Campus & Community

ITS Offers Workshops on Improving Accessibility of Documents, Web Pages

Friday, October 16, 2015, By Christopher C. Finkle

Information Technology Services (ITS) is accepting registrations for two series of training workshops that will build faculty and staff awareness of, sensitivity to and proficiency in ensuring the accessibility of information communications and technologies. “Creating Accessible Documents” focuses on course materials and documents, while “Evaluating Your Website for Accessibility” focuses on websites and online resources.

Mac keyboard accessBoth workshops will help participants understand accessibility, put it into practice on the job and support the University’s efforts to ensure accessibility of documents, systems and communications across campus.

The workshops will be presented by Sharon Trerise and Kara Patten from ITS’s Academic Services team. Each session has space for 12 participants.

Seating is limited for both workshops, so register early! There is high demand for this training, so registration is on a first-submitted, first-enrolled basis.

About the workshops

“Creating Accessible Documents”

Register here

This three-hour workshop provides a fundamental overview of creating accessible documents in Microsoft Office 2013 and Adobe Acrobat DC on Windows or Mac computers. At successful completion, participants will be able to:

  • explain and demonstrate the importance of creating accessible documents;
  • understand basic concepts of creating accessible documents;
  • understand best practices for creating accessible Word and PDF documents;
  • remediate legacy Word and PDF documents to make them accessible;
  • utilize the Office accessibility checker;
  • identify and correct common accessibility errors; and
  • use Adobe Acrobat DC’s accessibility checker.

Workshop Date                       Times                       Operating System, Location

Thursday, Oct. 29               1-4 p.m.                       Windows, 001 Steele Hall

Tuesday, Nov. 10                9 a.m.-noon                Windows, 001 Steele Hall

Monday, Nov. 23               8:30-11:30 a.m.          Mac, 1-231 CST

Friday, Dec. 4                     9 a.m.-noon                Windows, 001 Steele Hall

 

“Evaluating Your Website for Accessibility”

Register here

Designed for anyone who manages, creates or maintains web content, this workshop will discuss relevant concepts and coach participants through evaluating their pages against the accessibility checkpoints. The workshop will cover basic techniques for evaluating web content, including:

  • accessibility resources and tools at SU;
  • applicable legislation and compliance;
  • automated accessibility checkers;
  • steps for manually checking the accessibility;
  • a brief introduction to screen readers;
  • design considerations; and
  • captioning vendors and tools.

Workshop Date & Times (all take place in 001 Steele Hall)

Monday, Oct. 19                1-4 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 22             9 a.m.-noon

Friday, Oct. 30                  9 a.m.-noon

Wednesday, Nov. 11         1-4 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 9          1-4 p.m.

 

Other topics

If you are interested in learning about ensuring the accessibility of online and mobile applications, or other services and communications, send an email to accessibleIT@syr.edu with a description of your interest and with any questions. Your input will guide the development of coming programs.

For more information

ITS offers a growing variety of resources to ensure accessibility for all members of the Syracuse University community. Visit the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Accessibility at SU web page and check out the Accessible Communications Toolkit.

If you have any questions about this workshop, or other accessibility and technology issues, send them in an email to accessibleIT@syr.edu.