Check your next document
Before sharing any Word or PowerPoint file, go toReview Check Accessibilityand fix the top issues.
5 minStart here: 3 things you can do today
No expertise needed. Each action takes 5 minutes or less and makes a real difference.
Try keyboard-only navigation
Put your mouse aside and Tab through a webpage. Can you reach everything? Is focus visible? This is how many users navigate.
3 minAdd alt text to an image
Right-click any image in a document or on your website. Add a brief description of what it shows. Screen readers announce this.
30 secWhat is digital accessibility?
Digital accessibility means designing and building websites, applications, documents, and digital content so thateveryone can perceive, understand, navigate, and interactwith them—regardless of ability or disability.
This includes people who:
- Use screen readers(e.g., JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver) due to blindness or low vision
- Navigate with keyboards onlydue to motor disabilities or preferences
- Rely on captionsfor video content due to deafness or hearing loss
- Benefit from clear, simple languagedue to cognitive differences or learning disabilities
- Use magnification or high contrastdue to low vision
- Experience temporary impairmentslike a broken arm or situational challenges like bright sunlight
Key insight:Accessibility benefits everyone. Captions help non-native speakers. Keyboard navigation helps power users. Clear content helps everyone under stress.
Why accessibility matters
Educational equity
Every student deserves equal access to course materials, learning platforms, and academic resources—without having to ask for special treatment.
Legal compliance
Title II of the ADA requires public universities to provide accessible digital experiences. Non-compliance results in complaints, lawsuits, and reputational damage.
Better design
Accessible design is better design. Constraints breed creativity, and inclusive products work better for everyone.
WCAG 2.2: The global standard
TheWeb Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)are the international standard for digital accessibility. Arizona aligns toWCAG 2.2 Level AA.
WCAG is organized around four principles—often calledPOUR:
| Principle | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Perceivable | Content must be presentable in ways users can perceive | Images have alt text; videos have captions |
| Operable | Users must be able to operate the interface | All features work with keyboard; no time limits without controls |
| Understandable | Content and operation must be understandable | Clear labels; predictable navigation; error messages explain fixes |
| Robust | Content must work with current and future technologies | Valid HTML; proper ARIA usage; compatibility with assistive tech |
Title II and the April 2026 deadline
In April 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice published theTitle II Web and Mobile Accessibility Rule, requiring state and local government entities—including public universities—to make web content and mobile apps accessible.
Key deadlines for Arizona
- April 24, 2026:All public-facing web content and mobile apps must conform to WCAG 2.1 Level AA
- Internal systems:Must also meet accessibility standards
- Archived content:Limited exceptions with specific criteria
Quick wins: Start here
You don't need to be an expert to make a difference. These five actions address the most common accessibility issues:
-
Add alt text to images
Describe what the image conveys. If it's decorative, mark it as such. If it's complex (like a chart), provide a longer description. -
Use real headings
Don't just make text bold and big. Use Heading 1, Heading 2, etc. This creates a navigable structure for screen reader users. -
Write descriptive link text
Instead of "Click here," write "Download the 2026 accessibility report (PDF)." Links should make sense out of context. -
Ensure color contrast
Text should have at least 4.5:1 contrast ratio against its background. Use theWebAIM Contrast Checkerto verify. -
Add captions to videos
Auto-captions are a start, but must be reviewed and corrected. Target 99% accuracy for educational content.
How to test for accessibility
Accessibility testing combines automated tools with manual review:
Automated testing
Tools likeaxe DevTools,WAVE, andAccessibility Insightscatch about 30-40% of accessibility issues—things like missing alt text, low contrast, and missing form labels.
Manual testing
Keyboard testing:Can you complete all tasks using only Tab, Enter, Space, and arrow keys?
Screen reader testing:Does content make sense when read aloud by NVDA, JAWS, or VoiceOver?
Remember:Automated tools are necessary but not sufficient. A page can pass all automated tests and still be inaccessible.
Common assistive technologies
Understanding how people use assistive technology helps you build better experiences:
| Technology | Used by | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| Screen readers | Blind and low vision users | Reads content aloud and announces interface elements; navigates via headings, landmarks, and links |
| Screen magnifiers | Low vision users | Enlarges portions of the screen; users see only part of the page at once |
| Speech recognition | Motor disability users | Controls computer with voice commands; requires visible, named interface elements |
| Switch devices | Users with severe motor disabilities | Limited buttons to navigate sequentially; requires efficient keyboard navigation |
| Braille displays | Deafblind users | Converts text to refreshable braille; requires properly structured content |
Common myths debunked
Myth: "Accessibility is only for blind users"
Reality: Accessibility benefits people with many different disabilities—motor, cognitive, hearing, visual—as well as people using mobile devices, slow connections, or dealing with temporary situations like a broken arm or bright sunlight.
Myth: "Accessibility is expensive and time-consuming"
Reality: Building accessibility in from the start adds minimal cost. Retrofitting inaccessible content is expensive. The most cost-effective approach is to do it right the first time.
Myth: "No one with disabilities uses our site"
Reality: About 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. has a disability. Many disabilities are invisible. If your site is inaccessible, people with disabilities simply can't use it—so you wouldn't know they tried.
Myth: "AI/automation will solve accessibility"
Reality: AI tools help with some tasks (like generating alt text drafts), but human judgment is still essential. Automated testing catches only 30-40% of issues. Overlays and widgets that claim to "fix" accessibility often make things worse.
Learn from the source
We curate and simplify—these organizations set the standards. Bookmark them for deep dives.
Standards & Guidelines
- W3C WCAG 2.2– The global standard
- W3C: Intro to Accessibility
- ADA.gov Web Guidance
Learning Resources
At Arizona
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