Digital Accessibility Plan

INTRODUCTION

The North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS) is committed to providing equitable access to high-quality digital learning for all students. As the state’s official online school, NCVPS recognizes that students learn in diverse ways and may require different supports to fully engage in online learning environments. Our goal is to design, deliver, and continuously improve accessible digital experiences that remove barriers and support student success.

NCVPS established a formal commitment to digital accessibility in 2019 with the creation of a cross-functional accessibility team. This team is responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining accessibility standards, procedures, and best practices across all areas of the organization.

NCVPS aligns its accessibility efforts with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA, Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, and other applicable state and federal requirements. We also monitor emerging standards, including WCAG 3.0, to ensure our practices remain current and effective.

Accessibility at NCVPS is an ongoing process. Through regular evaluation, stakeholder feedback, ongoing professional learning, and continuous improvement cycles, we work to ensure that our courses, tools, communications, and services are accessible to all users. This includes proactive course design, responsive support systems, and the thoughtful integration of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to enhance accessibility while maintaining human oversight.

CURRICULUM

The Curriculum Team designs and manages all master courses in Canvas, adhering to WebAIM and WCAG 2.1 standards. The master courses are used to create the individual sections for teachers.  Below is a summary of the Learning Management System (LMS) and the tools the Curriculum team uses to support accessibility. Additionally, in the Professional Learning Section is a description of the professional learning available to support the Curriculum team and contractors with ensuring accessibility in course design.

Learning Management System

NCVPS uses Instructure Canvas as its LMS. Canvas has been evaluated by Instructure and WebAIM in accordance with WCAG 2.1 standards. Testing is regularly conducted using Canvas’ accessibility tools integrated into the Rich Content Editor, assistive devices (such as screen readers and keyboard testing), subscription tools (including UDOIT and Grackle Docs, listed below), and coding best practices (including HTML5 compliance). Third-party accessibility evaluations occur regularly, primarily as part of the routine Quality Matters peer review submission process (to meet General Standard 8, QM specifically evaluates for accessibility). Additionally, internal reviews of course master quality, including accessibility, occur throughout the course development and design process and as courses receive content and design updates. Processes, including help desk monitoring and the Curriculum Change Request, are in place for logging and fixing known accessibility defects.  

Lesson Authoring Tools Supporting Accessibility

Canvas Studio: Creative Commons videos or videos used with permission originating from YouTube or Vimeo are placed and streamed in course masters and sections using Canvas Studio. Canvas Studio is an Instructure-based tool that allows YouTube or Vimeo videos to be streamed inside Canvas without redirecting to the Youtube or Vimeo host site. Canvas Studio will incorporate YouTube-based or Vimeo-based captions, and Canvas Studio also features a captioning tool to apply auto-captions or update captions as needed.

Cidilabs Design Plus: Cidilabs Design Plus is a plug-in available for Canvas subscribers that provides an extended HTML content editor, offering a customized Custom Style Sheet (CSS) for courses, as well as interactive features including flashcards, callouts, and quick check features. Cidilabs follows the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. Additionally, a Vanilla HTML version of a Canvas page can be generated in the event that the Cidilabs design proves cumbersome for print or provide for Braille transcription. 

Google Shared Drive: NCVPS uses the Google Shared Drive to store and share all documents and presentations integrated into courses. Google Shared Drive enables students to access files from various devices using the share link located in the master course. In the Getting Started Unit, student orientation, students are provided with training on how to access and download and/or save Google Shared Drive files. Additional directions are provided either on the actual documents/presentations or in the assignment/assessment directions in Canvas, to guide students through the process of downloading the files (for PC and MAC users) or saving them to Google Drive (for Chromebook users).  

Infobase CVOD: Infobase Classroom Videos on Demand offers curated videos that can be accessed via subject and grade-level search. Videos include closed captions for students, which can be accessed by selecting the CC icon on each video clip.

Yuja:  The majority of Curriculum videos are stored and streamed from the NCVPS-managed Yuja streaming service. Yuja allows videos to be auto-captioned, and as part of the course design process, the Curriculum Team reviews and corrects the auto-captions. For World Language courses, Subject Matter Experts (teachers) are recruited to assist with captioning videos that are presented in non-English languages.  A captioning service, 3play Media, is integrated into Yuja, and if there is an immediate captioning need, NCVPS Staff can request professional captioning from 3play Media. Yuja does provide burn-in caption options (open captions)  in the event an .mp4 video is requested to be presented offline or directly in the LMS.

Tools for Scanning for Accessibility

UDOIT: NCVPS purchased the Cidilabs UDOIT tool, which integrates directly into the Canvas LMS. The Curriculum Team conducts UDOIT scans on all master’s courses to identify and address potential accessibility-related issues. The UDOIT tool scans Canvas announcements, assignments, discussions, and files (including HTML files, pages, and module URLs). UDOIT looks for the following accessibility concerns: page heading structures, alternative text for images, table headers, URL accessibility, color contrast, and video captioning. 

Once UDOIT scans are complete, multiple steps are taken to ensure NCVPS course masters meet or exceed WCAG 2.1 standards. The Curriculum Team addresses as many of the concerns as possible in the master. If a Subject Matter Expert is required to provide instructional clarity to make content fully accessible, the Curriculum Team will collaborate with the designated Course Lead for additional information. 

Canvas Accessibility Tool: Canvas now has a native accessibility tool that can be used alongside UDOIT in order to address accessibility issues. The tool addresses items page by page vs. by content type like in Grackle.

Grackle Docs: All documents in the Shared Drive run through the Grackle Doc Extension.  When the extension is enabled, the Grackle tool scans for document accessibility issues, including the proper use of titles and headers, table formatting, alternative text, URL link accessibility, and color contrast.  The Curriculum Team reviews the results to ensure proper titles, headers, table formatting, alternative text, and color contrast are applied for student-facing and teacher resource documents. 

Vendor Courses

Codio Vendor Course: A single course master, AP Computer Science A uses the vendor tool, Codio. According to the Codio website, Codio meets the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Standard at Level AA and is actively committed to maintaining and continuously improving the accessibility of the Codio experience.

Processes to Support Accessibility

Print-Ready Content: Within the course masters, downloadable/printable versions of the instructional content, including Canvas assessments and assignment answer keys are made available to teachers via an Unpublished Teacher Resources Module. Teachers are able to share the downloadable/printable versions of the items with students who require the ability to mark in their course materials, completed versions of notes, and other IEP-specified accommodations. Upon request, print-ready or offline documents can be made available to students who experience limited or no Internet connectivity.

Blueprint: Canvas Blueprint is a feature available through Canvas that allows changes made to each Curriculum-managed course master to be pushed out to all live course sections during each semester or academic year. From time to time, accessibility requests are received through the NCVPS Help Desk or via communication with Technology, Instruction, or Curriculum, which necessitate additional changes to the live course content. In those instances, the Blueprint feature is used to push out updates to course content ahead of where students are working in the live courses.

INSTRUCTION

NCVPS provides highly qualified teachers who support student success through a combination of asynchronous learning, live instruction, and synchronous support opportunities. Teachers deliver instruction using Canvas courses that are copied from accessible master courses. These master courses are thoroughly reviewed for accessibility, and any identified issues are addressed through established curriculum review processes.

NCVPS teachers engage with students through regular announcements, communication, and feedback. Instruction is guided by three core practices that support learning and engagement: clear communication, meaningful feedback, and personalized support. All teachers receive ongoing training, support, and resources to help them create accessible instructional materials and communication.   

Exceptional Children Accommodations 

If a student with an IEP or 504 plan is enrolled in a North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS) online course, it is the responsibility of the local school system to ensure the school system meets all requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education (IEP) Act and Section 504. NCVPS will follow all modifications and accommodations documented on the IEP or 504 plan as appropriate. There are some instances in which accommodations listed in the IEP or 504 plan are not conducive to the online environment and may not be provided. In this case, the local school system will be responsible for providing such accommodations in order to help the student to be successful in the online course.

OUTREACH & SUPPORT

Website Accessibility

NCVPS is committed to ensuring that its website (https://ncvps.org) is accessible and usable for all visitors, including individuals with disabilities. We follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA and Section 508 standards to guide the design, development, and maintenance of all web content.

Our website is developed using established accessibility best practices, including:

• Clear and consistent navigation structures
• Proper use of headings and semantic HTML
• Descriptive link text
• Alternative text for images
• Sufficient color contrast and readable font choices

We also utilize accessibility tools, such as the website accessibility sidebar, to allow users to customize their browsing experience (e.g., contrast, font size, spacing).

Ongoing Accessibility Practices
Accessibility is integrated into our ongoing web governance and content development processes:

• Accessibility Reviews: All new and updated content undergoes accessibility checks prior to publication.
• Regular Audits: NCVPS conducts annual comprehensive accessibility audits and quarterly reviews using a combination of automated tools and manual testing (including keyboard navigation and screen reader testing).
• Continuous Monitoring: Accessibility issues identified through audits, user feedback, or internal reviews are tracked and addressed through established workflows.
• Reporting Accessibility Issues: Users may report issues through a designated website link or by contacting NCVPS directly. NCVPS prioritizes timely resolution of accessibility barriers, with critical issues addressed as quickly as possible.

Social Media Accessibility
NCVPS is committed to making all digital communications accessible and inclusive across social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), BlueSky, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Our practices include:

• Providing alternative text or image descriptions for visual content
• Captioning all video content
• Reviewing and correcting auto-generated captions for accuracy
• Using descriptive link text
• Writing hashtags in CamelCase to improve screen reader readability

We strive to ensure that all users can access and engage with NCVPS content, regardless of platform.

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING

NCVPS provides ongoing professional learning to all in-service teachers, staff, and new teachers to ensure digital materials and online instruction are accessible to all students and to help create inclusive online learning environments. An accessibility training plan for teachers was first developed in 2020. Since then, our professional learning initiatives have been expanded to provide a deeper and broader focus on accessibility. We also incorporate new innovations, such as training on the responsible use of artificial intelligence, to support accessibility. 

Our professional learning initiative includes:

Course Developer Training – Most NCVPS courses are developed in-house by trained curriculum teams that include content planners, writers, reviewers, and instructional technology specialists. All individuals involved in course development complete the required training, which is reviewed and updated annually.

This training includes clear expectations for digital accessibility, including captions for video content, alternative text for images, transcripts for audio materials, and accessible document design. Instruction also addresses appropriate uses of artificial intelligence to support accessibility tasks, such as identifying potential barriers or improving clarity, while ensuring all final decisions are made by trained educators.

In-service teachers – NCVPS continues to develop and deliver professional learning on accessibility to our in-service teachers. We provide ongoing training on accessibility-related topics through synchronous meetings for our teachers. Additionally, our professional learning team maintains an internal Teacher Hub that provides teachers and staff with easy access to digital accessibility resources and tutorials. These resources include step-by-step guidance for enabling built-in accessibility features on common devices, tools that help identify and address accessibility issues in digital documents and online course content, and resources focused on making text, audio, video, images, and tables accessible.

Teacher in Training program –All prospective NCVPS teachers complete a 15-week Teacher in Training program that combines coursework with a supervised teaching experience. Digital accessibility is embedded throughout the program, with a focus on inclusive design and equitable access in online and blended learning environments.

Participants are introduced to accessibility supports, assistive technology options, and the appropriate use of artificial intelligence to help identify and reduce digital barriers. Emphasis is placed on ethical use, student privacy, and the educator’s role in reviewing and approving all instructional content.

TECHNOLOGY

Virtual Support Center –NCVPS currently uses OS Ticket as our Virtual Support Center management platform. OS Ticket is a help desk ticketing system designed to manage customer queries in one central location. It can track and report on client requests and save time by automating repetitive tasks. The OS Ticket is locally hosted and currently lacks a VPAT to demonstrate WCAG conformance. NCVPS is working to procure a third-party vendor to assist with compliance with our Digital Accessibility Plan.

Registration System –NCVPS is currently using a custom-built registration system while preparing to transition to a state-supported student information system. The current system has no Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) to demonstrate that its product is WCAG conformant, and as of October 2024, there are no plans to develop one. 

Technology Tools Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates (VPATs):

Below is a list of all the tools and resources available in our courses. As new tools are added to courses, we will add the accessibility information for those tools to this list. As we sunset tools, we will remove those tools from the list.

LMS
Canvas’ Accessibility VPAT

Third-Party Vendor Tools
Articulate Suite (Rise, Storyline, etc.)
Brainfuse – Needs Attention (Marcia)
Online Closed Captioning
Explore Learning (Gizmos)
Google Suite Accessibility
h5p Content Types 

Infobase Classroom Videos on Demand
ReadSpeaker

Codio

Cidilabs DesignPlus

Microsoft Word and Excel
Accessibility Resources (Includes specific guides and documentation for vision, hearing, speech, mobility, and learning)

Yuja
Accessibility of the HTML5 Media Player
Managing Accessibility Options 

Zoom

USE OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES (INCLUDING AI)

NCVPS evaluates emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), to enhance accessibility and improve the user experience. AI tools may be used to support tasks such as captioning, transcription, and content review.

All AI-generated outputs are reviewed by NCVPS staff to ensure accuracy, accessibility, and alignment with WCAG standards. NCVPS is committed to the responsible and ethical use of AI, ensuring that these technologies reduce barriers without introducing new accessibility challenges.

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

NCVPS is committed to continuous improvement in digital accessibility. We use data from accessibility audits, user feedback, help desk requests, and course evaluations to identify areas for enhancement.

Accessibility updates are implemented through established processes, including course revisions, website updates, and technology improvements. Our goal is not only to meet compliance standards but to create an inclusive digital learning environment where all users can succeed.