Accessibility Resources

• Microsoft lists 10 habits to create accessible content and has information on how to make accessible word documents.

• Google provides information on how to make accessible Google Docs and accessible Google Slides.

• Adobe provides information on how to create accessible PDF documents, which allow people to read, view, and interact with the documents using a variety of technology.

Accessibility Checkers can be used with documents and presentations to identify possible issues for people who have disabilities.

• Google’s Grackle can be used with Google Docs and Google Slides.
• Microsoft has its own Microsoft Word Accessibility Checker.
• Check to ensure that your color contrast is high enough by using this Contrast Checker from WebAIM.

• Rewordify helps simplify vocabulary.
• Text Compactor provides automatic text summarization.
• The Hemingway Editor App  judges the “grade level” of your text.

Captions support people who are deaf and hard of hearing, English language learners, viewers in a loud room, and many others. They can be used on videos, live presentations, and video calls.

APS provides captioning on all its School Board videos and videos produced by AETV (Arlington Educational Television). Our simultaneous closed captions are provided by Aberdeen.

Magnifiers allow you to change your screen resolution, zoom in, or magnify your whole screen. The Apple Zoom Me application make things on the screen easier to see.

Screen Readers are assistive technology tools, primarily used by people with vision impairments, that convert text, buttons, images and other screen elements into speech or braille.

• iOS: VoiceOver is a gesture-based screen reader built into Apple devices.

Resources for Windows:

• Both the Microsoft Windows Magnifier and the Google Chromebook Magnifier make things on the screen easier to see.
• Windows Narrator is screen reader built into Windows.
• NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access) is a free and open source screen reader for the Microsoft Windows operating system. View the NVDA User Guide or NVDA Keyboard Commands.
• JAWS (Job Access With Speech) is for computer users whose vision loss prevents them from seeing screen content or navigating with a mouse.
  • The JAWS Training page provides free training materials, in a variety of formats, and on a range of topics.
  • Surfing the Internet with JAWS teaches you to use JAWS to read and work with all types of HTML pages, such as web sites, Help systems, web-based applications, and more.
• ZoomText is a fully integrated magnification and reading program tailored for low-vision users. View ZoomText Training.
• Chromebooks: Chromevox is a screen reader built into Chromebooks which enables people with visual impairments to use the Chrome operating system.

APS uses a combination of professional translation of essential documentation and machine translation. “Machine translation” may not fully convert text into its intended meaning, within context.

• APS Essential Documents: Documents which are essential for families to promote student learning are professionally translated at APS or by outside vendors.
• APS Website: The APS websites use the gTranslate plugin, using the highest level of neural translation, to translate our sites into 16 languages. This is machine translation, which may not fully convert text into its intended meaning, within context.
• ParentSquare: The primary communication platform of APS is ParentSquare, which simultaneously translates posts, emails, text messages, and direct messaging into the user’s preferred language. ParentSquare uses machine translation tailored to an educational environment.

• APS’ Assistive Technology team provides training and in-services to students, staff members and parents.
• CAST: Accessibility and Inclusive Technology: CAST is a nonprofit education research and development organization that created the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework and UDL Guidelines. The framework and guidelines are used globally to make learning more inclusive.
• National Center on Accessible Educational Materials (AEM): Based at CAST, the AEM Center is funded by the Office of Special Education Programs at the U.S. Department of Education. They work with states and districts to build capacity for developing and sustaining robust systems for providing accessible materials and technologies for all learners who need them.

• The W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) promotes strategies, standards, and supporting resources to help make the Web more accessible to people with disabilities.
  • Accessibility Fundamentals Overview
  • Accessibility Principles
  • Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) (2.1)
  • WCAG Quick ReferenceAccessibility
• Tutorial from W3Schools
• Web Accessibility in Mind from WebAIM
• What is P.O.U.R? from Cast.org.