KU’s Responsibility to Maintain Accessible Digital Content for All

Colleagues,

Digital accessibility ensures that everyone — regardless of ability — can access and engage with online content, tools and resources. The University of Kansas is committed to ensuring our digital environment is accessible to individuals with diverse learning needs, including those who use screen readers, rely on keyboard navigation, or experience cognitive, auditory or visual challenges.

Beginning April 24, updated federal regulations require a higher standard of digital accessibility of online content. The Department of Justice outlined these requirements in a fact sheet for state and local governments. The changes require us to ensure that all digital content is accessible before it is published or distributed.

Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act requires that state and local governments ensure services, programs and activities, including digital content, are accessible to individuals with disabilities. WCAG 2.1 Level AA specifies the standards websites must meet to be considered accessible.

Digital content includes:

If you create or manage digital content — or you have management or supervisory responsibility for content within your unit — you must ensure content meets Title II and WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards. Examples include:

Groups throughout the university have collaborated to plan and prepare guidance, training and other support resources. Available online resources include:

One-on-one support is available by submitting a Help Desk ticket, or during Accessibility Team office hours:

Additional course-related support information will be shared in a message to instructors from Provost Mafi. 

Digital accessibility ensures that every person can access, understand and interact with online content, tools and learning resources. When we design with accessibility in mind, we support not only individuals with disabilities, but also the wide range of learners who benefit from clearer navigation, flexible formats and more user-friendly digital spaces. 

As noted above, under ADA Title II and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, public institutions must ensure that digital materials are usable by individuals with disabilities. Failing to meet these standards can result in complaints, legal consequences and damage to institutional trust. Most importantly, inaccessible materials can prevent members of our community from fully participating in their learning or work.

By prioritizing accessibility, we do more than comply with the law; we build a digital ecosystem in which everyone is welcome. Thank you for your collaboration in helping ensure all users have access to the full experience in our courses, websites, electronic documents and other content and resources.

Respectfully,

Natalie

Natalie Holick 
Associate Vice Chancellor for Integrity & Compliance and
Chief Compliance Officer
nholick@ku.edu

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The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, and genetic information in the university’s programs and activities. Retaliation is also prohibited by university policy. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies and procedures and is the Title IX Coordinator for all KU and KUMC campuses: Associate Vice Chancellor for the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX, civilrights@ku.edu, Room 1082, Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045, 785-864-6414, 711 TTY. Reports can be submitted by contacting the Title IX Coordinator as provided herein or online and complaints can be submitted with the Title IX Coordinator or online.

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