Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Equip yourself with the skills and knowledge to design digital media that is accessible to everyone.

Message from the instructor:

I want to welcome you to our MM279 Accessibility and Equity in Digital Design class. My name is Mary Anne Funk.  I am an instructor in the Multimedia Department at PCC. My core research focuses on accessibility in media, social virtual worlds, and XR technology. To learn more about me, please visit my faculty page

Who is this class for:

• Students enrolled in the Multimedia/VPEM Program
• PCC Instructors who want to learn how to make their content accessible
• Digital Media content creators
• Web developers seeking to enhance their accessibility skills
• Graphic designers interested in inclusive design practices
• User experience (UX) professionals aiming to broaden their knowledge of accessibility
• Software developers who want to integrate accessibility into their applications
• Marketing professionals who need to ensure digital campaigns are accessible
• Anyone interested in promoting equity and inclusivity in digital media

Course Format: This is a remote class with an online learning component.

• We meet remotely on Zoom for in-class demonstrations, group work, and guest speakers.
• The D2L component will include video lectures, readings, and assignments to be completed outside of class

Prerequisites: No formal prerequisites are required.

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Demonstrate the principles of accessibility in media.
• Identify assistive devices and design patterns that support accessibility.
• Apply accessibility guidelines in the digital design process.
• Utilize industry-standard tools to improve digital content accessibility.

Guest Speakers: Throughout the quarter, we will be joined by members of the PCC Accessibility Education and Disability Services, researchers focused on accessibility in design, and members of the community with accessibility needs and accessibility advocates in Portland.

To ensure a smooth and effective learning experience, please ensure you have the following hardware and software:

Hardware:

If you have any concerns or questions about accessing these tools, please let me know so we can find solutions together.

• A laptop or desktop computer: Essential for completing assignments and attending class.
• A microphone: Needed for class communication.
• Webcam: Required for class participation. If you are not comfortable on camera, you can use a digital avatar that we will help set up in the first week. No black boxes; everyone will be on camera or use an avatar.
• Smartphone: For capturing photos, videos, and audio and testing accessibility features. 

Software and Apps:

• Zoom: For attending our remote class.
• Google Chrome: Set up with a PCC Login for seamless integration with our tools.
• Google Drive: For working on documentation and collaborative projects.
• Grackle Extension: We will use this free extension provided by the AEDR department.
• Otter.ai: You will log in with your PCC account and use the free time available to you for transcription and note-taking.
• Amara Subtitle Editor
• WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool: For evaluating the accessibility of web content.