CamelTracks to Accessibility Training Series
CamelTracks is a strategic initiative to embed accessibility and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) into the fabric of our academic culture. This yearlong journey is designed to equip faculty and staff with the knowledge, tools, and support needed to create inclusive, engaging, and legally compliant digital content and learning environments.
Join Academic Technology in a series of trainings targeted to digital accessibility and WCAG 2.1 AA. Register on our site under Training Sessions
Check out our CU Guide to using Blackboard Ally for ideas to improve course document accessibility.
Resources
Accessible.org – Understanding WCAG 2.1 AA for ADA WCAG 2.1 AA Compliance
NCDPI – Understanding the ADA Title II Ruling
Mistakes I Used to Make in Digital Accessibility – And How to Fix Them by Tolulope Noah
About Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are a set of international standards developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) to provide a shared standard for web content accessibility that meets the needs of individuals, organizations, and governments internationally. WCAG 2.1 AA outlines a comprehensive set of success criteria designed to make web content more accessible to people with a wide range of disabilities, including visual, auditory, physical, speech, cognitive, language, learning, and neurological disabilities.
Key Principles of WCAG 2.1
- Perceivable: Information and user interface components must be presentable to users in ways they can perceive. This means providing text alternatives for non-text content, captions for audio, and making content distinguishable.
- Operable: User interface components and navigation must be operable. This includes making all functionality available from a keyboard, giving users enough time to read and use content, and helping users navigate and find content.
- Understandable: Information and the operation of user interface must be understandable. This involves making text readable and understandable, making web pages appear and operate in predictable ways, and helping users avoid and correct mistakes.
- Robust: Content must be robust enough that it can be interpreted reliably by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies. This means maximizing compatibility with current and future user agents.
Why Accessibility Matters
Digital accessibility is not just a legal requirement but also a fundamental aspect of inclusive design. By making web content accessible, we ensure that everyone, regardless of their abilities, can access and interact with information, education, and services online. This fosters an equitable digital environment and enhances the user experience for all.
Resources and Support
For more information on WCAG 2.1 and digital accessibility, please refer to the following resources: