Empowering Instructors | Supporting Excellence
Digital Accessibility for Instructors
In response to recent updates to the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Title II Regulations, CATT has partnered with UB’s Office of Equity Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), Office of Accessibility Resources, and the UB Libraries to form UB’s Digital Accessibility Task Force.
ON this page:
Introduction
This taskforce is partnering with the decanal units to create an infrastructure to support faculty implementation of the new guidelines, which require digital course materials to be designed with improved accessibility. Improving digital accessibility begins with basic training on accessibility features in UB Learns, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, PDFs, and Audio/Video content.
Faculty can get started by reviewing the updates provided and training opportunities. More guidance is forthcoming through the Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 semesters as the new regulations go into effect on April 24, 2026.
Ensuring Accessibility in UB's Classroom
While UB has already been required to ensure students with disabilities can access course materials under the current regulations, these new requirements necessitate a fundamental culture shift—from a reactive approach, responding to individual accommodation requests—to proactively ensure all digital content is accessible from the start. We must continue meeting these requirements while working to fully integrate accessibility into our practices, reflecting our shared values of inclusion that help define the University at Buffalo. Accessible course materials not only support students with documented disabilities but expand the learning potential for all students through a Universal Design for Learning approach.
What Does This Mean for Faculty?
The updated regulations require all UB web and mobile content to meet specific (WCAG 2.1 Level AA) digital accessibility standards by April 24, 2026. The revised regulations:
This includes PDFs, PowerPoint presentations, and Word documents that are used for instructional or informational purposes as well as e-books and academic journals available online.
This includes departmental sites and faculty pages, including both public sites and websites or webpages behind a login; mobile apps used to access course materials, submit assignments, or participate in forums.
This includes e-learning and online courses such as online course content and platforms.
This includes multimedia content such as online video lectures, webinars, and instructional videos; audio recordings and podcasts; live streamed and recorded events and conferences.
(e.g., for archived or legacy content not currently used for active instruction).
UB’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) office oversees compliance with these regulations. Learn more about Accessibility at UB.
Unit Accessibility Support
Each decanal unit has assigned a Unit Faculty Accessibility Liaison to interface between the taskforce and departments within their Unit. Unit Liaisons will help to distribute communications, share training and support opportunities, and field questions.
Jay Stockslader
College of Arts and Sciences
Email: jstocks@buffalo.edu
Nicole Albanese
School of Pharmacy
Email: npaolini@buffalo.edu
Matt Steilen
School of Law
Email: mjsteile@buffalo.edu
Carrie Campbell and Shannon Brown
The Jacobs School
Jessica Kruger
School of Public Health
Email: jskruger@buffalo.edu
Cheryl Oyer
School of Nursing
Email: coyer2@buffalo.edu
Steve Sturman
School of Social Work
Email: sturman@buffalo.edu
Jason Chwirut
Dental Medicine
Email: jchwirut@buffalo.edu
Jeanne Myers
School of Management
Email: jeannemy@buffalo.edu
Christine Kroll
School of Engineering
Email: ckroll@buffalo.edu
Sam Abramovich
Graduate School of Education
Email: samuelab@buffalo.edu
Jordana Maisel
School of Architecture
Email: jlmaisel@buffalo.edu
For instructors
If you are an instructor looking for support in making your course content accessible, explore the resources below:
The ADA Title II regulation compliance deadline is April 24, 2026
Now is the time to review your course content and request support. By acting early, we can work together to address accessibility needs well before classes start.
for compliance questions
If you have compliance-related questions or need an accessibility review for non-instructional materials:
Latest updates and resources
- Familiarize yourself with the ADA Title II Update from the EDI Office.
- Familiarize yourself with the basics of accessible content creation in Word, PowerPoint, Audio Videos, and PDFs. Training updates and additional resources will be forthcoming throughout the Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 semesters.
- Signup for one of CATT’s Digital Accessibility Introduction virtual sessions.
- Signup for a CATT Digital Accessibility Office Hour session to ask questions and get personalized help with your digital materials.
