Introducing accessibility in digital communication higher education curricula – The ADORE Project
In a world where more and more people are generating and consuming information in digital formats, the need for this content to be accessible has become more apparent. The COVID-19 pandemic, with public authorities often providing crisis information digitally, has further highlighted the importance of accessibility. Digital content should be accessible to all citizens, including People with Disabilities, older adults and immigrants, leaving no one behind.
How can we educate university staff on accessible digital content? How can we promote a more inclusive teaching experience for all? The ADORE project will bring accessibility to the forefront of higher education curricula related to communication.
The Web Accessibility Directive obliges public sector websites and apps to comply with common minimum requirements of accessibility. Despite the implementation of this Directive in national legislation across the EU, most digital content is still not accessible to all users. Those studying to work in the field of communication require access to specific training to be able to design and publish content in an accessible way.
The ADORE project, led by the Tallinn University, will establish a partnership between higher education institutions, training organisations and the private sector. The main objective is to mainstream accessibility skills in higher education curricula for communication disciplines and to train teaching staff on how to publish accessible content on the internet for all users.
“Everyday, millions of content creators are publishing inaccessible content without being aware of it.” says Jon Switters, Project Manager of the ADORE project for Funka. “This is what we aim to change in the ADORE project”.
With funding from the ERASMUS+ programme, the project will create an accessibility training toolkit that responds to the accessibility learning needs of university teachers and trainers in the field of communication. Part of this toolkit will also focus on how training on accessible communication can be given in an inclusive way. The project will also generate recommendations on the inclusion of accessibility in curricula for higher education communication programmes throughout the wider European community.
ADORE project website, opens in a new window
Project title: ADORE - Accessibility in Digital Communication Higher Education Curricula
Consortium: Tallinn University (project leader), Funka, INUK, Paris Lodron University of Salzburg, University of Maribor (Partners).
Project period: November 2021-October 2023
Budget: 169,331 EUR