Professional Learning Resources
March-April 2025 Webinar Series for Vendors:
Ensuring Digital Accessibility
Join this webinar series designed specifically for vendors who develop digital solutions for K-12/higher education, state government and/or local government entities. Ensuring that your digital products and services are accessible is not only about legal compliance; it is a commitment to providing solutions that are accessible to all users. This webinar series will provide foundational knowledge and practical guidance on integrating accessibility into product design, development, procurement, and customer support.
Register for any or all webinars in the series. Each webinar will be recorded, and all registrants will receive an email following the event with the recording link.
Introduction to Digital Accessibility for Vendors
March 10, 2025 - 10:00-11:00 AM Eastern
Recording: Introduction to Digital Accessibility for Vendors
Slides: Introduction to Digital Accessibility for Vendors
Accessibility is more than a compliance requirement. It is a fundamental aspect of creating effective digital solutions for all users. This webinar provides an overview of digital accessibility, key regulations like ADA Title II, WCAG 2.1 standards, and how accessibility fits into the product lifecycle. Examine the benefits of proactively addressing accessibility in design, and explore the roles and responsibilities of different teams in your organization.
Assessing Your Organization’s Accessibility Maturity
March 11, 2025 - 10:00 AM-11:00 AM Eastern
Recording: Assessing Your Organization's Accessibility Maturity
Slides: Assessing Your Organization's Accessibility Maturity
Where does your company stand on accessibility? This webinar will guide vendors through evaluating their current accessibility landscape, from digital product accessibility to internal processes and company culture. Using a maturity model, we’ll explore how to assess gaps, define internal roles, and set a foundation for long-term growth in accessibility.
Building a Strategic Accessibility Plan
March 18, 2025 - 10:00-11:00 AM Eastern
Recording: Building a Strategic Accessibility Plan
Slides: Building a Strategic Accessibility Plan
Embedding accessibility into your company’s operations requires more than just compliance. It takes a strategic plan. This webinar will help vendors create an accessibility roadmap that includes securing organizational buy-in, integrating training across teams, and considering how to integrate accessibility efforts within different project management methodologies. Learn how to track progress, set priorities, and build a culture of accessibility within your organization.
Creating an Accessibility Conformance Report
March 25, 2025 - 10:00-11:00 AM Eastern
Recording: Creating an Accessibility Conformance Report
Slides: Creating an Accessibility Conformance Report
In this webinar, we’ll discuss what buyers need from accessibility documentation, key red flags to avoid, and how to craft a clear, accurate, and meaningful accessibility conformance report from a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT). We’ll explore ways to articulate your accessibility commitment and future roadmap to current and future customers.
Collaborating to Ensure Accessibility for All
April 1, 2025 - 10:00-11:00 AM Eastern
Recording (Coming soon): Collaborating to Ensure Accessibility for All
Slides: Collaborating to Ensure Accessibility for All
Building accessible products can be a collaborative effort between vendors and customers. This webinar will explore best practices for transparency, planning, and feedback loops, ensuring that accessibility is prioritized throughout the product lifecycle. Learn how to engage education and government buyers, incorporate user feedback, and align your accessibility roadmap with customer needs. Collaboration can be a win-win for all!
Addressing Accessibility in Student-Facing Educational Materials
April 8, 2025 - 10:00-11:00 AM Eastern
For vendors developing instructional content and assessment tools, accessibility is essential to meeting the needs of all learners. This session will cover special education laws like IDEA, how to support alternative formats (Braille, large print, audio, digital text), and ensuring interoperability with assistive technology. We will also discuss how built-in accessibility functionality can benefit all learners.
Who Should Attend?
Vendors providing digital solutions to public entities, including solutions such as:
- Educational technology & learning platforms, such as LMS, instructional content, assessment solutions
- Public & employee-facing web platforms, such as government portals, HR systems, parent & staff dashboards
- Data & reporting systems, such as student information systems, analytics tools, compliance tracking
- Document & content management solutions, such as electronic forms, PDF creation tools, publishing platforms
- Collaboration & communication tools, such as web conferencing, messaging, email platforms, notification systems
- Authoring & interactive media platforms, such as e-learning content creators, simulations, AI tools
- Mobile apps & digital services, such as applications for public services, user portals, engagement platforms
All personnel/team roles, including leadership, product development, UX/design, sales, marketing, procurement, and customer support.
Why Attend?
- Understand accessibility-related regulations and standards
- Improve accessibility and usability of your products
- Adopt proactive accessibility strategies
- Meet buyer expectations in procurement
- Grow a commitment to accessibility within your organization
Webinar Recordings
WebEx recordings are in the process of being published to the NCDPI Digital Accessibility YouTube playlist. Once a video is available on YouTube, the respective recording link below will be updated.
Introduction to Digital Accessibility
05/28/2024
password: aX7Vb67h
go.ncdpi.gov/webinar_intro
Deeper Dive into ADA Title II rule
06/18/2024
go.ncdpi.gov/RuleDeepDive
Getting Started with a Digital Content Inventory
06/12/2024
password: 3pD65bUM
go.ncdpi.gov/ContentInventory
Got images? Then you need alt text.
06/10/2024
go.ncdpi.gov/AltText
Creating Accessible Digital Documents
06/14/2024
password: iFmgd2Mq
go.ncdpi.gov/AccessibleDocs
Digital Accessibility Hidden Gems
06/20/2024
password: rRPkFhW5
go.ncdpi.gov/AccessGems
Is it accessible? How to identify accessibility issues of web content.
06/24/2024
password: DgBenD3m
go.ncdpi.gov/IsItAccessible
Designing with Color
07/16/2024
password: iB9di3wK
go.ncdpi.gov/ColorAccess
Multimedia and Accessibility
07/31/2024
password: QsMF3REe
go.ncdpi.gov/MultimediaAccess
Date | Title and link | Password | Slides |
|---|---|---|---|
05/28/2024 | aX7Vb67h | ||
06/10/2024 | pBWK7mxsp36 | ||
06/12/2024 | Qy29b53D | ||
06/12/2024 | 3pD65bUM | ||
06/14/2024 | iFmgd2Mq | ||
06/18/2024 | TuDjDzq2 | ||
06/18/2024 | Fy9X2Daw | ||
06/20/2024 | rRPkFhW5 | ||
06/24/2024 | 6CpZ6RaM | ||
06/24/2024 | fPX8a3WE | ||
06/26/2024 | Is it accessible? How to identify accessibility issues of web content. | DgBenD3m | |
06/28/2024 | HxuiaRi8 | ||
07/02/2024 | FjjRfMT3 | ||
07/03/2024 | MkmMfRJ3 | ||
07/09/2024 | Is it accessible? Identifying accessibility issues of web content. | bBBMpeS2 | |
07/16/2024 | iB9di3wK | ||
07/30/2024 | hP2pbDnN | ||
07/31/2024 | QsMF3REe | ||
08/05/2024 | rChmtTP4 | ||
08/13/2024 | 2PzSJ4m4 | ||
08/19/2024 | TnpMJmm7 | ||
08/29/2024 | Yy4pGTy7 |
Resources
Accessibility in a Remote Academy
Importance of accessibility in a virtual learning environment and how to work to ensure accessibility for all.
Bookshare
(Presented in Guilford)
Accessibility Hidden Gems
Related document with tables/links: Accessibility Hidden Gems
Accessible Educational Materials (AEM)
This presentation is for any level of educator who is interested in learning more about Accessible Educational Materials (AEM) and acquiring accessible formats for students who require them. As part of a national cohort, the NC AEM Leadership will explore the 7 Quality Indicators for AEM. Deepening the understanding of the essential whys and who accessible educational materials are for. We will review processes to requesting AEM and ways to obtain materials from Accessible Media Producers (AMPs). This session will also highlight The AEM Navigator as a data collection tool for teams to access. A special invitation will be sent to those wishing to join. (NCDPI EC Summer Institutes with Crystal Patrick)
Crafting Learning Experiences that are Accessible for ALL
Join this interactive session as we investigate the crucial role of accessibility in shaping effective learning environments. More than just meeting legal requirements, designing with accessibility in mind can transform potential learning barriers into robust learning opportunities for all students. In this session, we'll explore the fundamental principles of accessibility and universal design. We'll navigate the landscape of digital content, showcasing how to strategically apply these principles to ensure that instructional materials and communications reach everyone effectively. You'll gain hands-on experience with practical strategies for enhancing the accessibility of your digital content, empowering you to take immediate steps towards creating a more inclusive learning environment. This session will leave you not only inspired and equipped with valuable resources but also with a roadmap for your next steps in this important journey towards universal accessibility. Come, let's craft inclusive experiences together! (Avery)
Design for All: The Transformative Power of Universal Design for Learning
Reflection and notes document
Explore Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in this introductory session. UDL is more than just an educational framework; it's a transformative approach that fosters inclusivity and celebrates learner diversity. It acknowledges that every student is unique, and that our teaching should reflect this diversity to make learning experiences truly engaging, accessible, and effective. In this session, we will break down the core principles of UDL and delve into practical examples of how these principles can be put into action. We'll explore how UDL can shape instructional goals, assessments, methods, and materials in ways that meet the needs of all learners. By the end of this session, you'll not only gain an understanding of UDL but also leave feeling inspired and equipped with tangible strategies to bring UDL principles to life in your own classroom. (Avery)
Digital Accessibility in a Virtual Learning Environment
Ensuring that educational materials, communications, and digital content are accessible to all students, educators, and other stakeholders is not just a legal obligation. It can mean the difference between barriers and opportunities. In this session, we will investigate foundational principles of digital accessibility and universal design. (Office of Virtual Instruction Services: Summer Symposium)
Digital Accessibility and Universal Design for Learning for School Library Media Coordinators (SLMCs)
(SLMC event at the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching)
Conference Playground: Welcome to Access Alley
Playground description: Whether you're a seasoned tech-wizard or a Muggle just beginning your adventure, "Access Alley" promises a fun and enlightening journey into the world of digital accessibility. Come along and empower yourself with the magical tools and knowledge to create a more accessible and inclusive digital learning environment for your students. We solemnly swear that it's not just educational—it's also a lot of fun!
- Digital accessibility playground with a magical/Harry Potter theme. Topics include accessible heading and hyperlinks, color contrast, alternative text, and sampling of tools (Seeing AI app and Immersive Reader).
(NC Beacons of Leader Development Summer 2023 sessions) - Access Alley - NCBOLD 2023 playground one-pager
ISTE - Coordinating State-Local Systems for Providing Accessible Educational Materials (AEM)
The National AEM Center will share recommendations and resources from a cohort of seven states in their third year of creating coordinated statewide systems for providing AEM and technologies for all learners - with and without disabilities. Attendees will leave with tools to replicate these systems in their own settings. Created for ISTE, in collaboration with National AEM Center. (ISTE, with National AEM Center)
- Building Readiness Tool for Participation in the State AEM Leadership Team: Local-Level Members
- AEM Readiness Survey (make a copy)
- NC’s Invitation to Apply
Introduction to Digital Accessibility
Ensuring that educational materials, communications, and digital content are accessible to all students, educators, and other stakeholders is not just a legal obligation. It can mean the difference between barriers and opportunities. In this session, we will investigate foundational principles of digital accessibility and universal design. Session content will include personalized content for various roles, including Digital Teaching and Learning Leaders, with relevant topics such as procurement, assistive technologies, website accessibility, and creating accessible digital content. Through hands-on activities, discussion, and problem-solving tasks, participants will collaboratively and independently engage in activities to: understand terms related to digital accessibility, examine accessibility laws/policy/standards, explore how digital accessibility benefits all and how to remove common barriers to accessibility, apply new knowledge related to accessibility and universal design, investigate strategies and resources to inform digital accessibility planning, develop an initial action plan for digital accessibility. (Regional events, March 2023)
- Resources
The World’s Largest Accessible Online Library
(NCSLMA 2022)