Section 508 Compliant eLearning: a Cost Effective Solution

What is Section 508 compliant eLearning?

We believe that Section 508 compliant eLearning is simply about providing people with  disabilities equivalent access to electronic training material used by their peers! 

Criterion 508 Solutions provides a more formal summary, briefly:

Congress amended the Rehabilitation Act (of 1973) in 1998, requiring federal agencies to make electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities.  Section 508 was enacted to eliminate barriers in information technology, to make available new opportunities for people with disabilities, and to encourage development of technologies that help achieve these goals.  While the law applies to all federal agencies when they develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology, many state agencies and corporations are also implementing internal accessibility requirements.

Though Section 508 does not include language specific to eLearning, it is still an important part of planning for accessibility for online courses.  Yet, we’ve seen that eLearning development can be challenged by the complex interactions between web browsers, the eLearning content itself, and an LMS (Learning Management System).  An adaptive technology layer (screen readers, for example) adds an entirely new dimension to an already complex landscape.  That said, Section 508 compliant eLearning must be offered because it’s the law, the right thing to do, helps expand the knowledge base, etc.  Now what?!

And is there a cost effective solution?

Yes!  For arguably a small percentage of your overall eLearning course production cost, the CourseAvenue Accessibility Player is a new technology that builds Section 508 compliance into the core of eLearning content.  By embedding Section 508 requirements directly into our course player, CourseAvenue provides a shorter and easier path for organizations to provide Section 508 compliant accessible training content to learners with disabilities in a very cost effective manner.  Furthermore, combining the use of our Accessibility Player with CourseAvenue Studio the collaborative web-based and team based authoring environment, Course Designers can rapidly create Section 508 compliant eLearning. 

Both CourseAvenue Studio and Accessibility Player are Flash-based.  With a web-based access to CourseAvenue Studio there is no software to download allowing course designers, reviewers, SMEs, and a distributed team to collectively and simultaneously develop Section 508 compliant eLearning courses.  In addition, CourseAvenue offers professional eLearning services that include:

• Remediation Services: Converting and/or repairing legacy content
• Development & Validation Services: Complete eLearning creation and 508 Validation
• Technology & Training: Leverage the CourseAvenue Accessibility Player and learn how to create and maintain your own Section 508 Compliant eLearning