Note: Additional details will be filled in based on a Summer 2025 schedule and available existing options.
Introduction
Many instructors may know about the importance of making accessible course content, but may not be sure where to start. The Course Accessibility Portfolio certificate program is an opportunity for instructors to receive customized insights on how to complete a course accessibility audit then begin to apply accessibility skills often using tools they already know.
Whether you teach math, art history, biology, music or a foreign language there are tools available to help you create more accessible content.
Program Structure and Requirements
Time: 10-15 hours.
This certificate is earned by completing a course accessibility portfolio with these elements:
Portfolio Requirements
- Audit worksheet to identify content included in a course, both those made by the instructor and those obtained in other sources.
Note: The audit can help instructors target skills and resources for their accessibility portfolio. - Accessible Syllabus document in a format of the instructor’s choice.
- Evaluation of external curricular object with a selection of the most accessible option.
Note: This item should include some testing and evaluation notes. - Accessibility plan for assignments for different students
- Second accessible document or learning object from equivalent of Week 3 – 12 of instructor’s course
- Reflection of the challenges and benefits of creating and curating accessible material.
The goal of the portfolio is to demonstrate an understanding of accessibility guidelines relevant to the instructor’s discipline and teaching style. Participants will consult with accessibility experts and others as needed to produce a training planbin order to produce the components listed above.
The Accessibility in the Curriculum (AIC) program includes both synchronous and asynchronous components. Most training can be done synchronously in Zoom or online through the Accessibility Learning Path or components on the accessibility.psu.edu website. It’s your choice.
Overview of Program Steps
Step 1: Orientation (May 2025)
The orientation on Zoom is where you can ask questions and meet both accessibility professionals and other people working in the AIC program. A Teams space will be set up to help you keep track of the program and find people who can help you learn more.
Step 2: Learner Needs and Policy
This asynchronous or synchronous session introduces you to different disability audiences and the barriers they face. Accessibility is the process of building ways to navigate these barriers. Understanding the diverse needs of your students is crucial to learning how to create accessible content effectively and efficiently.
This step can be completed by completing the self-paced online Accessibility Learning Path “Introduction to Accessibility” tutorial and earning a certificate in that course.
Step 3: Course Audit
What kinds of materials do you use in your course? How are they connected to your course’s learning objectives. Understanding the rationale of your course structure will help guide you to the appropriate next steps.
Note: This includes a 30 min consultation with IT Accessibility. Your audit can help you develop an effective plan to learn which accessibility skills apply to your course.
Step 4: Create an Accessible Syllabus (Flexible)
Learn the skills needed to make an accessible syllabus document in preferred format such as Microsoft Word or Canvas. Some tools allow you to export an accessible PDF. Once you have created a syllabus, you can use the same workflow to create additional documents accessibly.
Step 5: In-Depth Accessibility Creation (Choose 1)
Expand your accessibility repertoire to items such as PowerPoint slides, image description, accessible color design, video accessibility, equations, and more. Many topics are available as Zoom webinars or on the Accessibility Learning Path.
Step 6: Testing Tools (Flexible)
This step introduces you to a set of easy-to-learn tools which allow you to quickly assess the accessibility of different types of course material. Mini tutorials will cover commonly used tools to test accessibility of documents, color palettes, websites, videos and more.
Understanding these tools will help you learn if your resources and those others create are accessible. Common testing tools include Anthology Ally, the WAVE toolbar to test websites, TPGi Colour Contrast Analyser, Color Oracle and built in accessibility checkers in Canvas, Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat.
Step 7: Complete Portfolio
In this step you will complete your (accessible) portfolio using all the skills you have learned.
Contact Us
Interested in learning more? Click the registration link to find out how to sign up.
Last Update: March 19, 2025