Accessible Teaching Materials
- Over 1 in 4 adults (28.7%) in the United States have a disability (Disability Impacts All of Us Infographic).
- 29% of adults in Texas have a disability (Disability and Health Data System: Texas Disability Estimates).
- Many students do not report their disability.
- Some students might not know they have a disability affecting their learning.
The April 2024 update to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) aims to help these students access education without needing to disclose their disabilities. Title II of the ADA states all digital teaching materials should conform with WCAG 2.1 A and AA requirements by April 24, 2026:
- Online meetings and presentations should follow accessibility guidelines for video content and Online Meeting Etiquette where audience participation is allowed.
- Electronic documents (e.g., Word, PowerPoint, Excel, PDF) should follow accessible document guidelines.
- Online courses using Articulate (or TrainTraq) should follow the accessibility checklist for Storyline 360.
- Education technology (EdTech) must meet WCAG 2.1 standards. Faculty should inform companies that accessibility is a university priority.
More information is available in the Quick Guides below and by Digital Learning and Academic Innovation (DLAI).
Accommodations Requests
It is important to give the audience a chance to request accommodations before online events like meetings, conferences, classes, etc., to ensure inclusivity and accessibility.
- Students should reach out to Disability Services for accommodations needed for classroom, lab, and exam activities, whether online or in-person.
- Before each online event, provide a notification such as: "To request disability-related accommodations, please contact [email address] or call [phone number]." This ensures there is enough time to address accommodation needs.
Tutorial
Online Learning Course on Accessible Materials & Technologies is produced by the National Center on Accessible Educational Materials at CAST through Canvas.