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Accessibility: Instructional Design, Web Design, and Beyond

Guide to help students and instructors design with accessibility in mind

Designing for Everyone

Everyone will experience limitations in accessibility at some point in their life.

According to the CDC, "A disability is any condition of the body or mind (impairment) that makes it more difficult for the person with the condition to do certain activities (activity limitation) and interact with the world around them (participation restrictions)."

The World Health Organization (WHO) says that "A person’s environment has a huge effect on the experience and extent of disability. Inaccessible environments create barriers that often hinder the full and effective participation of persons with disabilities in society on an equal basis with others. Progress on improving social participation can be made by addressing these barriers and facilitating persons with disabilities in their day to day lives."

Although this guide is primarily about making accessible websites, the principles can be applied broadly. Whatever you are making and designing, think about accessibility from the start. It should not be an afterthought.

Image: "Equality, Accommodation and Accessibility in Education" published in Forward with FLEXibility by Alise de Bie & Kate Brown, McMaster University, 2017. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. This image is based on a popular meme about equity.

Handicapped pictogram.

Disabilities

A person in a wheelchair has an obvious, visible disability.

In fact, it is the international symbol of access.

Image: Wikimedia Commons

The Accessible Icon

There are efforts to update that symbol. MOMA has already added the Accessible Icon to its permanent collection.

Not all disabilities are visible.

Not All Disabilities Are Visible

However, there are many types of disabilities.

Image: Ellen From Now On

Types of Disabilities

They are often categorized by limitations with

sight
hearing
movement
thinking

Image: University of Omaha
Also, check out the 2019 Disability Awareness Month and Observance Calendar.

VIsual

Blindness
Low Vision
Color Blindness

Image: Global Reach

Auditory

Deafness
Hearing Loss

Image: Global Reach

Physical or Motor

Damage of Limbs
Paralysis
Tremor
Muscle Pain or Stiffness

Image: Global Reach

Cognitive

Attention Deficit
Memory Deficit
Problem Solving Deficit
Learning Disabilities

Image: Global Reach

Grid comparing similar disabilities in context.

Disabilities Are Context Dependent

Permanent

Legally blind
Aging

Temporary

Broken leg
Recovering from a concussion

Situational

Looking at a phone screen in bright sunlight
Watching a video without headphones

Image: Microsoft Inclusive 101 Toolkit | View larger version

Compares examples of one-armed limitations.

Comparing Similar Disabilities in Context

Examples where a person is limited to using only one arm:

Permanent: Have one arm
Temporary: Have a broken arm
Situational: New parent carrying baby with one arm

Image: Microsoft Inclusive 101 Toolkit

Accessibility preferences icon.

Accessibility Preferences

Look for this type of icon to get to a device's or web site's accessibility information.

Image: WikiProject Accessibility

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