Extend the Core Skills

Summary

Once you have learned the core skills, keep learning and practicing even more skills!

The University of Minnesota is committed to the idea that accessibility is everyone's everyday work. 

All you have to do is start small. For example:

Then use the Filter and Sort Options below and review what you learned, or learn even more skills!

Accessibility Skills Pages and Events

Displaying 51 - 60 of 98

HTML and CSS

Users of adaptive technologies navigate pages via HTML headings, links, page sections, and other HTML elements. Use minimalist HTML to semantically describe the content of a page, and CSS to style it. If your content is well-structured in this way, all users will be able to more easily scan, navigate, and understand the content.

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Image Tags and Styles

HTML and CSS coders should add appropriate alternative text or an empty alt attribute to every image, including CSS background images, and ARIA tags to font icons. This will help users of adaptive technologies, those in situations where images can't be adequately displayed, and search engines to access image-based information.

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Images

If used well, images can engage and persuade users, guide them to main points, illustrate concepts, reduce complexity, and show patterns in data. Follow our good practices to ensure your images are relevant and accessible to all users.

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Impact on People with Disabilities

The impact of non-accessible digital materials ranges from frustration to complete inability to use or understand a material. Learn more about these impacts and how you can be part of positive change.

Intersection of Student Success and Disabling Experiences Event on

Do you think about student success, and what we might be doing to reduce that success?

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Intro to Accessibility Event on

Join the Accessibility Ambassadors for a presentation and discussion about accessibility basics by Freelance Developer and Accessibility Advocate Jenn Czeck.

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Introduction to Cognitive Accessibility Event on

When discussing digital accessibility, physical disabilities like visual impairments and limited mobility are well documented.

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Join Accessibility Groups

Connect and practice Digital Accessibility with others who are committed to creating more equitable experiences for all in digital spaces at the University of Minnesota.

Legal Obligations

Civil rights laws exist that protect the rights of people with disabilities. When these laws are followed, people with disabilities have more access to opportunities that allow them to live closer to their potential. When they are not, the University may suffer legal consequences.

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Link Tags and Styles

HTML and CSS coders should include appropriate alt text, focus styles, and HTML and ARIA tags in links to ensure that all users can consume and navigate web content. Include skip links as well so users of screen readers and text-only browsers can bypass repeated content that is usually included at the top of webpages.

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Authors, Designers, and Editors

When you think about accessibility laws and related University policies, you might think they apply only to course and website content.

But at the University of Minnesota, we create thousands of digital content products each day. These can be in a variety of formats, and should all be as accessible to the widest range of audiences as possible

Instructors

The more you make your course accessible, the fewer accommodation requests you may receive.

In addition, more students will be able to better learn from and navigate your course materials and classroom experiences, even if they have different learning styles and abilities.

Leaders and Managers

Leaders can communicate a clear and achievable vision for digital accessibility within the organization.

Managers can drive action by communicating a vision, establishing clear goals and expectations, and providing resources and training.

Check out Promote Digital Accessibility for ideas.

Presenters

You can make your presentations and events you host more inclusive.

For example:

  • Verbally describe your slides while presenting.
  • Include alternative text for images.
  • Provide captions, audio descriptions, and transcripts.

Students

When you produce digital assignments, apply the core skills and your instructors and the students you collaborate with will be better able to understand them, even if they use assistive technologies.

Technology Purchasers

Before a big purchase, the wise shopper gathers requirements, performs research, and reviews potential solutions.

At the University, your digital technology pre-purchase checklist must include an evaluation of the extent to which a product is accessible and how a vendor meets accessibility standards.

Web Developers

From a developer's perspective, the goal is to code a website or web application that, at minimum, meets Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) AA standards and follows the POUR guiding principles of accessible technology.