ACA 2023 Hybrid Pre-Conference Workshop:Introduction to Archival Digital Accessibility

ACA 2023: Belonging - Considering archival bonds and disconnects

Introduction to Archival Digital Accessibility

Pre-Conference Workshop

Today, more than ever before, those who work with archival digital materials rely on websites, images, PDF documents, audio, and video, to connect with researchers and the public.

Lowering barriers to make digital materials more accessible is crucial for the one out of five Canadians, who identify as having disabilities. As well, some of the 1.3 billion people worldwide may also be using Canadian archival digital materials.

There is also provincial and Federal accessibility and human rights legislation across Canada that may require many of us working with archival digital materials, to identify and lower barriers for people with disabilities.

Lowering barriers makes access easier and more inclusive, and provides a sense of belonging for those of us who have disabilities.

In this workshop, learn the basics on how to start identifying and lowering barriers. The first part of the workshop will focus on 'why' digital accessibility is important for people with disabilities, and what legislation may apply to your work. This will include information on who may be accessing your digital materials, and what technologies may be used. There will be one or two live demonstrations of some popular technologies.

The second part of the workshop will focus on the basics of the 'what' and 'how'. You will learn practical tips that can be used right away, to help make digital materials more accessible and inclusive. The workshop is geared to a beginner and intermediate audience. No technical expertise is required, just have an interest in the subject.

What You Will Learn:

• How digital barriers impact people with a wide range of disabilities.
• The basics of accessibility and human rights legislation in Canada, and how it may impact your work with archival digital materials.
• What kinds of software and hardware people may use to access your archival digital materials, with at least one live demonstration.
• Practical tips, and some tools, to help you to start identifying and removing barriers to make your archival digital materials more accessible.
• Hands-on exercises to practice some of the tips, so you can apply your knowledge right away to identify and lower barriers in your digital materials.

Outline  

• Introductions-10 minutes
• Part 1: Different disabilities, legislation, technologies with live demo- 40 minutes
• Part 1 Interaction: Questions will be asked about each area, so some discussion will take place.
• Break-10 minutes
• Part 2: Practical Tips-50 minutes
• Part 2 Interaction: In each tip area, examples will be shown, we will work through them, and solo, or group, exercises will be provided for most tip areas.
• Question Period-10 minutes
• Question Period Interaction: Attendees will ask questions, and discussion will take place.

Workshop Facilitator:

Lisa Snider is CNSA MemoryNS Support Specialist and AABC MemoryBC Coordinator. She is a digital archivist, and since 2010, has worked with digital and hybrid collections in North America, including at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Lisa's passion in life is working with website, document, audio, video, and social media accessibility. She shares her knowledge with others to lower barriers, and make digital materials more accessible for people with different disabilities. Lisa has worked with, and helped create, accessibility legislation across Canada. She has worked with digital accessibility since 1999, and collaborates with Microsoft to improve their product accessibility.