Following the April 2024 update to Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, public universities are required to ensure that all digital content is fully accessible to all individuals by April 2026.
Digital accessibility for all students, faculty and staff aligns with the University’s mission to provide a supportive learning environment for everyone, including those with disabilities. Making sure all UA digital content is fully accessible is the responsibility of all employees as we move forward together in the ever-evolving digital age.
All course content, websites and UA programs and services are required to comply with the new requirements. This includes but is not limited to:
- Website content
- Social media, including registered student organizations
- Attached documents, including office event invitations
- Password-protected content
- Content and services provided by third-party vendors
Digital accessibility not only provides a user-friendly experience for all but also sets everyone up for success. A few examples of how Title II requirements can help all of us are below.
- Placing captions on videos are not only vital for those who are deaf or hard of hearing but can also be helpful for anyone watching a video in a loud space.
- Describing images used in a social media post is required to get the content to those who are blind or have low vision and can also be useful for someone on a slower internet connection.
- Making sure charts and graphs are clearly understood in grayscale, not just color, is necessary for someone with color deficiency and is a great way to make the information more understandable for all.
As the compliance deadline nears, a proactive approach is paramount as accessibility is everyone’s assignment. Trainings and resources to prepare employees for the new requirements are available on UA LMS and the Technology Accessibility website.