Summary
This article offers accessibility guidelines and a checklist for course materials.
Ensuring that all students, faculty, staff, and community members can access course materials and university digital content is an essential part of creating inclusive learning environments. Providing content with varied access modalities benefits all learners — not only those with documented disabilities. Designing access up front is consistently more effective than retrofitting inaccessible materials later.
Use the following guidelines and checklist when preparing and reviewing course materials, departmental web content, or digital resources.
Checklist
Video & Audio Accessibility
Does your video have captions and does your audio have transcripts?
All instructional or informational video content should include accurate captions. Audio‑only materials must include transcripts. When selecting external videos, choose sources where captions are already available. If you create your own recordings, plan captioning into your workflow early to ensure quality alignment with learning objectives.
Copyright Reminder for Media
Do not rip or copy copyrighted DVDs into your course. Use streaming services (commercial or library-supported) whenever possible.
Images & Visual Elements
Do all images include alternative text?
Any image conveying meaning must include descriptive alternative text. Decorative images should be marked as decorative so they are skipped by assistive technologies.
Documents & Course Pages
Is your document formatted for accessibility?
Use structured headings, readable text, proper lists, and accessible table formatting in documents placed in course pages. Ensure PDFs are tagged and exported accessibly.
Have you avoided using color alone to convey meaning?
Color should never be the sole indicator of emphasis, categorization, or important information. Ensure sufficient contrast between text and background colors.
Technology & Platform Considerations
Are your tools accessible across devices and input methods?
Digital content should be fully operable via keyboard to support users who cannot use a mouse or trackpad. Content should not rely on unsupported or deprecated technologies.
Have you avoided Flash‑based or inaccessible webinar formats?
Flash‑based videos or older webinar archives may not be accessible and should be replaced or avoided. Choose platforms with reliable accessibility features such as captioning, transcripts, and keyboard operability.
Links & Navigation
Are your links descriptive?
Avoid vague link text like “click here.” Use descriptive names that clearly signal where the link leads.
What’s Changing Under Title II
Recent federal regulations now require public institutions to ensure that all web content and mobile applications used to deliver programs or services meet modern accessibility standards. These standards clarify expectations for accessible course content, websites, multimedia, forms, and tools used across the institution.
Key updates you should be aware of:
- Digital content must meet recognized technical accessibility standards that include captions, transcripts, alternative text, keyboard usability, and readable document structure.
- The institution—not third‑party vendors—is responsible for ensuring accessibility of digital platforms used to provide services or instruction.
- Compliance timelines are now formally defined, requiring institutions to complete accessibility updates according to population‑based deadlines.
These updates reinforce the importance of proactively designing all digital content for accessibility.
Further Readings
Accessibility: Accessible Course Design
Video Captioning: Understanding Captioning and Caption Workflow
Kaltura: Captioning a Video
UNH Course Review Accessibility Checklist (PDF Attachment)
Campus Accessibility Resources
KSC Office of Disability Services
PSU Campus Accessibility Services
UNH Student Accessibility Services
Need additional help?
Visit the Technology Help Desk Support page to locate your local campus contact information or to submit an online technology support request. For password issues you must call or visit the Help Desk in person.