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Message from the Instructor

Welcome to MM279 Accessibility and Equity in Digital Design. My name is Mary Anne Funk, and I am an instructor in the Multimedia Department at PCC. My research focuses on accessibility in media, social virtual worlds, and XR technology.

In this class, accessibility will be treated as part of the creative process, not something added at the end. We will think about how people encounter media, what barriers may prevent access, and how thoughtful design choices can make digital content more usable, inclusive, and meaningful.

Accessibility is an important part of digital media, design, communication, and public-facing content. In this course, we will explore how to create media that is more accessible to people with a wide range of disabilities, technologies, learning needs, and lived experiences.

This class is designed as an in-person, hands-on course where students will learn accessibility concepts, test digital content, revise media projects, and create accessible materials that can be used in real-world settings. We will look at accessibility across video, audio, images, documents, websites, social media, presentations, and other forms of digital communication.

A major focus of the course will be applying accessibility practices to actual content. You will have opportunities to review or create accessible digital materials connected to campus organizations, departments, programs, or community needs.

Because this class meets in person, we will use our time together for demonstrations, discussion, group activities, accessibility testing, peer feedback, guest speakers, and project work. My goal is for you to leave the course with practical skills that you can use in multimedia production, teaching, design, communication, and professional work.

To learn more about me, please visit my faculty page.

Course Format

• This is an in-person class with an online learning component.
• We meet once a week in person for 2 hours and 50 minutes. Class meetings will include:
  • Instructor demonstrations
  • Hands-on accessibility labs
  • Group discussions
  • Accessibility reviews and testing activities
  • Guest speakers
  • Project development time
  • Work connected to campus or community accessibility needs
• The D2L course site will include readings, videos, assignment instructions, accessibility resources, and materials to support the work we do in class.

Prerequisites

• No formal prerequisites are required.
• Students should be willing to participate in hands-on activities, try accessibility tools, give and receive feedback, and revise their work based on accessibility goals.

What We Will Explore

• Throughout the course, we will examine accessibility in areas such as:
  • Captions and transcripts
  • Audio description and visual description
  • Alt text for images
  • Accessible documents and PDFs
  • Accessible slides and presentations
  • Readable layout and design
  • Color, contrast, and typography
  • Web and social media accessibility
  • Assistive technologies and user experience
  • Accessibility testing and review practices
  • Inclusive language and representation
  • Accessibility as part of equity in digital design

By the End of This Course, You Will Be Able To:

• Explain key principles of accessibility and equity in digital design.
• Identify common accessibility barriers in digital media.
• Use accessibility guidelines to evaluate and improve digital content.
• Create captions, transcripts, alt text, accessible documents, and accessible media materials.
• Test digital content using accessibility tools, checklists, and review methods.
• Revise media projects to improve access, usability, and audience experience.
• Apply accessibility practices to real-world content for courses, organizations, portfolios, or public-facing communication.
• Discuss accessibility as part of ethical, inclusive, and professional media practice.

Guest Speakers and Campus Connections

• Throughout the quarter, we may be joined by members of PCC Accessibility Education and Disability Services, accessibility researchers, designers, disability advocates, and community members with lived experience using accessible media and technology.
• Guest speakers and campus-connected projects will help students understand accessibility as a practical design skill, a professional responsibility, and a shared part of creating more inclusive digital spaces.

Course Focus

• This course is not just about learning accessibility rules. It is about learning how to notice barriers, ask better design questions, test your work, revise with purpose, and create media that more people can use.
• By the end of the term, you will have practical accessibility skills they can apply to multimedia projects, classroom materials, professional communication, and campus or community-based content.

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 
• Smartphone: For capturing photos, videos, and audio, and testing accessibility features. 

Software and Apps:

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