Lightning talk presented at OER15 in Cardiff. Much talk about accessibility is focused on removing primary barriers to the content for those with specific needs (perceptual, cognitive or physical). This can be done with a closed license document as much as an open license document provided it is not encumbered with Digital Rights Management restrictions. However, in practice, restrictive licensing comes with other restrictive practices that prevent accessibility. In many countries, it is legal to make accessible copies despite other restrictions but this requires setting their users apart and putting other barriers in their way. This lightning talk will showcase several case studies demonstrating how closed licensing puts may be compatible with individual accessibility but works against inclusion. I hope that it will provide another argument for the promotion of OERs at all levels of education.

1. Open licensing is an accessibility
and inclusion feature of OERs
Dominik Lukes
@TechCzech - Researchity.net

2. Attribution-ShareAlike

3. Questions /
comments
@TechCzech

4. Presentation on j.mp/oer-accessibility

5. Projects:
iLearnRW, Load2Learn

6. Accessibility
needs

7. Listen to books (narrated / text to
speech)

8. Change the look of text, images, etc.

9. Navigate using outlines and maps

10. Simplify text or make other changes

11. Current licensing
regime (UK)

12. Print disability license allows
modification of copyrighted
works for persons with a
Print Disability (visual,
cognitive physical).

13. Load2Learn makes textbooks available in
accessible formats (Word, ePub) under
CLA Print Disability Licence

14. Excludes EAL, deaf users
Excludes modification of
content
Excludes use by non-Print
Disabled users for personal
preference

15. Students love to customise
everything.

16. Inclusion = Don’t stand out!

17. If all students would use
modified documents, those
who really need it would not
stand out and be more likely
to take advantage of
assistive technologies.

18. Image credits

19. Black Sheep surrounded by Leon Riskin CC BY
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ionics/6338284584

20. Thank you
@TechCzech