Making Environmental Programs
and Field Experiences Accessible
June 10, 2009
This presentation and its materials are based upon work supported by the
National Science Foundation under Cooperative Agreement Number HRD
0638793.
Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations
expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily
reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
Permission is granted to copy these materials for educational, non-commercial
purposes provided the source is acknowledged.
Meadowlands Environment Center - MarshAccess © Copyright 2009
A New Jersey Meadowlands Commission Facility operated by Ramapo
College of New Jersey
Making Environmental Programs and Field Experiences Accessible
Standard tools
used in program
Change/ tools added to program
“Ecology of the Estuary” All programs: Salinity, Dissolved Oxygen and pH
Audio
- Sound field system and assistive listening devices
PowerPoint
- PowerPoint created with high color contrast, font and size
Presentation
meet accessibility standard, white space, no more than 6
lines of text, no more than 6 words per line, images have
alternate text tags
- Copy of PowerPoint available in color and enlarged (1 or
2 slides per page) in a 3-ring binder
- Electronic PowerPoint available
- Accessible PowerPoint version available (See
www.WebAIM.org)
- Educator reads and describes images on slides
Journals
- Created with simple layout, pictures and word
descriptors, plenty of white space, san serif 18+ point
font (Verdana)
- Enlarged pages laminated for educator use and modeling
- Multiple writing implements
- Peel off response labels with words and pictures
- Word bank
- Verbally record data using hand-held recorder
- Electronic journals
- Braille journals and labels
Clipboards
- Clipboards with rubber band
Thermometer
- Talking thermometer
- Digital thermometer
Compass
- Talking compass
Salinity
Phragmites sample - Sample passed around for tactile exploration
- Water bottles added for taste test
Hydrometer
- Bumps to indicate fill line
Meadowlands Environment Center - MarshAccess © Copyright 2009
Type of
disability this
benefits (See
key at end)
Universal
Instructional
Design
H
LV, Cog, AR, H,
D
X
X
Cog, M, LV,
Com, AR,
X
M, LV, B
X
B, LV, Cog
B, LV, Cog
B, LV, Cog
Cog
B, LV, Cog
X
X
1
Making Environmental Programs and Field Experiences Accessible
Standard tools
used in program
Dip netting
experience
Live specimens
viewed in tanks
pH
pH strips and kits
-
Change/ tools added to program
Bumps to indicate units of measurement
Large poster of hydrometer with salinity ranges color
indicated
Jar of cheerios and fruit loops for salinity’s unit of
measurement illustration
Long handle dip nets for outside use
Tabletop tanks with smaller nets for in class use
Tactile models created to scale
Physically touching live specimens when appropriate
Different sized viewing tanks
Type of
disability this
benefits (See
key at end)
B, LV, Cog
B, LV, Cog, M
B, LV, Cog
Probe with voice output (Note: working with vendor)
B, LV
Cog
-
Participants pour sugar into water, stir, and taste to
explain concept of a solid dissolving into a liquid
Bottle of seltzer water to demonstrate concept of gas
dissolved in water
Large model of fish with gills exposed for visual and
tactile understanding
2-liter soda bottles filled with rice for dissolved oxygen
unit of measurement illustration
Molecule models
-
Communication boards
Cog, Com, AR
Testing solutions
pH large scale
Dissolved Oxygen
Dissolved Oxygen
kits
-
X
M, Cog
Enlarged chart created for pH strip indication by cutting
up comparison sheet and adding white space between
strips
Items that are common to most people
Scale made tactile
-
Universal
Instructional
Design
X
X
Cog
Cog, B, LV
X
Cog, B, LV
X
B, LV, Cog
X
Other
Meadowlands Environment Center - MarshAccess © Copyright 2009
2
Making Environmental Programs and Field Experiences Accessible
Standard tools
used in program
Measuring cup
-
Verbal instructions
-
Digital camera
-
Change/ tools added to program
Flip cards
Lap trays
Shoeboxes
Different sized measuring cups with different types of
handles
Bug boxes
Magnifiers (large and handheld attached to lanyard)
Dycem to keep materials in place
Visual and written instructions provided to supplement
verbal instructions and demonstration
Ken-A-Vision
White board
A variety of digital cameras with hand straps and
carrying cases
Type of
disability this
benefits (See
key at end)
Universal
Instructional
Design
M, AR
M
X
LV
X
M
Cog, D, H, LV,
AR
Cog, LV, M
Cog, Com
M, Cog, AR
X
X
X
X
Disability Key:
B- Blind
LV- Low Vision
D- Deaf
H- Hearing Loss
M- Mobility/Physical Disability
Cog- Cognitive Disability
AR- Age-related Limitations
Com- Communication Disability
Meadowlands Environment Center - MarshAccess © Copyright 2009
3