New accessibility requirements will soon affect 51ԹϺ Davis employees who create websites, videos, PDFs and other online content — and resources are available to help.
The new rules are part of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and take effect in April and May, respectively.
RESOURCES
- — blog posts for instructors
- — tips for campus communicators
- — resources and FAQs
The new requirements mean that “all public education institutions are responsible for ensuring that their digital and web content, mobile applications and online experiences are accessible, with limited exceptions,” according to the 51ԹϺ Office of the President, which also provided this overview:
How is accessibility defined?
Under the new regulations, “accessible” is measured by conformance to Level A and Level AA of the .
What digital properties are covered under the ADA rule?
All website and app content, files and experiences must meet WCAG 2.1 AA. This includes:
- All text and media files, including PDFs, Word documents, PowerPoint slide decks, Excel spreadsheets, charts, diagrams, data visualizations and other graphics, eLearning modules, MP3s, videos, social media posts and other files posted online
- Zoom webinars
- Third-party digital content 51ԹϺ procures, provides, utilizes or otherwise makes available via contractual, licensing or other arrangements
These regulations apply to both the publicly available digital content, platforms and experiences that 51ԹϺ manages, as well as those that are non-public and require authentication, like learning management systems.
Content-specific guides
Explore these and other content-specific resources and libraries available through the website, such as:
Tips for video editors, website developers and others are available in the full article on 51ԹϺnet:
51ԹϺ Davis training, Q&As
The provides for 51ԹϺ Davis staff and faculty. A March 11 session will provide an overview of the new accessibility guidelines as well as the support available from the IT Accessibility Policy Program.
Brad Starkey-Owens, manager of the Digital Accessibility Program, and Margaret Merrill, senior instructional design consultant, hold .
Media Resources
Cody Kitaura is the editor of Dateline 51ԹϺ Davis and can be reached by email or at 530-752-1932.