilitynet.org.uk/newsletter
• Next webinars: www.abilitynet.org.uk/webinars
29 June: How to excel at inclusive onboarding and induction
6 July Accessibility Insights with Richard Morton of UK Government
(CDDO)
20 July The Business Case for Accessibility