Accessibility
At Desire2Learn we believe that learning technologies should never limit learning opportunities. Our accessibility program is tightly integrated with our research and development lifecycle to ensure our tools are standards compliant and easy for people to navigate and understand using the assistive technologies and devices that support their needs.
Designing to Standards
Desire2Learn's research and development philosophy focuses on developing a common platform and control set for use across our product suite. This common infrastructure enables us to verify and enforce accessibility requirements early in the development phase. It also ensures our development teams take advantage of designs and controls that are researched and tested with accessibility experts and end users.
Committed to Open and Transparent Reporting
The Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) led by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is widely regarded as the leading standard on web accessibility. At Desire2Learn we use WAI guidelines, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 (WCAG 2.0), Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 (ATAG 2.0) and Accessible Rich Internet Applications Suite (WAI-ARIA) to ensure our designs are consistent with international objectives. Focusing on international standards ensures that we are part of a greater accessibility initiative aimed at improving support across platforms and assistive technologies.
We are committed to reporting our compliance openly and transparently. Our client-led Accessibility Interest Group actively reviews and verifies our standards compliance claims.
Working with Clients
Although standards provide a great starting point for learning about accessible designs and testing them, years of close interaction with client experts and students with disabilities have led to a user-experience culture at Desire2Learn. We are committed to designing products that are not only standards compliant, but also flexible and intuitive. We regularly review our designs and products with our client-led Accessibility Interest Group and students and instructors with disabilities to ensure we are supporting equal, inclusive learning. For example, many of our tools provide shortcuts, settings and layout options that enable users to customize and simplify their experience with the system. Many of our newer tools use advanced interface controls, such as drag-and-drop functionality, that also have fully integrated keyboard and assistive technology alternatives.
Visit the Desire2Learn Accessibility Interest Group collaboration site for more information on how client experts direct Desire2Learn's accessibility initiatives.
Awarded National Federation of the Blind Nonvisual Accessibility Gold Level Web Certification
The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) awarded the Gold Level NFB-NVA Certification to Desire2Learn. Read about our award.
Accessibility Resources
Accessibility Resources for Individuals with Disabilities
Technologies should never limit learning opportunities
