Instructional Materials and Delivery

Multimedia & Technology Accessibility: Practical ways to ensure multimedia and technology tools are accessible for all learners.

1. Add accurate closed captions or transcripts for all video and audio content.
2. Check color contrast and readability in slides and graphics.
3. Use Blackboard-compatible tools and avoid inaccessible third-party plugins.
4. Offer text alternatives for multimedia elements when possible.

For more information on tools that support accessible learning, visit our Assistive Technology page.

Visual Clarity: Practical ways to present materials clearly and make visual content accessible to all students

1. Include high-contrast backgrounds and text colors.
2. Avoid decorative font with flourishing touches.
3. For syllabi, use a visual hierarchy of content, utilizing clearly identifiable headers and subheadings. Bullet points (whenever possible) are preferred over lengthy paragraphs.
4. Properly spaced text helps most readers.
5. Most importantly, ensure accessibility for all Word documents by manually launching the Accessibility Checker. Select Review > Check Accessibility.  The Accessibility pane opens, and you can review and fix accessibility issues.  Adobe also has an OCR (Optical Character Recognition) Compliance feature to enable students with visual disabilities equal access via screen reader technologies.

If you have questions about a specific technology or need guidance on how to ensure compatibility with your course materials, please contact:

Joel Peddle
Assistant Director of Assistive Technology & OARS Testing Center
Office of Accessibility Resources and Services
 336-841-9612

Cognitive Load & Information Processing: Practical strategies to support attention, comprehension, and memory.

1. Break complex material into smaller, manageable segments.
2. Use summaries or visual outlines to reinforce key ideas.
3. Limit unnecessary text, images, or animations on slides.
4. Offer recorded lectures or notes for review to reinforce understanding.