Forum Discussion
Updating Courses for Accessibility
We are trying to estimate how long it will take to update our courses to meet accessibility guidelines.
- Has anyone gone through this process?
- How much time does it take per course? A range is helpful.
Here's the list of tasks I think we need to complete for each course:
- Check color contrast between text and colored backgrounds and update those colors if needed
- Update all headings using Storyline’s styles
- Ensure all hyperlinks are underlined
- Update focus order for all objects on the screen, remove decorative objects from focus order
- Write alt text for all non-decorative images
- Add closed captions to every screen with audio narration
- Modify slide design to ensure essential information isn’t obscured by closed captions
- Test all courses to ensure they are fully functional using a keyboard
6 Replies
First, I would highly recommend you review our webinar on this exact topic. You can find it here: https://yukonlearning.com/webinars, titled "My Course Isn't Accessible, Now What?"
You are right - it's hard to estimate the level of effort without more details or seeing the existing course. However, to hit an Advanced Level AA compliance based on the mandate, you'll want to consider everything you've learned about accessibility: not just Closed Captioning and color contrast. You'll want to think through the rebuild of slides that use non-compliant interactions (like drag and drops and hotspot interactions), updating potentially ableist language throughout the content (which would impact the audio narration and Closed Captioning as well), adding focus order to each slide (to notify the screen reader of the important screen elements versus decorative elements), and then testing the updated course (either with a focus group/learner or using a screen reader tool).
In case it helps, I've also attached our Levels of Accessibility chart that shows what we consider for an Advanced Level AA compliance build. In addition, this Articulate article can be really helpful: https://access.articulate.com/support/article/Storyline-360-How-to-Design-an-Accessible-Course.
For time estimates, I would err on the side of being more conservative with your level of effort. Maybe think about using 50% of the course duration as your benchmark for estimates. For example, I would dedicate approximately 15 hours to the conversion of a 30-minute course. Again, every piece of content is different - so some may take longer and others not as long. And, after you've mastered the updates and worked through a few, I bet you gain efficiency, meaning this estimate could come down to more like 30% of the course duration (or in this example, 10 hours per 30 minute course).
Thanks and hope this helps!
Thanks so much, Brooke!
I love some of Brooke's advice and the link. I do think her time estimate might be off. A lot depends on how the course was built in the first place. If the Articulate best practices were used, how the notes and other thing were labeled. I just finished an update on a project that I didn't make and it was a nightmare. No notes at all, no labels on text boxes, crazy triggers. I would double her estimates. It's better to take less time than more time. If these are all internal, you will look better getting them done early than late.
Good luck
Thank you! We are definitely losing valuable time.
We always put the script in the notes panel. However, we have several developers on my team, and we all label (or don't label) objects on the timeline differently.
It's going to be a tedious process.
Hi ME, I agree with Eric, how it was originally set-up and created will make all the difference. When I did it I also had to completely recreate some interactions and quizzes, and test in a variety of browsers.
Re: Your list, 'screen reader' accessibility (?)
This is a useful, packed full of information site that I always refer to: wcag web-accessibility-training-videos-and-webinars
included is a helpful what, how comprehensive checklistThank you!
