Accessibility and Languages on Teach Up
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      Accessibility in Teach Up

      Accessibility is essential for ensuring that all users, including those with disabilities, can have a seamless experience on the Teach Up platform. Teach Up has implemented several measures to enhance accessibility and is committed to continuous improvement. This article outlines Teach Up's actions and solutions available to make content more accessible for all users.

      Summary

      RGAA Compliance and Current Status of Teach Up

      Currently, Teach Up is partially compliant with the RGAA accessibility standards. Our focus on interactive training to increase participant engagement means that some interactive elements aren’t fully RGAA-compliant, requiring accessible alternatives for certain interactions.

      Over the past two years, Teach Up has made substantial improvements, raising compliance from 49% to 75%. While we work toward full compliance, alternative formats like PDF and HTML5 exports are available. These options meet RGAA standards but offer a slightly different experience than the interactive Teach Up courses.

      Keyboard Navigation in Teach Up

      Teach Up is designed to be accessible with keyboard navigation, allowing users who cannot use a mouse to fully participate in the training.

      Options for Keyboard Navigation

      Keyboard navigation is enabled by default for all Teach Up courses and training paths. For optimal compatibility:

      • For courses, select the Sequenced mode.
      • For training paths, select the Odyssey model.

      Note: Certain games do not support keyboard navigation. These elements are marked with a specific icon.

      Navigating Teach Up with the Keyboard

      To navigate Teach Up using a keyboard:

      1. Start keyboard navigation: Press the TAB key to highlight an area on the screen. Each additional press moves the highlight to the next selectable element.
      2. Select a highlighted area: Press TAB + ENTER to activate a highlighted area.
      3. Go back: Press TAB + SHIFT to return to the previous element.

      Using Screen Readers

      Teach Up courses are accessible with screen readers for improved usability. For an optimal experience:

      • On Mac: Use VoiceOver, the built-in screen reader (activate via System Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver).
      • On Windows: We recommend NVDA, a free screen reader available for download here.

      Best Practices for Designing Accessible Content

      To make content as accessible as possible on Teach Up, follow these guidelines:

      • Include captions or text transcriptions for videos and audio content.
      • Describe images by adding an explanatory caption below each image.
      • Use clear names for downloadable documents and provide clear labels for external links.
      • Avoid emojis in text to improve screen reader compatibility.
      • Explain instructions clearly and use accessible text formats, such as bold, italics, and bullet points.
      • Control media playback by requiring users to click to start audio or video.
      • Favor accessible activities like scratch cards, dropdown lists, or fill-in-the-blank exercises. Avoid less accessible formats, like word searches or hidden answers.
      • Provide downloadable text documents for any content that may not be directly accessible.

      Frequently Asked Questions

      Why isn’t Teach Up fully compliant with RGAA yet?
      Teach Up prioritizes creating interactive training experiences to boost participant engagement. Some interactive elements are not yet fully RGAA-compliant, so we are working on alternatives to ensure full accessibility.

      What alternatives are available to make a course accessible?
      Until Teach Up reaches full RGAA compliance, courses can be exported in PDF or HTML5 formats, which meet most RGAA requirements, although image descriptions are not included.

      How can I make my courses accessible using the keyboard?
      Keyboard navigation is already active for all courses and training paths. Simply choose a compatible display mode (Sequenced for courses and Odyssey for training paths) to ensure compatibility.

      Can I use a screen reader to access courses on Teach Up?
      Yes, Teach Up is compatible with screen readers such as VoiceOver on Mac and NVDA on Windows, enabling full screen-reader navigation for all users.