What is Digital Accessibility?

Digital accessibility is the practice of designing and developing digital content, applications, and services that are usable by everyone, including people with disabilities. Creating accessible content helps us all to better understand and interact with the content, learning resources, and platforms we use in our courses. Common examples of digital accessibility include:

• turning on captions as we watch video content
• using document headings to orient ourselves as we read
• turning on the text read-aloud feature or using a screen-reader for documents.

The Department of Justice's Final Rule on Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act requires that all digital content—instructional content, Canvas, webpages, apps, documents—comply with updated accessibility standards by April 2026.

What’s My Role?

All instructors need to:

• Provide accessible syllabi, readings, handouts, and class materials (e.g., documents, PowerPoint, PDFs, spreadsheets, videos, audio, images, etc.)
• Provide accessible content and activities in Canvas (e.g. Pages, Assignments, Discussions)
• Use learning technologies that are licensed and supported by the University.

You also need to consider the accessibility of other digital content, including websites you own or manage, or digital material used in research (e.g., surveys, calls for participation) and publication.

Timeline

Phase 1: Prepare (Summer 2025)

This summer prepare for digital accessibility by learning about and applying the Seven Pillars, pruning and reviewing content, and learning to check the accessibility of new content you create. The summer and fall term provide an excellent cushion of time to experiment with digital accessibility in our courses and to run a quick informal audit in Canvas.

Phase 2: Apply (Aug-Nov 2025)--coming soon

In Fall 2025, continue to apply the Seven Pillars as you prune and review existing content and get into the habit of creating content that’s accessible from the start. Add new skills to your toolkit and access available support as you encounter new questions. Experiment with low-stakes integration of digital accessibility in your Fall courses.

Phase 3: Implement and Sustain (Dec-May 2026)--coming soon

Fully implement digital accessibility as you launch Spring 2026 courses in compliance with the Title II deadline.

How do I get started?

Step 1: Explore the Seven Pillars of Course Accessibility (and How-To's)

The U.S. follows comprehensive standards to guide digital accessibility requirements. Our focus is on seven key Pillars essential for accessible course materials and learning platforms.

Spend 15 minutes each week exploring a Pillar to build confidence and smoothly integrate these practices into your preparation for the coming semester.

Pillars

Click to explore each pillar and learn to apply it in your digital material.

• Captioning and Transcribing Video and Audio
• Descriptive Links
• Headings
• Lists
• Alternative Text for Images
• Use of Color and Flashing
• Accessible Documents, Presentations, and PDFs

Specialized How To's

• Improve Email Accessibility (video)
• Accessibility Best Practices with Excel Spreadsheets (read)
• Web Development Accessibility Tutorials if developing and managing website content

Step 2: Streamline and Improve Existing Content

1. Prune Your Content. As you prepare Canvas course sites for a new semester, import ONLY the files, assessments, and other content you plan to use. Fewer files mean fewer accessibility issues to address.
2. Caption Academic Audio/Video Content. In early summer, create and/or review captions and transcripts for your audio/video course content. You can correct them yourself (see Video & Audio Pillar) or submit videos for the upcoming semester to the UVA Captioning Project (submit in early Summer to ensure sufficient time).
3. Improve the Accessibility of PDFs. PDFs can be inaccessible to users with disabilities. If your PDF is a scan of a paper document, an accessible version will be needed. Options include:
   • Replace with an accessible “html version” from a Library Database.
   • Use the Ask a Librarian Chat Box or contact your subject area Library Liaison.
   • UVA Library Access Services will provide PDF remediation support for Instructional Scanning requests beginning Fall 2025 for course related materials. For further guidance on submitting a chapter/article scan request through Virgo, please review the tutorial to place a “Scan Request for UVA Material”. Contact [email protected] with questions.  
   • For large numbers of files, plan ahead to utilize one of the following contracted vendors through UVA’s VHEAP agreement: Continual Engine or Allyant (fee-based).
   • Create accessible PDFs using Microsoft Word.
   • Convert a File using the SensusAccess tool in Canvas.

Step 3: Check the Accessibility of Content

• Use Microsoft’s built-in accessibility checker during and after creating Word documents, PowerPoints, and spreadsheets. Make Documents Accessible (Microsoft)
• Use Canvas’ accessibility checker to identify and resolve issues in your course content. How do I use the Accessibility Checker in the Rich Content Editor (Canvas)
• Use available accessibility support tools within Canvas (coming Summer ’25)