This training, facilitated by Carolina Cohoon, is designed to support educators in understanding and using accessibility functions to create effective learning experiences for diverse cohorts.

There are three workshops in this series: 

• Ten Key Practices for Accessible Content Creation: Embark on a journey to discover ten essential practices and tools that elevate the accessibility of your content. Learn how to employ the Microsoft Accessibility Checker effectively to improve the accessibility standards of your content. Adopt styles and headings that are friendly to screen readers, integrate descriptive text for visual elements, and thoughtfully format tables with accessibility at the forefront. Moreover, gain insights into the why behind these practices to fully comprehend their importance. 

•  Revolutionizing Accessibility with AI: Explore the transformative effects of artificial intelligence (AI) in making digital content accessible. AI technologies, such as machine learning and natural language processing, are pioneering the automatic creation of alternative text for images, enhancing the experience for screen reader users. AI’s capabilities extend to fostering personalized learning environments, providing real-time captioning for individuals with hearing barriers and those learning English, assisting the blind with navigation through computer vision, and supporting tools for literacy, speech recognition, and translation. AI transcends mere technological progress; it acts as a bridge to inclusivity, empowering individuals from varied backgrounds to engage and communicate freely, unbound by the conventional constraints of language and speech.

•  Exploring Accessibility Features Across Platforms: Acquaint yourself with the top five accessibility features across each platform: PC, Apple, and Google. For educators in Literacy and Basic Skills (LBS), familiarity with these features is crucial for crafting an inclusive educational environment. Implementing these features empowers instructors to ensure that all learners are well-informed about the available accessibility tools, granting them better access to educational materials and enabling full engagement in the learning process.

This series consists of 3 Zoom sessions (90 minutes each).