A series of trainings, workshops, and related events promises to help University of Iowa staff, faculty, and students create digital resources that are accessible to everyone.
The second annual 100 Days of Accessibility runs February 5 through May 15. Information and event listings are available on the IT accessibility website and the university’s master calendar. Events are free and open to everybody.
Events are designed for anyone who creates digital documents, media files, web content, course tools, and more. Topics will include:
- Basic accessibility principles and practices
- Accessibility practices PDF, Microsoft Word, and other document formats
- Accessibility testing tools
- Accessibility techniques for ICON/Canvas
- Purchasing and procurement strategies
- Legal and policy obligations
While digital accessibility emphasizes access for people with disabilities, common accessibility features—for example, video captions—make digital resources more useful for everyone. Expanding access is an ongoing project, evolving as technologies change.
“If you have an inaccessible piece of technology, of course you do—everyone does,” says T.M. Weissenberger, IT/web accessibility coordinator with Information Technology Services. “Our 100 Days events welcome people with no judgment and no shame. We want to demystify accessibility and provide practical solutions.”
Most 100 Days events are 90-minute sessions on Fridays, 10:30-noon. Participants can join a single event or attend a series, mixing and matching from available tracks.
Each event will invite participants to complete a simple challenge—for example, checking image files for accessible text descriptions (AKA alt text).
Iowa’s program wraps up on Global Accessibility Awareness Day, an annual effort to spur conversation and learning around digital access and inclusion.
For more information, email ITAccessibility@uiowa.edu