The Ripple Effect: Are Instructional Designers Positively Impacting the Accessibility of Higher Education Websites?

• In Event: Virtual Poster Session
  In Virtual iPresentation Only: Division J - Section 5: Policy, Finance, and Economics Virtual Poster Session

Abstract

Institutions of higher education employ instructional designers (IDs) to ensure that course content is pedagogically sound. A recent Department of Justice ruling determined that all digital holdings must meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards. It is critical to review if ID practices are being transferred to the design of an institution’s website. This study reviews the accessibility compliance of a sampling of United States institutions of higher education (N=279) home pages using automated tools and whether IDs positively impact student-centered design principles in web page development. Most web pages are not accessible, but the needs of the user are considered. Implications for future research and how IDs may positively impact web page design are also discussed.

Author

• Chrystal Trapani, Old Dominion University