DACHS (Digital Accessibility Checking and Simulation)

DACHS (Digital Accessibility Checking and Simulation) is an interactive portal that sensitises teaching staff to the requirements of accessible teaching and teaches skills for implementation. The portal provides simulations of various impairments.

Teaching staff can change their perspective and experience their materials and LMS courses as impaired in order to understand students' needs. The instructions provided enable them to create accessible digital teaching materials and courses. The system checks automated accessibility test criteria directly.

Manual accessibility testing is innovatively supported by the programme without the need for any special technical knowledge. The portal is connected to Moodle and ILIAS via a plugin for direct course import.

Gamification elements are designed to motivate teaching staff 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 barrier-free teaching in line with requirements. Overall, DACHS contributes to the sustainable integration of accessibility as a self-evident requirement for teaching.

What the project aims to achieve in the teaching-related university landscape

DACHS is intended to provide a comprehensive platform for accessible teaching. Users and teaching staff in particular 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 of diversity-conscious teaching. All students benefit from barrier-free teaching without the implementation placing any significant additional burden on teaching staff. The conceptual combination of sensitisation - skills acquisition - implementation - review - transfer to classroom teaching sustainably increases teaching skills.

DACHS is to be made available as an open source portal. This will benefit smaller universities in particular, many of which 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 UN CRPD.

Inclusion is itself a sustainable concept and is part of the United Nations 2030 Agenda. Removing barriers in teaching promotes inclusion in practice and is a further step towards a university for all. With DACHS, teaching staff acquire skills in barrier-free teaching and thus support the active participation of all students. Accessibility is a sustainable quality feature.