Accessible Digital Content

The new DOJ (Department of Justice) Title II ruling, finalized in April 2024, requires all state and local government entities, including community colleges, to make their web content and digital services accessible to people with disabilities. By April 24, 2026, community colleges must ensure that their websites, online courses, digital documents (like PDFs and Word files), videos, and mobile apps meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA standard. This means all digital materials must be usable by those with visual, hearing, cognitive, or motor impairments, including features like alt text for images, captions for videos, and compatibility with screen readers. (WCAG 2 Overview – Including 2.1 and 2.2 / Fact Sheet)

In addition to making the content we create accessible, it is essential to ensure that any resources we select for our courses, such as websites, articles, or third-party tools like Pearson MyLab or Cengage SAM, also meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 Level AA accessibility standards. When choosing these resources, we should review their accessibility documentation, request Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates (VPATs), and verify that features like screen reader compatibility, alternative text, and accessible media are supported. This due diligence helps ensure all students have equitable access to course materials and digital learning experiences.

This ruling presents an essential opportunity for SUNY Niagara to enhance the accessibility and inclusivity of their digital content. By proactively addressing these requirements, colleges can better serve all students, foster an inclusive learning environment, and demonstrate their commitment to equal access and educational excellence. Beyond legal compliance, these efforts support a diverse student body, improve digital literacy, and help close the digital divide by ensuring that all students, regardless of ability or background, have equitable access to educational resources and opportunities.

The guides and tutorials below will guide you through the process. Word documents, PDFs, PowerPoint presentations, videos, interactive presentations, math and Brightspace are all covered. These documents are also all compiled in the Suffolk County Community College’s Guide to Accessible Document and Media Design booklet (aka ADA Compliant Design Short Guide).

To understand the importance of making digital content accessible—and how it impacts both your students and your legal responsibilities—we recommend watching the SUNY OTTER session, “Why Accessibility Matters and Developing a Plan for Content Creation & Modification.” This recording offers a clear overview of the principles of accessibility, how inaccessible content creates barriers for learners, and how recent updates to the DOJ Title II ruling reinforce the obligation for all public institutions to ensure equal access to digital materials. To view the full series…

Guides and Tutorials

SUNY & SUNY Niagara Resources

• Accessible Course Content Checklist for Faculty-SUNY Online
  • This checklist (previewed below) can be downloaded and used to guide or review accessible course content. It is currently geared towards the SUNY community and resources, however it can be customized for your own purposes.
  • Access for All Webinar Series – SUNY (YouTube Channel)
• Brightspace Course Template
  • We offer a Brightspace course template designed to support faculty in creating organized, accessible courses.
  • The template includes a “Course Materials” module to help structure content efficiently.
  • The template follows best practices in course design, ensuring accessibility and ease of use for all students.
  • Using the template promotes continuity and consistency across courses, enhancing the overall student experience.
  • Faculty can customize the template to suit their teaching style while benefiting from a clear, student-centered framework.
    
    
• Syllabus Template
  • We offer an accessible and inclusive syllabus template designed to support the diverse needs of our students. It follows best practices in accessibility and universal design, making it easier for all students to navigate.
    
    To Access & Download the
    Syllabus Template

Office of Civil Rights Video Series

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights is proud to announce a video series covering a variety of topics on digital access in education. To view the video series.

Creating Accessible Word Documents

• Create accessible documents overview
• Using the Accessibility Checker
• Improve accessibility with alt text
• Improve heading accessibility
• Accessible Fonts
• Creating accessible links
• Create accessible file names
• Create accessible tables
• Create accessible PDFs from Word documents (written tutorial)

For written tutorials, please see the webpage Make your documents accessible to people with disabilities.

Create More Accessible Excel Worksheets

• Start with an accessible Excel template
• Create more accessible tables in Excel
• Create more accessible charts in Excel

For written tutorials, please see the webpage Make your Excel documents accessible to people with disabilities.

Create accessible Microsoft PowerPoint Presentations

• Create more accessible slides
• Improve image accessibility in PowerPoint
• Use more accessible colors and styles in slides
• Design slides for people with dyslexia
• Save a presentation in a different format

For text-based tutorials, please see the webpage Make your PowerPoint presentations accessible to people with disabilities.

Create accessible PDF files

Making scanned PDF files accessible

Math Accessibility

• Guidelines for accessible math
• MathType Tutorials

Video Accessibility

• W3C – Making Audio and Video Media Accessible
• Searching for Closed Captioned Videos on YouTube
• Using YouTube to Create Captions
• Audio Description (Harvard)
• YuJa GenAI Power Pack

Interactive Presentation Accessibility

Creating Accessible Interactive Presentations

Checker for Website Accessibility

• External Website Checklist
• Use the WAVE tool to check any websites you are using in your courses.

WAVE Website Checker

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Checklist

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Key Accessibility Checks by Content Type

Download the Checklist

Word Documents

• Use built-in heading styles (Heading 1, Heading 2, etc.) for document structure.
• Use sans serif fonts (Arial, Calibri, Verdana, Tahoma, Helvetica) with a minimum size of 12pt
• Use built-in list features for bullets and numbering.
• All images, charts, and graphics have meaningful alt text.
• Tables are used only for data, with clear header rows and no merged/split cells.
• Ensure high color contrast between text and background (at least 4.5:1).
• Avoid using color alone to convey information.
• Hyperlinks use descriptive text (not “click here” or URL unless necessary).
• Run the Microsoft Accessibility Checker and resolve all issues.
• Save as a tagged PDF if sharing as PDF. Add a Title in the File Info area.
• Use readable fonts and sufficient font size.
• Avoid scanned images of text.

PDF Files

• Ensure the source document is accessible before converting.
• PDF is tagged for accessibility (headings, lists, tables, reading order).
• All images and graphics have alt text.
• Logical reading order is preserved throughout the document.
• Tables have headers and are used only for data.
• Bookmarks are included for documents over nine pages.
• All form fields are labeled and accessible.
• Sufficient color contrast for all text and backgrounds.
• Run the Adobe Acrobat Accessibility Checker and address all flagged issues.
• Avoid scanned/image-only PDFs; use selectable text.

Charts

• Provide a text summary or data table for all charts and graphs.
• All chart images have descriptive alt text summarizing the key message or trend.
• Use patterns or textures in addition to color to differentiate data points.
• Ensure chart labels and legends are clear and have sufficient contrast.
• If interactive, ensure keyboard navigation and screen reader compatibility.
• Avoid using color alone to convey meaning.
• Include chart title and axis labels.
• Data points are distinguishable for color-blind users.

Images

• Every image has descriptive alt text that conveys its purpose or content.
• Decorative images are marked as decorative (empty alt attribute).
• Infographics or complex images have a full text description nearby or linked.
• Avoid images of text; use real text whenever possible.
• Ensure images do not convey meaning through color alone.
• Use high-contrast images.
• File names are descriptive and meaningful.
• Test images with screen readers to verify alt text.

HTML Pages

• Use semantic HTML elements (headings, lists, tables, forms) for structure.
• Headings are in logical order (H1, H2, H3, etc.) and not skipped.
• All images have descriptive alt text.
• Sufficient color contrast for all text and interface elements.
• All links use descriptive text.
• All interactive elements (buttons, forms, menus) are keyboard accessible.
• Provide skip navigation links.
• No content flashes more than three times per second.
• All forms have labels and accessible error messages.
• Avoid auto-playing audio or video.
• Use the lang attribute for page language.
• Test with screen readers and keyboard navigation.

Video Content

• All videos have accurate, synchronized captions for spoken content.
• Audio descriptions are provided if visual information is needed for understanding.
• A transcript is available for audio-only and video content.
• Avoid auto-play; users must be able to start/stop video.
• Video player controls (play, pause, volume, captions) are accessible by keyboard and screen reader.
• No flashing or strobing content (no more than three flashes per second).
• Captions have sufficient contrast and are readable.
• Speaker identification and non-speech sounds are included in captions.
• Video content is high contrast and avoids patterned backgrounds.

PowerPoint Presentations

• Use built-in slide layouts and templates to ensure proper reading order and structure.
• Provide unique, descriptive titles for every slide (even if visually hidden).
• Keep slide design clean and uncluttered with sufficient white space.
• Use sans serif fonts (Arial, Calibri, Verdana, Tahoma, Helvetica) with a minimum size of 18pt (24–32pt preferred for body text).
• Ensure high color contrast between text and background (minimum 4.5:1 ratio).
• Avoid using color alone to convey meaning; supplement with text or symbols.
• Add meaningful alt text to all images, charts, and graphics; mark decorative images as decorative.
• Avoid images of text; use real text where possible.
• Provide text summaries or data tables for charts and graphs.
• Use patterns or textures in addition to color to differentiate data.
• Use tables only for data with header rows; avoid merged/split cells.
• Use descriptive hyperlink text and add ScreenTips for context.
• Set and verify logical reading order using the Selection or Reading Order pane.
• Provide captions and audio descriptions for videos; transcripts for audio content.
• Ensure multimedia controls are keyboard accessible.
• Use simple animations and transitions; avoid flashing/blinking content.
• Run the built-in Microsoft Accessibility Checker and resolve all issues.
• When exporting, save as tagged PDF and add document properties (title, author, subject).
• Test with screen readers and keyboard navigation regularly.