Access vs. Accessibility

As tempting as it is to remove inaccessible materials from course sites, including handwritten notes, scanned PDFs, and images with equations, removing these materials does not make courses more accessible. In fact, it reduces the availability to students.

Accessibility isn’t about having less content, it’s about developing the content you already use more efficiently.

Here are 3 practical, effective ways for faculty to improve access without deleting content:

1) Use Microsoft Lens to Convert Handwritten Notes into Text 

Got handwritten notes or diagrams? Don’t toss them - scan them!

• Download the free Microsoft Lens app (iOS or Android).
• Choose the “Document” or “Whiteboard” mode.
• Snap a photo of your notes, Lens will clean up the image and convert the handwriting to editable text using OCR.
• You can export it to Word, PDF, or OneNote, making it readable by screen readers and easier to share with students. 

2) Add a Simple Text Description Below Images 

If you’ve uploaded an image of a diagram or chart, just write a quick sentence or two describing the essential information. Focus on what students need to learn from the image. A one-sentence summary of what the image conveys goes a long way for accessibility.

3) Use Google Docs Voice Typing to Recreate Content Fast 

If you have notes or explanations that are hard to OCR, you can dictate them into Google Docs:

• Open Google Docs.
• Go to Tools > Voice typing.
• Click the microphone and start speaking. 

This is a quick, hands-free way to recreate handwritten or verbal content in an accessible format.

By utilizing these quick and easy methods, faculty can ensure their content is accessible for students without losing crucial information in their courses.