However, the technologies that are being increasingly integrated into education can make life more difficult for some population groups which include people with disabilities. For example, the digital platforms and apps that are increasingly used for students are often not accessible to those who cannot touch screens, such as students with physical or visual impairment.

At BarrierBreak, we assist you in authoring VPATs for LMS & EdTech tools to help you comply to Section 508.

Accessibility is easier when you are a start-up

A common misconception, due to which most of the EdTech start-ups discount students with disabilities from their target user-base, is that the number of disabled students is very small. As per the UNICEF data, nearly 240 million children  in the world today have some form of disability.

Implementing accessibility from the start is much easier than trying to incorporate accessibility once you have developed a digital platform or an app.  As the role of technology in education continues to expand, it is important that as a start-up, accessibility is not an afterthought.

Accessibility can protect your start-up against lawsuits

No matter how small your start-up is, accessibility applies to everyone. With the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) reauthorized in 2004 and amended in 2015 and Section 504 the demand for an accessible EdTech environment continues to grow

Accessibility helps you generate a positive buzz

EdTech Accessibility is more than just providing an augmenting experience, it is a holistic practice, that can not only level the playing field for students with disability but enhance the overall learning experience for all. Beyond legal requirements, a commitment to providing equal access to education is the right thing to do.

Governments across the world are becoming increasingly interested in funding and supporting entrepreneurship in the field assistive technology and projects that aim at accelerating accessible innovations. Get better understanding about accessibility guidelines and standards such as Web Content Accessibility Guideline (WCAG) and Section 508. 

Make an informed decision by working closely with publishers and educational institutes and evaluating the accessibility needs of students with disabilities.

To know more about our services visit the Accessible EdTech page. We understand that practicing effective EdTech accessibility can be challenging and if you would like to know how BarrierBreak can support you, get in touch with our accessibility expert.

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The post Digital Assessment Tools are the future – but should they be inclusive & accessible to people with disabilities? appeared first on Leader in Offshore Accessibility Testing | Section 508 Compliance | WCAG Conformance | BarrierBreak.

The adoption of technology in the education sector has seen a steep & unprecedented acceleration and it is a growth opportunity for the Edtech companies. It feels like an overnight shift from education institutes who were using only a Learning Management System to suddenly moving everything online.

The online tools are needed for all aspects of teaching, learning, content, infrastructure, management, such as:

• infrastructure tools such as learning management systems, video conferencing tools
• online course – including content
• content creation tools
• students & parental engagement
• testing and assessments
• internship management
• admissions
• data analytics

So where does Accessibility fall in the midst of all this.

Reason 1 – The Law mandates Equal access to Education

The education sector was one of the first adopters of disability inclusion & accessibility and the reason was quite simple, equal access to education is a mandate.

Whether you look at Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), inclusion of people with disabilities is education is no longer optional. So your customers are already looking for solutions that can be used by all their students, faculty and staff.

Reason 2 – Technology Procured needs to be Accessible to all

Today, at the time of procurement every school, college, university is asking the question of “How Accessible is your Product?”, “Is your product Section 508 compliant?” and “Do you have a VPAT?”

Section 508 requires that all electronics & information technology is accessible. The standard that Section 508 references is the Web Content Accessibility Guideline (WCAG).

So why wait to adopt Accessibility? Be ahead of your competition! Let Accessibility be your advantage!

Reason 3 – Increase your Customer Base

Did you know that there are globally a Billion people with disabilities. Adopting Web Content Accessibility Guideline only improves your product and ensures that a larger cross section of population can also utilise your solution.

So now you have the opportunity to be an Inclusive Product, attract more customers and increase your customer base!

So to all the Edtech companies our there, don’t wait! Book an appointment with our Account Management team and get moving on your accessibility journey!

The post Top 3 reasons why Accessibility is critical for Edtech companies to adopt? appeared first on Leader in Offshore Accessibility Testing | Section 508 Compliance | WCAG Conformance | BarrierBreak.