Best Practices
11 Accessibility Statements
Once you have created materials you believe are largely accessible, whether a textbook, course materials, or an entire course, you should provide an accessibility statement. While an accessibility statement may not be required by your institution or your material’s published context, it can be an important and useful addition for your resource’s users and ultimately for you. This section focuses on two types of accessibility statements: those for course syllabi and those for online resources, such as an OER textbook.
What is an accessibility statement?
An accessibility statement for digital resources, such as an OER textbook, provides an overview of accessibility features and contact information in case there are any problems accessing materials. An accessibility statement on a syllabus can go beyond that, signalling inclusive intent, inviting direct requests for accommodation and course design improvement, and pointing students to additional institutional or confidential resources.
Who are you doing this for?
Who benefits?
While an accessibility statement is essential for those who may require additional support in a course or alternative formats of a resource, it comes with the following benefits:
- It helps foster a sense of belonging for those with disabilities.
- It raises awareness for everyone about the accessibility of different types of resources, about the potential barriers they or others may experience, and about accessibility services available.
- It keeps you committed to your good practices and provides an avenue for others to assist you as they alert you to additional accessibility issues they face.
- It encourages adopters or adapters of your materials to replicate your accessibility practices.
What do you need to do?
For Course Syllabi
Visit the Accessible Syllabus Project’s Policy section for guidance on how to craft an inclusive accessibility statement. (While you’re there, feel free to browse all four of their sections: text, images, rhetoric, and policy.) We also recommend Zoë Wool’s examples of how to move from boilerplate language to more welcoming and inclusive statements.
For Online Resources
Here are tips for writing a useful accessibility statement for an online resource, such as an OER textbook:
- Use clear and simple language, avoiding jargon and technical terms.
- Include information about how people can personalize their experience. This might include information about:
- features of the platform used for the resource (e.g., if a book is in Pressbooks, mention the ability of users to set zoom settings for math equations)
- the ability to change browser settings
- a link to each available file format
- assistive technologies
- Outline specific accessibility features and how to use them when relevant.
- Do not make false claims or ignore known accessibility issues. Be as transparent and open about accessibility barriers as possible. This means:
- describing what is being don