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.

UNI aligns its web accessibility practices with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA, the accessibility standard referenced in federal accessibility regulations.

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.

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 should ensure that new and updated content follows accessibility best practices.

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

If you need help improving accessibility on a UNI website, you can:

Review the Digital Accessibility Basics and Best Practice Guides
Use the accessibility tools available in Drupal

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