Steps for Colleges to Get Ahead

Colleges and Districts can begin working with the Accessibility Capability Maturity Model (ACMM) framework, even if the organization isn’t yet participating in the ACMM. Below are some areas that can help your College or District build a solid accessibility foundation.

Establish a Work Group/Committee/Task Force: Establish a committee of stakeholders from across the organization to begin accessibility planning efforts, discuss areas of greatest need, and strategize ACMM goals and milestones.
Promote Accessible Document Training: The foundations of accessible digital content are consistent across all platforms. Encourage or require faculty and staff to register for WebAIM Accessible Document training. This training is paid for by the Accessibility Center and is available at no cost to the CCC.
Create a Web Inventory: Gather a list of all websites and web applications under the organization's purview, including the main website, departmental pages, and other affiliated websites like Athletics, the Library and Auxiliaries. The Pope Tech Website Scanning tool can help create this inventory and identify accessibility barriers. This tool is paid for by the Accessibility Center and is available at no cost to the CCC.
Collect ACRs/VPATs for Technology Purchases: Encourage or require purchase requestors to include an Accessibility Conformance Report (also known as an ACR or VPAT) with other pre-purchase documentation. This is an important first step in evaluating the accessibility of acquired technology products and services.
Replicate Effective Processes in Other Areas: Identify successful accessibility efforts and extend them to other areas. For instance, if you have processes or procedures that are working well for online classes (such as implementing Universal Design for Learning, including accessibility statements, or selecting captioned videos), extend these processes to in-person classes. If there is one department that has robust processes for checking marketing materials for accessibility, replicate these in other departments, etc.
Address Accessibility Issues In Canvas: Instructors and support staff can quickly identify and remediate accessibility issues across one or several Canvas courses by using Pope Tech Dashboards for Canvas. Colleges and districts can install this tool in their Canvas instance and promote its use. This tool is paid for by the Accessibility Center and is available at no cost to the CCC.
Have Regular Conversations About Accessibility: Emphasize the crucial role of accessibility in larger conversations surrounding strategic planning, communications, technology acquisition and implementation, DEIA efforts, events, teaching best practices, and other relevant areas.

Alt Format Databases

Alternate Text Production Center

The Alternate Text Production Center (ATPC) supports California Community Colleges in meeting the alternate text needs of their students with print-related disabilities. Alternate text includes Braille, tactile graphics, and electronic text. All ATPC services are performed at no charge to California Community Colleges.

Bookshare

Bookshare offers hundreds of thousands of people with dyslexia, learning disabilities, visual impairments, physical disabilities, and other reading barriers a way to study for school, pursue careers, and read for fun. Read anytime, anywhere you want with devices like computers, Chromebooks, tablets, smartphones, assistive technology devices, and more.

Project Gutenberg

Project Gutenberg offers over 57,000 free eBooks. Choose among free epub books, free Kindle books, download them or read them online. You will find the world's great literature here, with focus on older works for which copyright has expired. Thousands of volunteers digitized and diligently proofread the eBooks, for enjoyment and education.

Learning Ally

Learning Ally has 80,000 human-read audiobooks. An extensive collection of K-12 books including popular fiction, classic literature, textbooks, test prep and study aids are a download away. Listen on mainstream devices using accessible technology with page-level navigation, text highlighting and speed adjustments.

Hyperlink Color Change Tutorial in Canvas Theme Settings

The default hyperlink color in Canvas is inaccessible. Canvas admins are advised to select a darker blue for sufficient color contrast. The following tutorial explains the four steps to change hyperlink color in Canvas:

In the Global Navigation Pane, select Admin
Select Themes
Select your Current Theme
Under Edit select Link Color - place your desired darker blue color (The CCC Accessibility Center uses #0277bb)

Training & Tools

Trainings & Workshops

Training and technical assistance is available on a variety of accessibility-specific topics, including web accessibility, the use of assistive computer technologies, the creation of alternate formats, and how to integrate accessibility into online instruction.

Learn More

Training events supported by the CCC Accessibility Center are listed on our Events Calendar.

Tools

The Accessibility Center offers several tools to support accessibility in the CCC System at no cost. Please note that organizations may be limited to a specific number of seats or licenses depending on product license limitations.

Learn more

Mailing Lists

CCC Accessibility Center Mailing Lists

The Accessibility Center manages the following mailing lists. These lists can be used for announcements, awareness, and to engage with colleagues.

CCC Accessibility Center : For general accessibility discussion, especially surrounding procurement of ICT, web accessibility, and digital content creation, including instructional materials and multimedia. Announcements regarding events and resources from the CCC Accessibility Center are posted to this list.
Alternate Media: For discussions about the creation, use, and processes involving alternate formats, such as braille, e-text, and other media formats for students with print-disabilities.
CCC-WEB-ACCESSIBILITY: For California Community Colleges staff to discuss web accessibility.
LD Mailing List: For discussions related to learning disabilities.
DEAF Mailing List: For discussions on deaf and hard-of-hearing issues.
C4A2 (California Community Colleges Community of Accessibility Allies): For CCC staff and faculty interested in focusing on working together on systemwide accessibility improvements. Limited to participants with CCC-affiliated email addresses only. Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to join.

How to Subscribe

To join a mailing list:

Select the link of the list you would like to join. This will direct you to the Subscription page.
Enter your name and email address.
An email with a confirmation code will be sent to the address you specify. Follow the instructions in the email. If you do not receive confirmation, please check your spam filter and/or work with your information technology team for assistance.

Create a user name and password to modify your list settings or to view a list archive.

Please review the CCC Technology Center Listserv Code of Conduct document prior to subscribing to a mailing list.

Other Relevant CCC Mailing Lists

The following mailing lists are run by CCC-affiliated entities.

CAPED

The California Association for Postsecondary Education and Disability had several mailing lists:

CAPED Announcements: Announcements regarding CAPED events.
CAPED AT CIG List: The CAPED Assistive Technology Interest Group.
CAPED Counseling and Career Development: Counseling and career development communications for CAPED members.
ID_DD_AUTISM: CAPED Interest Group for Intellectual Disabilities, Developmental Disabilities, and Autism.

CCC DSPS Directors and WorkAbility III

DSPS Directors List: For DSPS Directors to share and exchange information.
Workability III: For discussion regarding WorkAbility III.

External Mailing Lists

The following mailing lists focus on accessibility in higher education. They are not managed by the California Community Colleges.

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