Accessibility is essential for leveraging technology and providing educational opportunities for all students, including those with disabilities and English learners (ELs). School systems need to ensure all information provided to the public, parents, and guardians is accessible.
Research shows two key factors in a student’s educational success are the availability of accessible content and materials and parental engagement. Parental involvement is possible only if parents can access and understand information from teachers and principals about their child. Unfortunately, many state and district leaders become aware of the importance of accessibility only when faced with legal action.
What Is Accessibility?
Accessibility is a critical key to leverage the power of technology and provide equal educational opportunity for all students, particularly those with disabilities. This concept involves the design of materials (e.g., curricula and resources), devices (e.g., smart phones and tablets), digital tools (e.g., computers, apps, and games), and platforms (e.g., online learning and websites) that support access to educational content and activities.
Further, accessibility refers to accommodating individual cognitive and physical needs to remove unnecessary obstacles so that students can demonstrate their knowledge and skills in formative and summative assessments.
For more information, see the Center on Technology and Disability