John A. Dutton e-Education Institute

Ensuring compliance with accessibility standards

(Last modified on 24 January, 2006 - ATL)

As Dutton Institute staff work with faculty to develop online course materials, we endeavour to create materials that will include the following features to maximize accessibility:

  1. All substantive graphic elements will be attributed with ALT tags that state "Contact your instructor if you are unable to see or interpret this graphic." Long descriptions may be substituted for this default statement if preferred.
    • "Substantive graphic elements" include graphs, diagrams, maps, equations, photo images, remotely sensed imagery, etc. Decorative graphic elements need not be so attributed.
    • Substantive graphic elements that cannot be attributed with ALT tags (e.g., Flash animations and simulations) should include the above statement as part of an accompanying descriptive caption.
  2. Every substantive graphic element should be accompanied by a descriptive caption that helps viewers interpret the graphic.
  3. In place of the generic Penn State statement "This publication is available in alternative media on request," every course syllabus should state that "Every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accessibility of this course. Contact your instructor or technical support personnel for assistance if you discover any element of the course that you are unable to access or use."
  4. Every caption associated with a graphic element that was created by someone other than the course author should include a citation and copyright statement, if applicable. Suggested citation and referencing guidelines are published at http://www.e-education.psu.edu/courses/geog5121/policies.shtml#citation
    • Note that Penn State policy (http://guru.psu.edu/policies/RA17.html), authors may claim ownership of non-commissioned “courseware modules” (e.g., original graphic elements) even though the University claims ownership of and copyright over the “courseware” (e.g, the course as a whole). In most cases within EMS, however, courseware modules are commissioned works.
  5. Except for documents copyrighted by another person or agency, every (X)HTML page included in our courses and programs (ideally, every document that opens in a separate window) should include the statement "© 1999-200[5] The Pennsylvania State University. All rights reserved."