Tip #4: The How – NCADEMI
Tip #4: The How – NCADEMI
Hello Team,
Welcome back to our Accessibility Tips & Tricks series!
Over the past few weeks, we’ve covered The Why (Law & Equity), The What (taking inventory), and started The How with accessible templates. Now, we begin the hands-on portion of our journey as we explore the NCADEMI Accessibility Basics - practical skills that help ensure everyone can access what we create.
The National Center on Accessible Digital Educational Materials & Instruction (NCADEMI), pronounced “n-cademy”, is a national technical assistance center funded by the Office of Special Education Programs at the U.S. Department of Education.
NCADEMI provides guidance, training, and best practices to help educators design digital materials that are accessible, inclusive, and aligned with federal expectations. Their work is a cornerstone in the accessibility field, and the nine foundational practices they teach form an excellent roadmap for improving our own digital content.
Over the next several weeks, we’ll explore each of these concepts one by one. These simple, powerful practices help ensure that every learner can access and understand our materials.
Alt Text (Images) – Ensuring visuals include meaningful descriptions.
Captions – Making video and audio content accessible to all.
Clear Writing – Communicating with simplicity, clarity, and purpose.
Color Use – Using color intentionally to support readability.
Headings – Creating structured, navigable content.
Links – Writing descriptive links that make sense on their own.
Lists – Presenting information in easy to follow formats.
Tables – Making data understandable and accessible for screen readers.
Text Contrast – Ensuring content is readable for all users and devices.
These practices are the foundation of accessible design. Small improvements in any of these areas create meaningful access for students, families, and colleagues. You can preview the concepts at a11y.esu10.org/the-how.
Visit the NCADEMI Accessibility Basics overview at a11y.esu10.org/the-how.
Identify a few materials you frequently use - a presentation, handout, or video that you’d like to improve.
Follow the weekly tips as we dive deeper into each concept with practical examples and quick wins.
Thank you for continuing to build accessible, equitable learning environments one intentional step at a time.
ESU 10 Accessibility Implementation and Planning Team