Accessibility Services
DACHS project
Michael Johannfunke
Koordinator der ZAB, Vertrauensperson der schwerbehinderten Menschen und Beauftragter der Studierenden mit Behinderung und chronischer Erkrankung
- johannfunke@uni-bielefeld.de
- Telephone
- +49 521 106-4201
Project
Volume: 493.282,80 €
Project duration: 01.04.2023 to 31.03.2026
Sponsored by: Foundation Innovation in University Teaching
DACHS (Digital Accessibility Checking and Simulation) is an interactive portal that sensitizes teaching staff, instructors, lectures to the requirements of Accessibility and provides skills for implementation. The portal provides simulations of different impairments.
In order to understand students' needs, teaching staff, instructors, lectures can change their perspective and experience their materials and LMS courses in an impaired way. Provided instructions empower them to create accessible digital learning materials and courses. Accessibility testing criteria that can be automated are checked directly by the system.
Manual accessibility testing is innovatively program-supported, without the need for special prior technical knowledge. For a direct course import, the portal is connected to Moodle and ILIAS via a plug-in.
Gamification elements are designed to motivate teaching staff, instructors, lectures to use DACHS. In addition, DACHS offers prepared knowledge on the effects of disabilities in studies and practical suggestions for action in order to be able to design teaching in a barrier-free manner in line with requirements. All in all, DACHS contributes to the sustainable integration of Accessibility as a self-evident requirement for one's own teaching.
What the project aims to accomplish in the teaching-related higher education landscape
DACHS is intended to provide a comprehensive platform for accessible teaching. Users and, in particular, teachers benefit from the knowledge provided, the opportunity to make impairments tangible, receive further training in the creation of accessible digital teaching materials and courses, and test these independently for accessibility.
Accessibility is itself an essential quality feature of good teaching. DACHS supplements corresponding didactic concepts with digital tools and raises awareness for diversity-conscious teaching. All students benefit from barrier-free teaching, without the implementation entailing significant additional burdens for teachers. The conceptual connection of sensitization - acquisition of competencies - implementation - review - transfer to classroom teaching sustainably increases teaching competencies.
DACHS is to be provided as an open source portal. This will benefit smaller universities in particular, which in many places do not have the financial and human resources to test for accessibility.
The portal is designed to be accessible from the outset and is part of the university's diversity strategy. People with disabilities are involved in the project work itself and contribute first-hand experience. Accompanying formats such as awareness-raising events address intersectional aspects. Accessibility is an added value for all people and enables education for all in accordance with Art. 24 UNCRPD.
Inclusion is itself a sustainable concept and is part of the United Nations' Agenda 2030. Removing barriers in teaching promotes inclusion in practice and is a further step towards Universities for All. With DACHS, teaching staff, instructors, lectures acquire competencies in accessible teaching and thus support the active participation of all students. Accessibility is a sustainable quality feature.