Updates to Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) will go into effect April 24, 2026, and HRSM is committed to making all digitally transmitted content accessible under the new guidelines. This applies but is not limited to:
- Websites (e.g., USC's main website and any College-specific websites)
- Course materials in Blackboard
- Emails
- Videos and presentations
- Office documents and forms
“Accessible” means content is usable by all, such as enabling screen readers to interpret content for those with low vision, or providing video captions for those with hearing impairments.
Resources at Your Fingertips
- USC's Digital Accessibility Toolbox — Step-by-Step Guides
- USC College of HRSM — Fast Four accessibility webinar
- Center for Teaching Excellence — Course Accessibility Checklist
- Communications and Marketing — Social Media Accessibility Guidelines
- The Online Learning Consortium — OLC Accessibility Toolkit
- All about Blackboard's Ally Tool
- Special helps:
- Check the color contrast (font/background) on your content with the WebAIM Color Contrast Checker (works best using the Edge Browser).
- Create alternative text for complex formulas using Latex
- For video commentary, try Audio Descriptions webpage
- Read Articles, Resources and training from Utah State University
CTE Micro-Learning Webinars
PDFs without Barriers
PDFs are one of the most common file types shared across courses and websites, but
they can also be one of the least accessible if not properly designed. This micro-workshop
explores how to create and remediate accessible PDFs, whether you’re exporting from
Word, PowerPoint, or scanning existing materials. Learn how to check PDFs for accessibility
as well as resources to address the most common errors.
Thursday, April 9 | 11:40 a.m.-12:10 p.m. | Register - PDFs
Digital Accessibility Microlearning Series on Demand (Fall 2025)
- Blackboard Ally: Making Digital Accessibility Simple
- Creating Accessible Word Documents
- Designing Accessible PowerPoint Presentations
- PDFs without Barriers
- Video Captioning and Transcription Made Easy
Your HRSM Digital Accessibility Contacts
- Web & Mobile Apps: Matt Freed
- Course Content: Tammy Macek
- Non-Course Content: Georgia Petritsis
- Social Media: Allen Wallace
- HRSM Liaison: Karen Edwards
