UNI Digital Accessibility Approach

The University of Northern Iowa is building a coordinated approach to digital accessibility that supports steady progress across departments while ensuring access to university programs and services.

Updated regulations under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) require public universities to ensure that their digital content and services are accessible. Beginning April 24, 2026, the digital services universities provide must meet these accessibility expectations.

Because digital content is created and updated every day, accessibility is an ongoing responsibility across the university.

UNI’s strategy focuses on helping departments understand what they have, prioritize the most important work, and build accessibility into everyday processes moving forward.

How UNI Is Approaching Digital Accessibility

Assess

Start by understanding the digital content and systems your unit uses to communicate information or deliver services.

This may include:

Department websites and web applications
Course materials or instructional platforms
Digital documents and downloadable files
Software tools or third-party applications
Videos, recordings, or multimedia content

Departments should identify which content and systems are actively used and consider whether accessibility improvements may be needed.

Prioritize

Not all digital content needs to be addressed at the same time. Departments should focus first on content that is actively used to support instruction, communication, or access to university programs and services.

Examples of high-priority content include:

High-traffic websites and frequently used online services
Course materials used in current instruction
Forms, applications, or tools required to complete university processes
Public-facing communications or essential information

Focusing on the most widely used or impactful content helps departments make meaningful progress while building long-term accessibility practices.

Improve & Maintain

Accessibility improvements should be incorporated into normal content management and technology processes.

Departments can support this work by:

Addressing accessibility issues when updating existing content
Creating new content using accessible templates and practices
Using accessibility tools available in UNI platforms
Including accessibility considerations when selecting digital tools or vendors
Encouraging training and awareness among content creators

Over time, these practices help ensure that accessibility is built into UNI’s digital environment rather than addressed only after problems arise.

Support for Departments

UNI provides resources to support departments as they work to improve accessibility.

These include:

Digital Accessibility Basics and Best Practices Guide
Digital Accessibility FAQs
Accessibility tools integrated into UNI platforms
Consultation for complex accessibility questions

Departments are encouraged to use these resources to guide planning, prioritize improvements, and integrate accessibility into regular workflows.

Accessibility in Procurement and Technology Decisions

Accessibility should also be considered when selecting or renewing digital tools, applications, or platforms.

When possible, departments should:

Review vendor accessibility documentation
Consider accessibility during product selection
Work with vendors to address accessibility gaps when feasible

Even when digital systems are provided by vendors, the university remains responsible for ensuring that people can access its programs and services.

Continuous Improvement

UNI will continue expanding guidance, training, and tools while working with departments to identify and address accessibility barriers over time. Progress will be supported through campus coordination, shared practices, and continued collaboration.

Accessibility Tools for Compliance

Here’s what digital accessibility looks like across UNI, why it matters, and tools to help you make your content accessible and compliant.

General Accessibility

Digital accessibility ensures every Panther can fully participate in learning and campus life. It supports student success, reflects UNI’s commitment to equity and keeps us in compliance with federal law. Accessible content isn’t just required — it makes our digital spaces clearer, more usable and better for everyone.

Compliance tools:

Key Points of the New Title II Rule

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Version 2.1 is now the official technical standard for web content and mobile apps for state and local governments.
The WCAG standard applies to all web content and mobile apps provided or made available by UNI, including any created and/or managed by third parties.
The deadline for full compliance for UNI is April 2026.
Limited exceptions are specified in the ruling, mainly pertaining to archived materials and pre-existing conventional electronic documents.

The charge of the Title II Team is to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to ensure UNI’s digital content meets new ADA Title II rules including required Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) (Version 2.1 Level AA) by April 2026.

Guiding Principles for UNI Compliance

Focus on areas that have the greatest impact with the resources available.
Use a user centered approach in all efforts.
Create sustainable solutions.
Provide clear communication to the campus community.

Steps to Compliance

Assess Needs: Identify/Inventory Systems and Content (see Iowa’s template)
1. Identify systems needing a compliance plan (create plan)
2. Identify systems that have a plan underway (review plan)
3. For systems/content managed externally, ensure plans are in place
4. Add new systems and content as they are discovered
Prioritize Needs: Create Prioritization Framework based on
1. Usage and importance of the content/system
2. Current level of accessibility
3. Complexity of required remediation
4. Available resources for the specific work needed
Remediate: Establish Systematic Approach to Remediate Identified Needs
1. Adhere to WCAG standards
2. Train content creators on required standards
3. Create/implement tools and processes for ongoing testing for accessibility
4. Engage with third party vendors to ensure compliance
5. Ensure procurement process is compliant with adoption of required standards
Exceptions: Develop/Implement Procedures for Evaluating/Tracking Exceptions
1. Archived web content
2. Pre-existing conventional electronic documents
3. Individualized, password-protected documents
Monitoring: Implement Auditing and Testing Procedures
1. Ensure ongoing compliance
2. Review feedback mechanisms for users to report accessibility issues
3. Make improvements as needs are identified
Policy/Governance: Assure Ongoing Campus-wide Compliance
1. Review policies and procedures on digital accessibility and update as needed
2. Establish accountability roles and responsibilities for maintaining accessibility
3. Develop procurement guidelines to ensure new services meet standards
Communication: Develop/Implement Campus-Wide Communication Plan
1. Review the ruling and how it will impact campus units
2. Outline changes being made to meet and maintain compliance standards
3. Generate buy-in and support to ensure success
Timeline/Reporting: Establish Timeline for Progress Reports to Stakeholders/Cabinet
Resources: Identify Additional Resources Necessary for Compliance
1. Provide details of any additional resources needed to meet deadline
2. Provide details of any additional resources needed for sustainability