Tiffany Sudijono
Research Mentor(s): Shauna Paulson
Mentor Department: ISR Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Office
Authors: Tiffany Sudijono, Kaamaakshi Ati, Shauna Paulson, Tara Engholm
Session: Session 6 (3:00pm – 3:50pm)
Presentation Type: Poster 33
Abstract
Despite accessibility’s acknowledged significance across institutions, they frequently face challenges in how digital remediation practices can be optimally executed. Due to the deprioritized and daunting nature of digital remediation projects, institutions may not have a robust system for ensuring digital accessibility across platforms and document types. PDF software including Adobe Acrobat and CommonLook, alongside web-based resources such as WordPress, have features that are easy-to-navigate and can be implemented by anyone through proper training. To evaluate these tools as methods of tackling digital accessibility, we review multiple PDF documents and recode websites for core research departments at the Institute for Social Research. We address various accessibility requirements including alternative text, document reading order, tables, color contrast, and serif typography, by using Acrobat and CommonLook for PDF remediation alongside HTML editing via WordPress for web remediation. Based on data gathered during the remediation process, we found that when there has been formal training on remediation tools, particularly Acrobat, CommonLook, and WordPress, individuals’ abilities to navigate these platforms notably improved. This collective training enables remediation to become a skill attainable by all individuals, making the process of digital accessibility a dispersed, bottom-up effort. Through the use of compatible software, digital remediation can be simplified, offering institutions practical strategies to accelerate the scalability and efficiency of their accessibility endeavors.
