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The Born-Accessible Lifecycle: Digital Publishing for Title II Accessibility

taught by: Christine Foushi
co-presented by: Rachel Comerford, Darrin Evans

Session Summary

This six-hour workshop provides a comprehensive, hands-on class in the "born accessible" publishing lifecycle, moving from foundational source content to advanced digital remediation. Participants will begin by mastering the nuances of alt-text creation and structural document design in Microsoft Word before transitioning into the technical "how-to" of converting those files into high-performance EPUBs using free, industry-standard tools. The afternoon session deep-dives into the "I have an EPUB... Now What?" phase, where attendees will learn to validate files with EPUBCheck and Ace by DAISY, perform direct code remediation, and leverage AI-assisted tools to accelerate complex tasks like table tagging and image description. The workshop concludes with an exploration of the end-user experience, demonstrating how the unique features of the EPUB format—such as text-to-speech, adjustable layouts, and robust screen reader compatibility—create a truly inclusive and engaging reading journey for all students.

Description

In an increasingly digital academic landscape, the transition from static documents to inclusive, flexible formats is no longer a luxury—it is a requirement. This six-hour workshop provides a masterclass in the "Born Accessible" workflow, guiding participants through the complete lifecycle of digital content creation. Attendees will move from foundational Microsoft Word structuring and the nuances of semantic alt-text to technical EPUB conversion and advanced AI-assisted remediation. Using free, industry-standard tools like WordToEPUB, Thorium Reader, and Ace by DAISY, participants will engage in hands-on labs to convert and validate structured files. We will further explore the cutting edge of the field by leveraging Artificial Intelligence as a "tool in the toolbox" to accelerate high-volume tasks, such as generating contextual alt-text and complex table tagging. Through comparative testing of inaccessible versus remediated content, attendees will leave with a repeatable, scalable framework for enhancing digital equity and ensuring their institutional content meets WCAG 2.2 and Section 508 standards.

Practical Skills

  • Build "Born Accessible" source documents from the ground up by mastering heading hierarchies, list structures, and native equation editing that ensures a clean transition to digital publishing formats.
  • Navigate a professional, hands-on workflow using free tools like WordToEPUB to transform standard documents into high-performance, reflowable EPUBs that meet global accessibility standards.
  • Explore the unique personalization features of the EPUB format, such as text-to-speech, adjustable font spacing, and screen reader compatibility, through the lens of the end-user using Thorium Reader.