Disability and Access
Services

Accessibility of Remote Teaching Tools

As MIT moves courses to an online format, our team is here to provide MIT staff, faculty and students with online resources to help ensure that students with disabilities can access course materials, and that they can fully participate in their classes.

Document creation and conversion

Need to convert pre-existing documents into accessible formats, create audio files, and convert static documents to editable text? SensusAccess is a self-service document conversion tool available to all MIT students, staff, and faculty.

• SensusAccess (MIT Disability and Access Services) 
• Creating Accessible Course Materials (MIT Disability and Access Services)

Accessible Document Information

Adobe Acrobat Pro 

• Perform an Accessibility Check in Adobe AcrobatThis link opens in a new window (Adobe)
• Create and Verify PDF AccessibilityThis link opens in a new window (Adobe)

Microsoft Word

• Use the Accessibility Checker in Microsoft Office ProductsThis link opens in a new window (Texas Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities)
• Microsoft Word: Creating Accessible DocumentsThis link opens in a new window (WebAIM)
• Mark Up Headings in Microsoft WordThis link opens in a new window (NC State)

Google Docs

• Make your document or presentation more accessibleThis link opens in a new window (Google)
• Mark Up Headings in Google DocsThis link opens in a new window (Luis Perez)

Pages

• Creating accessible documents, spreadsheets, or presentations with Pages, Numbers, or KeynoteThis link opens in a new window (Apple Support)

Slide Decks and Accessibility

General Information

• Getting started with Presentation AccessibilityThis link opens in a new window (AEM Center)

Powerpoint

• PowerPoint AccessibilityThis link opens in a new window (WebAIM)
• Making Presentations Accessible for AllThis link opens in a new window (W3C)
• Use the Accessibility Checker in Microsoft Office ProductsThis link opens in a new window (Texas Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities )
• Make your PowerPoint presentations accessible to people with disabilitiesThis link opens in a new window (Microsoft) 

Keynote

• Creating accessible documents, spreadsheets, or presentations with Pages, Numbers, or KeynoteThis link opens in a new window (Apple Support)

Google Slides

• How to create an accessible Google Slide DeckThis link opens in a new window (University of Minnesota)
• Automatic captions in Google SlidesThis link opens in a new window (Google). Note: Automatic captions are not an appropriate substitute for human captioners when it comes to providing access to D/deaf and hard-of-hearing students. 

Online Conferencing Tools

Zoom 

• Getting Started with Closed CaptioningThis link opens in a new window
• Closed Captioning with Zoom RoomsThis link opens in a new window
• Automatic Transcription of Zoom MeetingsThis link opens in a new window

WebEx 

• Webex Web App Accessibility FeaturesThis link opens in a new window
• IS&T Knowledge Base article on Webex Meeting Recording and TranscriptionThis link opens in a new window

Polling and Response Tools

In addition to utilizing chat functions in remote conferencing platforms like Zoom, you may be using additional tools that allow you to ask questions and get responses from students. 

Poll Everywhere

• Poll Everywhere has given thought to accessibility in designing their product (Poll Everywhere Accessibility StandardsThis link opens in a new window). If you use Poll Everywhere as part of a presentation, read aloud the question and response options in addition to showing them in writing, and share the link to the poll in the web conference chat. 

Google Forms

• Google FormsThis link opens in a new window (University of Minnesota)

Chat and Communication Tools

• Piazza LiteThis link opens in a new window is a more accessible version of the Piazza tool
• Keyboard accessibility in SlackThis link opens in a new window

All inquiries are welcome at accessibility [at] mit.edu.