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Accessibility Features

Making online learning accessible to everyone

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Accessibility Features

CourseForge is committed to making online education accessible to all learners, including those with disabilities. We follow WCAG 2.1 AA standards to ensure our platform and the courses created on it are accessible to everyone.

Our Accessibility Commitment

WCAG 2.1 AA Compliant - Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Level AA is the internationally recognized standard for web accessibility, recommended by the W3C and required by many government and educational institutions.

Our compliance means that CourseForge is designed to work with assistive technologies and follows best practices for inclusive design.

Supported Disabilities

Visual Disabilities

Features for blind or low vision users:

  • Screen reader support (JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver)
  • High contrast modes
  • Keyboard navigation
  • Adjustable text size
  • Alternative text for images

Hearing Disabilities

Features for deaf or hard-of-hearing users:

  • Visual indicators for audio alerts
  • Video captions and transcripts
  • Written alternatives for audio content
  • Visual feedback for all interactions

Motor Disabilities

Features for users with limited mobility:

  • Full keyboard accessibility
  • No time-sensitive interactions required
  • Large click targets
  • Voice control compatibility
  • Customizable controls

Cognitive Disabilities

Features for users with learning or cognitive differences:

  • Clear, simple language
  • Consistent navigation
  • Multiple content formats
  • Adjustable pacing
  • Reduced distractions mode

Platform Accessibility

Keyboard Navigation

  • Full keyboard support for all features
  • Visible focus indicators
  • Logical tab order
  • Skip navigation links
  • Keyboard shortcuts available

Screen Reader Support

  • Semantic HTML structure
  • ARIA labels and descriptions
  • Descriptive headings hierarchy
  • Alternative text for images
  • Proper form labels

Visual Accessibility

  • Minimum 4.5:1 color contrast ratio
  • No information conveyed by color alone
  • Resizable text up to 200%
  • Responsive design for various screen sizes
  • No flashing content

Creating Accessible Courses

Content Guidelines

Text Content:

  • Use clear, simple language
  • Short paragraphs (3-4 sentences)
  • Descriptive headings
  • Bullet points for lists
  • Summaries for complex topics

Images:

  • Provide descriptive alt text
  • Explain the purpose, not just appearance
  • Use captions for complex diagrams
  • Provide text descriptions for charts

Videos:

  • Include accurate captions/subtitles
  • Provide full transcripts
  • Use high-contrast visuals
  • Avoid rapid flashing (no more than 3 flashes/second)
  • Add audio descriptions for visual content

Documents:

  • Use accessible PDF formats
  • Include document structure (headings, lists)
  • Ensure text is selectable (not scanned images)
  • Provide alternative formats

Assessment Accessibility

Creating Accessible Quizzes:

  • Clear, unambiguous questions
  • Allow extended time options
  • Provide multiple attempts
  • Support various question formats
  • Include clear instructions

Accommodations Available:

  • Extended time settings
  • Multiple submission attempts
  • Alternative assessment formats
  • Review capabilities
  • Screen reader compatibility

Accessibility Tools

Built-in Features

  • Text Resize: Adjustable text size
  • High Contrast Mode: Enhanced visibility
  • Keyboard Shortcuts: Quick navigation
  • Adjustable Playback Speed: For videos and audio
  • Focus Indicators: Clear visual feedback

Compatible Assistive Technologies

Screen Readers:

  • JAWS (Windows)
  • NVDA (Windows)
  • VoiceOver (Mac/iOS)
  • TalkBack (Android)
  • Narrator (Windows)

Other Technologies:

  • Screen magnification software
  • Voice recognition software
  • Alternative input devices
  • Browser accessibility features
  • Reading assistance tools

Media Accessibility

Video Best Practices

  1. Captions: Accurate, synchronized captions for all speech
  2. Transcripts: Full text transcripts available
  3. Audio Descriptions: Narrate important visual information
  4. Quality: Clear audio with minimal background noise
  5. Controls: Accessible playback controls

Audio Content

  • Provide transcripts for all audio
  • Use clear speech at moderate pace
  • Identify speakers in conversations
  • Minimize background noise
  • Include visual alternatives

Mobile Accessibility

  • Touch-friendly interface (44x44px minimum)
  • Responsive design
  • Mobile screen reader support
  • Gesture alternatives
  • Works with mobile accessibility features

Testing Your Content

Accessibility Checklist

Before publishing, verify:

  • All images have alt text
  • Videos have captions
  • Headings are properly structured
  • Links are descriptive
  • Color contrast is sufficient
  • Content is keyboard accessible
  • Forms have proper labels
  • Tables have headers
  • Documents are accessible

Testing Tools

  • Accessibility Checker: Built-in automated checker
  • Keyboard Test: Try navigating without mouse
  • Screen Reader Preview: Test with screen reader
  • Color Contrast Analyzer: Check color combinations
  • Mobile Preview: Test on mobile devices

Compliance and Standards

Standards We Follow

  • WCAG 2.1 Level AA: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
  • Section 508: US federal accessibility requirements
  • ADA: Americans with Disabilities Act
  • EN 301 549: European accessibility standards
  • AODA: Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act

Regular Audits

  • Third-party accessibility audits
  • User testing with people with disabilities
  • Automated testing in development
  • Continuous monitoring and improvement

Student Accommodations

Available Options

Students can request:

  • Extended time on assessments
  • Alternative content formats
  • Simplified layouts
  • Additional accessibility features
  • Custom accessibility settings

Instructor Tools

Enable accommodations:

  • Per-student settings
  • Flexible deadlines
  • Alternative materials
  • Custom assessment configurations

Feedback and Support

Report Accessibility Issues

If you encounter barriers:

  1. Click "Report Accessibility Issue"
  2. Email accessibility@courseforge.com
  3. Contact support with details
  4. Include your assistive technology setup

Stay Informed

  • Subscribe to accessibility updates
  • Join accessibility community
  • Attend webinars
  • Review accessibility roadmap

Resources

Documentation

  • Accessibility Guides: Detailed tutorials
  • Best Practices Library: Accessible content examples
  • Video Tutorials: How-to videos with captions
  • Community Forum: Connect with other educators

External Resources

Training and Support

Available Training

  • Accessibility webinars (monthly)
  • On-demand video courses
  • Best practices documentation
  • One-on-one consultation (Enterprise)

Getting Help

Questions? Contact our accessibility team at accessibility@courseforge.com

We're committed to continuous improvement in accessibility and welcome your feedback.

Topics

what this means for youaccessibility featurescomplete keyboard navigationscreen reader compatiblemobile & touch accessibilitycreating accessible coursesscreen readersvoice controlscreen magnifiersalternative input devices