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Hello UB Accessibility Community,

In our second email focusing on the new ADA Title II regulations, we're giving you some tips on what you should be doing now to get ready. Please let us know if you have any questions.

Thank you for your work and commitment toward ensuring digital accessibility for our university community.Thank you for your work and commitment toward ensuring digital accessibility for our university community.

This month, let’s look at how the approach to digital accessibility will change with the new regulations and what you should be focusing on now.

The new regulations:

• Require that digital content be accessible from the outset. Prior to the new regs, the approach to digital accessibility focused on accommodations – meaning, if someone was unable to access content, the university could provide an accommodation or alternate content. Now, you will need to make sure your content – including course materials – is accessible as soon as you post it online.
• Specify WCAG 2.1 AA as the technical standard we need to meet.
• Clearly state what digital content is covered – websites, mobile apps, third-party content and products, social media, documents.
• Include all digital content – not just content for students

• Inventory your web content – webpages, PDFs, video and audio, social media, third-party software. This will help you determine where you need to focus your efforts.
• Use Siteimprove to get an overview of the accessibility of your website. Prioritize how and when you will fix each issue.
• Do you use PDFs? Review them and decide if you can delete any or turn them into web content.
• Determine if you and your colleagues need training. If you don’t already have a Deque University account, request one online. You may also request digital accessibility training for your department.

You may have noticed construction work on the curbs on Mary Talbert Way along the perimeter of North Campus. This is part of a current project, The North Campus Roadways Projects: Phase II, which aims to improve overall accessibility, pedestrian mobility, and safety. As part of this project, the crosswalks will be raised to be level with the sidewalks. In preparation for this work, the existing curb ramps are being replaced with raised granite curbing. In order to address temporary accessibility concerns prior to installation of the raised crosswalks, UB will provide temporary access by way of asphalt ramps between raised curbs and the street level until the raised crosswalks are constructed. The estimated timeframe for completion of the project is August 2025.

Watch your email next week for the announcement of the winners of the Digital Accessibility Advocate Awards!

May 15 is Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD)! If you're interesting in participating, .

• Discover what digital accessibility is and why it matters.
• Learn which laws and guidelines apply to your location.
• Explore how people with disabilities navigate the web.
• Get tips for championing accessibility at your organization.