Guide
Making online assessments accessible with tactile graphics
Learn about ATLAS and the process of creating accessible online assessments with science content examples.
In her presentation, Dr. Ashley Nashleanas explains tactile graphics using science examples. This tactile graphic presentation is especially beneficial for administrators, classroom educators and assessment development staff to understand the complexities of tactile graphics, including the cognitive load and effort required for interpreting tactile images.
Key players
ATLAS (Accessible Teaching, Learning, & Assessment Systems) is a research center at the University of Kansas that has more than 150 staff. The ATLAS mission: is to promote learning and improve outcomes for all students, with a special focus on students with disabilities, by creating accessible, technology-based learning and assessment systems.
Dr. Ashley Nashleanas, Physical and Sensory Test Development Specialist, has been with ATLAS for 3 years. Blind since birth, she has first-hand experience with using tactile graphics and has conducted research on other’ experiences with graphics. She presented a talk on Tactile Graphics to ATLAS’ research and psychometrics team along with faculty and staff from other institutions as part of a collaborative effort to make STEM more widely available and accessible to the blind/low vision community.
Brian Gane is a Research project Director at ATLAS. Brian has been working on science assessment items that are on webpages for grades 3-5. Tasks include images, videos, simulations, graphs, and more. Dr. Ashley Nashleanas has been involved in the discussion and assisting with image descriptions; she mentioned tactile graphics as an option – which led to her presentation on tactile graphics. Dr. Nashleanas has shared her recorded presentation and the accompanying slide deck and has given permission to publish these resources on Paths to Technology.
How to: Graphical accessibility and availability for all presentation video recording
Tactile graphics presentation and discussion transcript
How to Graphical accessibility and availability for all PPT
By Diane Brauner
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