ADA Accessibility Compliance Overview

Designing your courses with accessibility and compliance is important for inclusivity, legal and ethical responsibilities, enhancing the learning experience for all students, and future-proofing your course.

• Inclusivity: Accessibility ensures that all students, regardless of their physical, sensory, cognitive, or technological limitations, can fully participate in and benefit from the course. This fosters an inclusive learning environment where everyone has equal opportunities to succeed.
• Legal and Ethical Responsibility: Many educational institutions are legally required to meet accessibility standards, such as those outlined in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 508. Beyond legal obligations, there is also an ethical responsibility to ensure all students can access course materials.
• Enhanced Learning Experience: Courses designed with accessibility often improve the learning experience for all students, not just those with disabilities. Clear content organization, readable text, and alternative formats (e.g., captions and transcripts) benefit everyone by offering multiple ways to engage with the material.
• Future-Proofing: Designing accessible courses from the start minimizes the need for accommodations later. This proactive approach saves time and resources, as it avoids last-minute changes that may be required to meet the needs of students with disabilities.

Let’s start by taking a closer look at ADA Compliance (Sections 508 & 504)

Read the article from UW Extension on ADA Compliance
Read the  Educause Review article covering Section 508 Refresh and what it means for higher education.