Next (or first) Steps
Remediating course content to meet the new ADA technical standards can feel overwhelming, but you have time to make meaningful progress before the April 2026 deadline. Start by reviewing the instructional materials in your Spring 2025 courses and identify items that may need attention.
A practical approach is to tackle one module at a time:
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Review what’s already in your course and remove materials you no longer plan to use.
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Remediate accessibility issues in files and activities you plan to keep.
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Replace inaccessible materials when possible. For example, if you have a scanned image PDF, check whether an accessible HTML or text-based version is available through the library or publisher.
Each small step moves your course closer to full accessibility compliance and a better experience for all students.
Digital Accessibility & Distance Education’s Role
Distance Education is committed to helping faculty create digital instructional content that meets WCAG 2.2 Level AA standards as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). While we strive to support all faculty, accessibility needs can vary greatly across disciplines. Our small team of five dedicated instructional design professionals provides guidance, training, and resources to help you move toward compliance. We encourage each academic unit to collaborate internally and use the resources provided to identify solutions that best meet your program’s specific accessibility needs.
WCAG Quick Reference (opens new window) - A customizable, interactive reference to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 / 2.1 / 2.2. Use filters (by level, technique, tag, or technology) to see only the success criteria and implementation techniques you need.
WAVE browser extension (opens new window)- A popular tool (available for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge) that helps you identify accessibility issues directly on web pages—color contrast, missing alt text, ARIA errors, and more.
Quality Matters Accessibility & Usability Resource Site (opens new window)- A curated hub of articles, guidelines, tools, and best practices focused on improving accessibility and usability in education and online learning environments.