Academic Technology Services Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) 2024

For Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), celebrated on Thursday, May 16, 2024, this year, we invite you as an individual to take action to improve digital accessibility. The International Association of Accessibility Professionals has a GAAD resource webpage highlighting many of the different events available. 

The following are some further suggestions and recommendations for free resources for students, faculty, and staff to get started or learn more. 

What can students do?

• In the past, Amherst College partnered with Deque for digital accessibility. Take advantage of the free training Deque offers and access to the Axe-con 2024 digital accessibility conference.
• Level Access also offers free training and resources. 
• Donate towards or learn how to create and share an audio description to make a movie, TV show, or video recording of a play more accessible.
  • Read about how the Fall 2019 course Disability Media explored creating audio descriptions using YouDescribe. This course was offered again in Spring 2023. You can talk with the instructor, Professor Pooja Rangan, or with fellow students who took the class. 
  • Learn more about audio description from the American Council of the Blind's The Audio Description Project website.  
  • Learn from 3PlayMedia's Ultimate Guide to Audio Description
• Keep accessibility in mind when creating social media posts using the Office of Communication's guide. 
• Inquire with  Amherst College Student Accessibility Services about student work available for the next academic year, such as if there is a need for note-taking in a class you are taking next year.
• Request live captions in Zoom to be turned on when participating in a Zoom meeting, and allow captions to be turned on if you host a Zoom meeting.
• If you create a video or audio recording to share with others, especially in a class or as web content, plan to incorporate captions and a transcript.
• Make an accessible PowerPoint slide show or an accessible Prezi slide show, especially if sharing in a class or at a conference.

What can faculty do?

• Check out our resource page on digital accessibility for teaching and learning.
• Learn about how other Amherst faculty have incorporated inclusive practices using technology into their teaching and consider if there are practices you can adapt and adopt.
• Check out the Center for Teaching & Learning's Syllabus Resources page, which includes information about accessibility. 
• Request live captions in Zoom to be turned on when participating in a Zoom meeting, and allow captions to be turned on if hosting a Zoom meeting.
• Learn about Moodle's accessibility features and make use of the accessibility checker. 
• If you create a video or audio recording to share with others, especially as course materials or as web content, plan to incorporate captions and a transcript.
• Check out one or more episodes from the Accessible Learning Experience Podcast, offered by the National Center on Accessible Educational Materials.
• Make accessible PowerPoint slide shows or accessible Prezi slide shows, especially if sharing in a class or at a conference.
• Learn about WordPress and accessibility at the WordPress Accessibility Showcase online event.
• Learn more about the accessibility features built into Google's G Suite applications, and check out Google's tips to make documents and presentations more accessible. 
• Learn more about the accessibility features built into the Microsoft Office 365 suite of applications, and check out Microsoft's tips to make documents and presentations more accessible.  

What can staff do?

• If you create or maintain content on the Amherst website make sure you are familiar with accessibility considerations, including alt text for images. Make your webpages accessible provides a helpful guide. 
• Learn about WordPress and accessibility at the WordPress Accessibility Showcase online event.
• When sending out email communication, including email newsletters, keep accessibility in mind using the Office of Communication's Accessible Email Newsletters guide. Also, use or ask for help using the accessibility features available with email applications. 
  Instructions and tips for email marketing and newsletters are available for MailChimp accessibility, emma accessibility, and Email on Acid accessibility. 
• Learn more about the accessibility features built into Google's G Suite applications, and check out Google's tips to make documents and presentations more accessible. 
• Learn more about the accessibility features built into the Microsoft Office 365 suite of applications, and check out Microsoft's tips to make documents and presentations more accessible. 
• Follow the college's Social Media Policy and keep accessibility in mind when creating social media posts using the Office of Communication's Accessible Social Media guide. 
• Consider accessibility when recommending free products or procuring a new digital product or service, including Apps, browser extensions, devices, software, digital platforms, and website services. Review our accessible technology recommendations for purchasing which also can be applied to evaluating free digital resources.
• Take advantage of the Boston Public Library eCard resource LinkedIn Learning to take one of the LinkedIn Learning courses or sections of a course that cover accessibility material. 
• Learn more about disability and workplaces from Adam Grant's podcast episode "It's Time to Stop Ignoring Disability" (link to the transcript and the podcast audio). 
• Last year, Amherst College partnered with Deque for digital accessibility. Take advantage of the free training Deque offers and access to the Axe-con 2024 digital accessibility conference.

Questions or need help to get started? Contact us at AskIt@amherst.edu.