With diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) becoming a relevant issue on campuses across the country, colleges and universities are looking for more ways to be more welcoming to students of diverse ethnicities, social backgrounds, and gender orientations. In addition, student bodies, faculty, and administrators are starting to demand more accommodations for individuals with disabilities.
These accommodations go beyond physical infrastructure such as curb cuts, ramps, or elevators. With the emergence of distance learning and online courses, web accessibility has also become a priority. Let’s discuss the basics of web accessibility and how one can build a culture of web accessibility on and off campus.
What is web accessibility?
The phrase “web accessibility” refers to best practices that make using the internet easier and more convenient for individuals with disabilities. These individuals might have visual impairments, issues with hearing, injuries or conditions that limit their mobility, or cognitive impairments such as dyslexia.
Individuals with these disabilities need special accommodations to help them perform typical tasks online, such as reading articles, watching videos, filling out forms, or buying items. In the academic setting, students with disabilities need help perceiving and understanding course material and interacting with professors, fellow students, and administrators.
The most commonly accepted web accessibility standard is the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), most recently updated in 2023. The WCAG contains success criteria that determine the accessibility of a website, app, or other digital content. For example, the WCAG recommends a color contrast ratio of 4.5:1 between text content and its background. It also requires that alt text be added to images. These requirements seek to make websites more readable, usable, and compatible with assistive technologies like screen readers. The WCAG is also the reference for most accessibility laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
How to build a culture of web accessibility within an institution
Making an institution more accessible doesn’t take place overnight. It requires careful planning, execution, and follow-through. More importantly, though, it needs empathy for individuals with disabilities and the willingness to engage with people of all backgrounds. Here are a few steps your college can take to build a culture of accessibility.
Identify key accessibility stakeholders
No matter how well-intentioned your initiatives are, they are bound to flounder if they don’t consider the people who need accessibility most – individuals with physical disabilities, students and faculty with cognitive impairments, the elderly, and other users who might require accommodations. Before you embark on anything, you need to involve these stakeholders in your planning as they are in the best position to identify areas for improvement in existing digital infrastructure and content. You must also involve your institution’s legal and compliance teams, instructional designers, and web developers to address regulatory requirements, particularly under the ADA.
Conduct periodic accessibility assessments
Performing accessibility audits is the most efficient way of determining your institution’s digital accessibility posture. These assessments involve multiple testing methods. First, automated testing uses an accessibility scanner that identifies potential WCAG violations at the code level. Second, manual testing confirms that certain accessibility elements, such as alt text, are present and accurate. Third, functional testing involves individuals who try to browse a website or perform online tasks such as filling up a form using only a keyboard or screen reader. These assessments will give you a good idea of the items to remediate or improve.
Educate staff and students about digital accessibility
Fostering a culture of accessibility is not just the responsibility of web developers or the legal department; it’s everyone’s responsibility! Conducting regular educational sessions about digital accessibility will raise awareness of the need for more inclusive digital spaces. These sessions will also encourage the community to speak up whenever they encounter learning content or websites that are not accessible. These are values that your students will carry with them long after they have graduated and joined the workforce.
Web accessibility: Opening doors to everyone
A university community is more than just faculty, staff, students, and alumni. It also includes other sectors outside the campus, including informal learners and other individuals who can benefit from the university’s learning material and other projects. When building websites and learning content, always consider digital accessibility as a key guiding principle. Making your digital presence accessible will not just benefit individuals with disabilities; it will also make learning and making an impact on the world easier and more convenient for everyone.