Digital Accessibility Resources

What is happening?

Federal regulations require large public entities like UC Davis to make their digital content comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The federal compliance deadline for UC Davis, including UC Davis Health, has been extended to April 26, 2027.

What is affected?

• Mobile apps (software applications on mobile devices)
• Web content (information and experiences available on the web, including text, images, audio, video, and documents)

Effectively, all digital content affiliated with UC Davis must follow WCAG 2.1.

This includes websites, digital communications, social media, software, and third-party platforms under contract (such as Canvas or parking apps).

If a vendor develops or hosts content, UC Davis remains responsible for ensuring it is compliant.

What is excluded?

• Archived web content (must be marked as archived): Content that is no longer in use and is retained only for documentation purposes.
• Pre-existing electronic documents (PDFs, Word documents, Excel files, slide decks): For example, flyers for past events, campaigns, or processes that are no longer valid. These documents must no longer be in use and be retained only for documentation purposes.
• Third-party content that is not part of a contract or license: For example, public comments on social media or student postings on Canvas.
• Individualized password-protected documents: For example, transcript files for individual students. These must be linked to a single individual. This exception does not apply to password-protected files on public websites.
• Pre-existing social media posts.

Pre-existing means content created before April 26, 2027.

If someone requests that any of the excluded content be made accessible, UC Davis is responsible for meeting that request.

What You Can Do Right Now

Make Presentation Slides Accessible

This guide outlines practical steps for creating accessible presentations in Google Slides and PowerPoint. It covers general accessibility principles—such as slide structure, readable fonts, color contrast, alt text and screen-reader navigation—along with step-by-step instructions for applying these practices in each platform. The document also includes keyboard shortcuts, explanations of why these practices matter and answers to common accessibility questions.

Basics of Slide Accessibility Document

Make Microsoft Word and Google Documents Accessible

This guide explains how to create accessible documents in Microsoft Word and Google Docs. It provides a checklist of core accessibility practices—such as using headings, readable fonts, meaningful hyperlinks, alt text and properly structured tables—along with step-by-step instructions for applying these features in each platform. The document also answers common questions about testing accessibility, formatting and sharing files.

Basics of Word/Google Doc Accessibility Document

Learn How to Make Your Website Accessible

The CBS Dean's Office offers free support to help faculty migrate lab websites to SiteFarm, UC Davis's official web platform. SiteFarm provides improved security, accessibility tools, campus branding alignment, and long-term site continuity. The college web team can assist with site audits, content migration, redesign, redirects, and ongoing support. Faculty can also access new digital accessibility resources, including a recorded webinar featuring campus experts covering accessibility requirements and practical strategies for maintaining accessible web content.

Faculty Lab Website Information and Webinar

Make Videos in AggieVideo and YouTube Accessible

This guide explains how to make videos accessible when publishing through AggieVideo and YouTube. It outlines key practices for reviewing and correcting auto-generated captions—such as identifying speakers, labeling sounds and ensuring accurate timing, spelling and punctuation—to meet accessibility standards. The document also provides step-by-step instructions for editing captions in each platform and answers common questions about captioning and sharing video content.

Basics of Video Accessibility Document

Helpful Tips and Resources

Review UC ANR Accessibility Weekly Tips
These resources highlight quick, actionable changes you can make immediately to move toward digital accessibility compliance.

Attend a Digital Accessibility Training for UC Davis Staff and Faculty
These training sessions for faculty and staff cover steps you can take to help ensure course materials, email communications, presentation slides and other pieces comply with the upcoming requirements.

Take Questions to Digital Accessibility Office Hours 
You can attend first-come, first-served recurring office hours on Wednesdays at 10:00am with the UC Davis Digital Accessibility Program Manager, who can address questions one-on-one.

The Wheel Instructional Technology Blog

Maintained by Academic Technology Services, The Wheel offers practical guidance on teaching tools, digital pedagogy and course design, including many articles focused on accessibility in teaching and learning. 

• Accessibility Guide for Teaching and Presenting
  Practical recommendations for making classes and presentations more accessible, whether delivered in person, remotely or asynchronously.
• Quick Access Articles
  These blogs highlight practical strategies to help instructors prepare accessible surveys and quizzes, improve document accessibility and integrate inclusive practices into digital teaching tools.
• VIDEO: Alt Text Accessibility — Katie Healey
  This 20-minute session explores how instructors can use generative AI to help draft effective alt text for images used in lectures, Canvas and other course materials.
• VIDEO: SensusAccess Inside — Joshua Hori
  This session introduces SensusAccess Inside Canvas, a tool that allows students to convert course materials into a variety of accessible formats directly within Canvas. It also highlights BeelineReader, which uses color gradients to guide reading flow.
• VIDEO: Canvas and Accessibility — Joshua Hori
  This session explores Canvas’s built-in Accessibility Checker and the types of issues it can identify, including heading structure, alt text, color contrast and link labeling. It also highlights the tool’s limitations and shares practical strategies to ensure materials are compliant.