Accessible digital content is essential to ensuring that all students and other users can fully engage with instructional materials, regardless of ability. Accessibility is not an optional enhancement—it is a shared responsibility that supports equity, usability, and compliance with federal standards. The resources below are designed to help faculty and staff create inclusive content that meets both pedagogical goals and accessibility expectations. Information Technology (IT) offers workshops and consultations to assist faculty and staff with developing accessible digital content.
IT accessibility recommendations are based on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Recent revisions to federal ADA regulations now formally align compliance expectations with WCAG 2.1, Level AA.
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Accessibility Articles
Accessibility Workshop Recordings
Accessibility workshops provide practical guidance on creating digital content that is usable by the widest possible audience. These recordings support ongoing professional development and allow faculty and staff to learn at their own pace. By engaging with accessibility training, content creators gain a stronger understanding of how design decisions impact user comprehension, navigation, and overall learning success.
For additional video content, see our Digital Accessibility LinkedIn Learning collection. Access to LinkedIn Learning is provided with your GGC account.
PDF files present unique accessibility challenges and should be used only when there is a clear instructional reason. When PDFs are unavoidable, care must be taken to ensure they are readable by assistive technologies such as screen readers. Whenever possible, alternative formats should be offered to reduce barriers and provide users with flexible access to materials. Consult Kaufman Library staff to help identify more accessible materials.
Microsoft Office
Microsoft 365
Microsoft 365 applications include built-in tools that support accessible content creation. Using these tools proactively helps prevent accessibility issues before they reach users.
PowerPoint
Accessible slide design improves comprehension for all audiences, including those using screen readers or alternative navigation methods. Applying accessible templates, maintaining logical reading order, and providing descriptive alternative text ensures that visual information is conveyed clearly and consistently. Thoughtful slide design also benefits audiences that are viewing presentations on smaller screens or in low-bandwidth environments.
Word
Microsoft Word includes an accessibility checker that should be integrated into the writing process. Structuring documents with proper headings, meaningful links, and readable layouts improves navigation and understanding for assistive technology users. Accessible documents are easier to revise, share, and reuse while supporting diverse learning needs.
Teams and Outlook
Live captions and accessible email settings support inclusive communication. Captions benefit participants who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as those attending meetings in noisy or shared environments. Accessible email formatting improves readability across devices and ensures that critical information is not lost due to visual or structural barriers.
Multimedia
Images
Images should serve a clear instructional purpose and include descriptive alternative text. Alternative text allows screen reader users to understand the meaning and context of visual content. Well-written descriptions enhance comprehension and ensure that images contribute to learning rather than creating barriers.
Tables
Tables must be structured in a way that allows assistive technologies to interpret relationships between data correctly. Proper headers and logical organization ensure that information remains meaningful when accessed non-visually. Accessible tables support clarity, comprehension, and data accuracy for all users.
Video
Creating Video Content
Accessible video content minimizes cognitive and physical strain for viewers. Avoiding flashing imagery reduces the risk of seizure, while clear audio and deliberate pacing improve understanding for all audiences. Thoughtful production choices also enhance the accuracy of automated captions and support audiences who rely on playback controls to manage learning speed.
Publishing Video Content
Videos that include audio must provide captions and/or transcripts. Captions support learners who are deaf or hard of hearing and benefit non-native speakers, multitasking viewers, and those reviewing content in sound-sensitive environments. Providing transcripts further increases accessibility by allowing audiences to review material in text-based formats.
MyCourses
Panorama
Panorama is a critical tool for identifying and addressing accessibility issues within MyCourses. By providing detailed reports and remediation guidance, Panorama helps instructors understand not only what needs to be fixed, but why accessibility matters. This insight promotes long-term improvements in course design and reinforces inclusive teaching practices.
Zoom
Zoom accessibility features support inclusive participation in live meetings and instruction. Captioning, interpreter views, and transcript options ensure that all participants can engage meaningfully, regardless of hearing ability or learning preference. Using these features proactively fosters a more welcoming and equitable virtual environment.
Knowledge base Articles
- Zoom: Manage captioning display options during meeting
- Zoom: Enable manual captioning (Host)
- Zoom: Sign Language Interpreter View (Student)
- Zoom: Enable Sign Language Interpreter View (Instructor)
- Zoom: Enable live captions
- Zoom: Save Captions
- Zoom: Request closed captions (live transcript) as a meeting attendee
Equation Editor
When including mathematical content, use the Graphical Equation Editor within the MyCourses HTML editor. The Equation Editor supports MathML, LaTeX, graphical, and chemistry equations.
Knowledge base Articles
Default Interface Experience
Providing students with a consistent learning experience is important. An overlooked part of that experience is knowing where and how to locate tools and resources in MyCourses. Using the default navigation bar is recommended to provide a more consistent layout and interface for students. It also ensures that all default links in the navigation bar are current, reducing the need for instructors to check and replace broken links.
Knowledge base Articles
Additional Resources
Valuable External Resources
Government
- ADA.gov – Fact Sheet: New Rule on the Accessibility of Web Content and Mobile Apps Provided by State and Local Governments
- Bureau of Internet Accessibility – Are QR Codes Accessible for People with Disabilities?
- Section508.gov – Practical Reasons for Digital Accessibility: The benefits of digital accessibility and the risks and drawbacks of inaccessible content
- Digital.gov – Accessibility
Microsoft
World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)
Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI)
- Introduction to Web Accessibility
- How People with Disabilities Use the Web
- Mobile Accessibility at W3C
- Evaluating Web Accessibility Overview
- Tips for Getting Started
- Easy Checks – A First Review of Web Accessibility
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
WebAIM
GGC Disability Services
For additional information on accommodations, request forms, and contact information, review the Disability Services webpage.