ℹ️ Designing Accessible Materials: Creating equitable, engaging, and compliant experiences

A Welcoming Note to Faculty and Staff

At St. Cloud State University, we are committed to ensuring that all students can fully engage in learning. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II requires public universities to provide accessible digital materials. Beyond compliance, accessibility is about designing with empathy and excellence.

Key Principles for Accessible Material Design

Create Accessible Documents, Presentations, and Courses

  • Use the built-in Accessibility Checker in Microsoft 365.
  • Provide documents in formats that work with assistive technologies (avoid scanned PDFs without Optical Character Recognition).
  • Use the provided tools (e.g., Microsoft 365, Brightspace, Zoom, Mediaspace) and templates (e.g., Microsoft 365, Brightspace) to ensure accessible defaults.

Make Text Clear and Readable

  • Use 12-point or larger sans-serif fonts (e.g., Calibri, Arial, Roboto) for body text.
  • Use meaningful headings (Heading 1, Heading 2) in Word, PowerPoint, or OneNote for structure and screen readers.
  • Choose high-contrast color combinations and avoid relying on color alone to convey meaning.

Provide Alternative Text for Images

  • Add concise, descriptive alt text to all images, charts, and graphics in Word, PowerPoint, and OneDrive documents.
  • For decorative images, mark as “decorative” so they are skipped by screen readers.
  • When possible, avoid relying on images and graphics alone to convey meaning.

Ensure Audio and Video Are Accessible

  • Use captions and, where possible, transcripts for recorded lectures and media.
  • Conduct human review of all AV Materials for accurate captions and transcripts.

Design for Keyboard Navigation and Reading Order

  • Test tab order, links, buttons for keyboard accessibility.
  • Ensure headings, text, images, and media are sequences in materials so they are read by Screen Readers in the intended order.

Why It Matters

Accessible materials are not just about meeting ADA Title II obligations, they improve usability for all students, including those learning on mobile devices, in low-bandwidth settings, or in noisy environments. Accessibility is a cornerstone of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), helping you create courses that are flexible, inclusive, and effective.

What can you do now to build foundational knowledge?

 

Quick Steps in Microsoft 365

  1. Run the Accessibility Checker: Review and resolve flagged issues before publishing.
  2. Add Alt Text: Right-click an image → Edit Alt Text.
  3. Use Captions: Enable captions in PowerPoint, Zoom, or Mediaspace.
  4. Structure Content: Apply heading styles, bulleted/numbered lists, and descriptive link text.

 

Need Support?

The Director of Student Accessibility Services and the Director of SCSU Online are coordinating the efforts around professional development, training, and department needs. If you need scheduled support or have questions, feel free to reach out:

Molly Tast, Director of Student Accessibility Services
molly.tast@stcloudstate.edu

Dave Blanchard, Director of SCSU Online and Distance Learning
dlblanchard@stcloudstate.edu

Together, we can design learning experiences where every student can participate fully and succeed.

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