Sections 504 & 508 of the Federal Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility and Compliance Act guarantee equal access to programs and services for everyone in institutions receiving Federal funding. California also has its own set of requirements for accessibility. What this means is that prior to course approval and implementation, all courses must be designed keeping those students who have special needs and require assistive technology in mind.

Distance Education Captioning Resources

Distance Education Captioning and Transcription (DECT) Program

The Distance Education Captioning and Transcription (DECT) program provides funding for video captioning and transcription.  Funding is available to support instructional material in online and hybrid classes, digital media repositories, and on-campus classes utilizing distance methods of content delivery.

What Qualifies for DECT Funding?

  • Distance Education (Online, Hybrid, Synchronous, Asynchronous)
  • Credit and Non-Credit classes
  • On-campus Classes utilizing distance methods of content delivery as they evolve (e.g., class capture, web conferencing, vodcasting, podcasting, content posted within a Learning Management System)

For more information about the DECT program, including reporting requirements, please see DECT Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).

3C Media Solutions

3C Media Solutions is an educational media distribution source for video content provided for all campuses within the California Community Colleges system. This is a free, grant-funded resource provided by the Chancellor’s Office, made possible by the DECT Grant.  They will host your video and will, upon request, provide auto-captions that you can easily proof-read and edit for accuracy.  The finished, captioned video is hosted online and can be linked to or embedded into your Canvas materials.

For more information about how to use this and other captioning resources, please see our Captioning Resources or contact the Distance Education Department.

Blackboard Ally

Ally is a new Canvas-integrated feature that promotes student access and a culture of inclusion across our campus. It provides faculty with guidance and tips for making lasting accessibility improvements to their course content. It also provides students with downloadable alternative formats of the course content so they can engage with their classes in the ways they learn best. 

Learn more about Blackboard Ally.