Abstract

In an increasingly digital world, ensuring online content is accessible to all students, including those with disabilities, is both a legal requirement and a moral imperative. As technical education continues to evolve with digital advancements, the risk of exacerbating the digital divide remains unless accessibility is prioritized.

This interactive tutorial is designed for university educators, researchers, and instructional designers who play a crucial role in fostering inclusive learning environments. The tutorial will introduce participants to the principles of Universal Digital Accessibility, equipping them with knowledge and practical skills to create accessible digital content. Through hands-on activities, participants will conduct accessibility audits, improve documents and presentations, and explore digital tools for ensuring compliance with accessibility standards.

Technical conferences like IROS traditionally focus on cutting-edge research and technological advancements. However, the effectiveness of these innovations relies on their accessibility to diverse learners and researchers. By integrating accessibility-focused discussions into IROS, we ensure that future robotics and informatics professionals are trained in inclusive digital communication, which is critical for broader dissemination and equitable knowledge sharing.

Tutorial content

• Understanding Digital Accessibility: Overview of Universal Digital Accessibility and its importance in education.
• Challenges in Digital Content: Identifying common barriers students face in accessing digital materials.
• Accessibility Best Practices: Guidelines and principles (e.g., POUR: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, Robust).
• Hands-On Accessibility Audit: Participants analyze sample digital content to identify accessibility issues.
• Creating Inclusive Educational Resources: Practical guidance for designing accessible documents, presentations, and multimedia.
• Web Accessibility Tools: Introduction to online tools that evaluate and improve web accessibility.

Schedule

• 15 minutes: Introduction and Icebreaker Organizers
• 30 minutes: Understanding Digital Accessibility in Education Organizers
• 30 minutes: Hands-On Activity: Accessibility Audit All Participants
• 30 minutes Creating Accessible Documents and Media Organizers
• Coffee Break
• 30 minutes: Web Accessibility and Online Tools Organizers
• 30 minutes: Hands-On Activity: Document Remediation All Participants
• 30 minutes: Discussion: Implementation Challenges and Solutions All Participants
• 30 minutes: Action Planning and Wrap-Up Organizers

Intended Audience and Expected Attendance

This tutorial is designed for university educators, researchers, and instructional designers in robotics, informatics, and engineering disciplines

Workshop Materials

Will be available 1 week before the tutorial

Organizers