Web accessibility to students with disabilities in an Ecuadorian university

Abstract

Introduction: this research aims to encourage the improvement of the current conditions of web accessibility of the platforms available at the Polytechnic School of Chimborazo ESPOCH for students with visual and hearing disabilities. Objectives:  to improve access to university websites by students with disabilities at the Polytechnic School of Chimborazo ESPOCH. Identify the typical characteristics of ESPOCH web accessibility for people with disabilities. Describe the components of web accessibility based on the international approaches that govern the subject from the W3C and the WCAG 2.1 guidelines. Develop an inclusive learning tool that facilitates web access for disabled people. Methodology: an investigation is conducted with a mixed qualitative and quantitative design, in which techniques were used such as the application of questionnaires aimed at teachers and students, triangulation of results and an observation sheet to evaluate each designed activity. Results:  the results showed that both teachers and students agree on the need to make adaptations to the websites of universities and higher education institutions. So that it can allow access to people with disabilities who join this house of studies and as a contribution of this work, an evaluation tool was designed for the proposal to improve the university's website. Conclusions: it was identified that in Ecuador there is a legal framework to guarantee web access of people with disabilities to university institutions, however, there is evidence of a lack of web access alternatives for students with disabilities. ESPOCH, UCE and PUCE have defined inclusive policies for people with disabilities at the higher education level, however, the three houses of study suffer from comprehensive programs that guarantee the right to education under equal conditions for those with some type of disability. A proposal for a methodology for evaluating the web accessibility of universities for people with disabilities was designed, it is proposed to develop the integration model. General study area: Information and communication technologies. Specific area of study: Information and communication technologies.