Tech Tips: The AccessIT Knowledge Base May Have the Answers You are Looking For

With the help of a Sign Language interpreter, DO-IT Scholars learn about engineering during Summer Study

Among our many programs, DO-IT co-directs the National Center for Accessible Information Technology in Education, more affectionately known as AccessIT. AccessIT's mission is to promote the use of electronic and information technology for students and employees with disabilities in educational institutions at all academic levels. It approaches this mission in many ways, one of which is the AccessIT Knowledge Base, located at www.washington.edu/accessit.

The Knowledge Base is a database of short articles related to technology accessibility, with a Web-based interface that allows users to easily search for information that meets their needs. There are currently over 100 articles in the Knowledge Base, with more added each week. Articles include Q&As such as "Is PDF Accessible?" and "Are Chat Rooms Accessible?", plus a growing number of case studies and promising practices. The home page provides direct links to the most recent articles, but users can also search for articles by keyword, type of article, or topic (www.washington.edu/accessit/kb.php). Users can also browse through a list of all articles currently in the Knowledge Base (www.washington.edu/accessit/faqs.php?Button=QA). As the number of articles continues to grow, the AccessIT Knowledge Base becomes a more comprehensive resource that helps visitors easily search for answers to their technology accessibility questions.