Web Accessibility at UNI

University websites are one of the primary ways the University of Northern Iowa provides information, services, and programs to students, employees, and the public. Ensuring that websites are accessible helps everyone obtain information and complete tasks regardless of disability.

The Title II web and mobile application rule requires covered web content UNI provides or makes available, including through vendors, to meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA beginning April 26, 2027.

Accessibility is an ongoing part of maintaining university websites. Departments that create or manage web content share responsibility for ensuring that information published online follows accessibility best practices.

Digital Accessibility at the University of Northern Iowa

Websites at UNI

Most university websites are created using Drupal, UNI’s web content management system.

Drupal templates and components are designed to support accessible website structure. However, accessibility also depends on how content is written and maintained by editors across campus.

Departments that manage websites are responsible for the accessibility of content they publish and maintain. The same expectation applies to UNI web content hosted outside Drupal or provided through a vendor. Issues with shared templates or platform features should be routed to the team that manages those components.

Accessibility Tools for UNI Websites

UNI provides several tools to help identify and address accessibility issues.

Editoria11y

Provides accessibility feedback directly within Drupal while editing content.

Siteimprove

Provides automated accessibility scanning and reporting for university websites.

WAVE

A web accessibility evaluation tool used for manual testing and review.

These tools help identify common issues but do not replace thoughtful content design.

Creating Accessible Web Content

Most web accessibility issues can be avoided by following a few common practices when creating or updating content.

Examples include:

  • Add alternative text to images
  • Use headings to structure content
  • Write descriptive link text
  • Ensure sufficient color contrast
  • Caption video content

Detailed guidance is available in the Digital Accessibility Basics and Best Practice Guides.

Getting Help

Your department is responsible for updating the content it publishes. Automated checks help find common issues, but they do not catch every barrier. Submit a Service Hub request for guidance or help with a technical issue. If someone cannot use a page or form, work with the responsible owner to provide access promptly while the issue is addressed. If you need help improving accessibility on a UNI website, you can:

Submit a Service Hub request for assistance if additional help is needed.