DoIT Alerts

Accessible web content ensures that all users, including those using screen readers, keyboard navigation, or assistive technology, can interact with your website and digital content. At UMBC, this applies to both Sites@UMBC, myUMBC groups, and other platforms that present course, departmental, or university information.

Accessibility isn't just a legal requirement—it's part of inclusive, student-centered design. This article provides easy-to-follow guidance grounded in WCAG 2.1 standards and the POUR principles:

• Perceivable: Everyone can perceive the content (e.g., text descriptions for images).
• Operable: Everyone can navigate the site (e.g., keyboard-friendly menus).
• Understandable: Everyone can comprehend the information (e.g., clear instructions and consistent layout).
• Robust: Everyone can use the site across different devices and technologies (e.g., follow HTML standards and semantic markup).

Common Accessibility Issues

Even with accessible templates, website editors must ensure that their content meets accessibility standards. Below are common content types and how to improve them.

 

1. Content & Headings

• Use heading levels in order — don't skip levels.
• Use headings to organize content for both sighted users and screen readers.
• Don't simulate headers by resizing or bolding text.
• Quick Win: Start pages with a clear <h1> and use <h2> for major sections.

 

2. Color & Contrast

• Don't rely on color alone to convey meaning (e.g., "Items in red are overdue").
• Ensure text contrast is at least 4.5:1 for body text.
• Use tools like the WebAIM Contrast Checker.
• Quick Win: Check your headings and buttons for contrast with the background. Review this handy guide to UMBC Brand Color Contrast combinations.

 

3. Descriptive Links

• Use meaningful link text (e.g., "View our schedule" instead of "Click here").
• Avoid duplicate links with the same text that go to different places.
• Indicate when a link opens a new window or downloads a file.
• Quick Win: Hover over your links and ask yourself, do they make sense out of context?

 

4. Tables

• Use tables only for data, not for layout.
• Never use images of tables, instead use the tables themselves to display data.
• Ensure tables read logically when linearized by screen readers.
• Include row and column headers with <th> tags.
• Quick Win: Instead of a table, consider if you can present the same information in a list format!  Lists are easier for a screen reader to accurately present information for.

 

5. Images

• Images must have descriptions, even thumbnails and inline visuals. Not sure whether an image needs a description or if it should be marked decorative? Try this decision tree.
• Avoid using text inside images since screen readers cannot interpret them.
• Complex images (e.g., infographics, charts) should include a longer description or linked text alternative.
• Quick Win: Ask yourself, "What would I say if I were describing this image out loud?"

How to add descriptions to images in Sites@UMBC:

• Option 1: Edit the page → click image → pencil icon → add alt text → update.
• Option 2: Go to Media → Library → select image → add description.
• Click here for the wiki walkthrough of adding alt text on Sites.

6. Audio & Video

• All videos must include captions.
• Audio content should have transcripts.
• Avoid autoplay media or provide controls to stop it
• Quick Win: Use our video capture platform's auto-caption feature, then edit for accuracy. 

 

7.  Navigation & Keyboard Access

• Include a "Skip to Main Content" link at the top of each page.
• Ensure all interactive elements are accessible using the keyboard only.
• Avoid hover-only content (e.g., tooltips or dropdowns that don't work with keyboard focus).
• Quick Win: Try navigating your site using only the tab key.

 

8. Forms & Feedback

• Label all form fields clearly.
• Provide instructions for completing the form (e.g., required fields).
• Avoid placeholder-only labels — use actual visible labels.
• Quick Win: Use the preview mode and test your form with a screen reader.

 

Creating accessible web content is an ongoing journey that starts with these foundational steps. By applying the POUR principles to your daily work, you help make UMBC's digital landscape more robust and user-friendly for everyone. Let's continue to work together to keep our digital doors open to every member of our community.

 

Learn more about UMBC's website Digital Accessibility Remediation Project here!

 

 

• More Information about Website Accessibility Tips

Accessible math content ensures that all students can fully engage with your course material. Yet mathematical notation remains one of the most common accessibility barriers in STEM courses. The good news is that practical, accessible content creation practices exist, and many of them work directly within tools instructors are likely already using.

Created in collaboration with Mathematics and Statistics faculty, especially Associate Professor Justin Webster; Michael Canale, Assistant Director, Student Disability Services; and DoIT’s Instructional Technology team, UMBC's Accessible Math resource outlines specific tools and workflows to help you create and share accessible mathematical content with Blackboard, Mathpix, Overleaf, and LaTeX. 

Blackboard: Create Accessible Math from the Start

If you are building new course materials and want to ensure accessibility from the beginning, Blackboard Ultra offers several built-in options for creating accessible math content. Add math content wherever you access the rich text editor in your course.

Mathpix: Accessible Handwritten and Printed Math

Not all math content starts as a digital file. Many instructors have handwritten notes, scanned problem sets, or older PDFs. When creating accessible content from scratch is not possible, Mathpix is an AI-powered tool that addresses exactly this challenge. 

Mathpix recognizes handwritten and printed mathematical expressions in images and converts them to LaTeX or MathML — making it particularly useful for digitizing handwritten notes, lecture materials, or older course documents.

LaTeX and Overleaf — Accessible Documents from Source

LaTeX is the standard typesetting system across many STEM disciplines. PDFs compiled from LaTeX may lack the structural tags (headings, reading order, alt text for figures) that assistive technologies rely on. Producing an accessible PDF from LaTeX requires intentional choices about LaTeX packages and compilation settings.

Overleaf is one cloud-based LaTeX editor widely used in STEM fields for creating research papers, problem sets, and course notes. With the right setup, documents authored in Overleaf can be output as tagged, accessible PDFs. If you’re not an Overleaf user, LaTeX can be updated in your LaTeX tool of choice by using available LaTeX resources.

Choosing the Right Approach

Not sure which tool or workflow fits your situation? Here is a quick reference from the Accessible Math support site:

• Create math content, including simple LaTeX, in Blackboard
• Convert handwritten notes to an accessible format
• Convert a PDF with math content to an accessible format
• Create accessible LaTeX content, including complex LaTeX

Get Started Today

Accessible math does not require rebuilding all of your course materials at once. Pick the scenario that matches where you are right now and take one step forward:

• If you use Blackboard: Open the Rich Text Editor in your next course document or assessment and use the Math Editor tool or rich text editor instead of inserting an equation as an image
• If you have handwritten notes: Request Mathpix access and try converting one set of notes to HTML
• If you work in LaTeX: Request Overleaf Premium access and review UMBC's accessible LaTeX template or begin reviewing LaTeX formatting guides for accessible PDFs

Full Resource: UMBC Accessible Math 

The tools, workflows, and video tutorials referenced in this article are available in one place:

Accessible Math — UMBC Faculty Resources

This site includes instructions, video walkthroughs (UMBC sign-in required), links to request access to Mathpix and Overleaf Premium, and additional guidance for each tool covered here. Bookmark it as your go-to reference for accessible math content creation.

Questions about accessibility at UMBC? Visit the UMBC Office of Accessibility and Disability Services website for additional resources and support.

Connect with Instructional Technology

As always, if you have any questions about teaching, learning, and technology at UMBC, please consider the following options:

• Check our extensive FAQ collection 
  • What's new in Ultra? |Known Issues 
• Open a ticket via RT
• Follow the Instructional Technology & DoIT myUMBC groups
• Request a consult with instructional technology staff
• UMBC Digital Accessibility| Ally FAQs | Ally Demo | Ally Report (VPN required)
• PIVOT | Academic Continuity |Keep On Teaching |Student Technology Resources

Blackboard is currently working on improving the Ally Course Accessibility Report. They are collecting feedback from users in a short survey to understand how you use it, what’s working well, and what could be improved. 

If you are interested in sharing your thoughts on the Ally Course Accessibility Report, please Take the Survey. Your feedback will directly help Blackboard make the survey more useful and easier to navigate.

Image: Dashboard screenshot showing Algebra course accessibility score at 72% with a pie chart detailing course content items by type.

For questions about using Ally, please contact Instructional Technology via RT Ticket.

April 2026 Issue

Repost from  the USM Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation and the USM Digital Accessibility Work Group

Sprinting to the Finish: Part 2 of 2

As the April Title II compliance deadline approaches, you've assessed your materials, prioritized strategically, and built quality checkpoints into your workflow. Now it's time to look beyond the finish line. This month, we're focusing on what happens after April: establishing sustainable accessibility practices, planning for continuous improvement, and transforming the momentum of this endeavor into lasting institutional change. The skills you've developed and the systems you've put in place over the past eight months aren't just for meeting a deadline—they're the foundation for creating accessible content as your default practice. Whether you're putting final touches on remediated materials or already thinking about next semester, this newsletter will help you transition from sprint mode to sustainable accessibility practices that serve your students and colleagues for years to come.

Beyond the Deadline: At-a-Glance

• Where We Are: April deadline within reach; remediation work in final stages
• This Month's Focus: Sustainability over perfection (build habits, document processes, and plan for accessible-first content creation)
• Quick Win: Create a "lessons learned" document capturing what worked, what didn't, and what you'll do differently next time
• Key Principle: The April 2026 deadline isn’t a finish line; it's actually a starting line. Accessibility is an ongoing practice, not a one-time project
  
  

What’s Inside

• Why Planning Beyond the Deadline Matters

• Quick Fix Guide: Your Complete Accessibility Reference Library

• Tools & Tactics: Accessibility Automation and Efficiency

• Campuses in Focus: Accessibility Champions in Action

• Looking Ahead: Your Accessibility Roadmap for Next Semester and Beyond

• Learn More

Why Planning Beyond the Deadline Matters

The difference between a short-term compliance effort and a transformational accessibility practice lies in what happens after the deadline passes. Without intentional planning, it's easy to slip back into old habits like creating inaccessible PDFs, forgetting alt text, or skipping heading structures when you're in a rush. The workflows you've established during this year are valuable precisely because they can prevent that backslide.

• Documenting your processes ensures that the knowledge you've gained doesn't live only in your head. When you create templates, checklists, and standard operating procedures, you make it easier for yourself (and your colleagues) to maintain accessibility standards post-April.

• Building accessibility into content creation from the start is exponentially more efficient than retrofitting materials later. The time you invest now in setting up accessible templates, establishing review processes, and creating reusable accessible components will save countless hours in future semesters.

• Cultivating an accessibility mindset transforms how you approach all digital content. Instead of viewing accessibility as an extra step or compliance burden, it becomes an integrated part of high-quality content creation, just like checking for typos or ensuring accurate citations.

Most importantly, sustainable accessibility practices ensure that the students, faculty, and staff who benefit from accessible materials continue to have equitable access long after April. The deadline may be finite, but your commitment to inclusion won’t be.

Quick Fix Guide: Your Complete Accessibility Reference Library

Over the past eight months, each newsletter has included a Quick Fix Guide focused on one of theSix Essential Stepsor a critical accessibility strategy. Now we're bringing them all together in one place. This complete collection serves as your go-to reference library for accessibility practices; bookmark this section or save these guides where you can easily access them when you need a quick refresher.

The Complete Quick Fix Guide Collection

• • August 2025 USM Digital Accessibility Checklist: Your foundational overview of digital accessibility requirements and the Six Essential Steps that form the basis of accessible content creation. Download the USM Digital Accessibility Checklist.

  • September 2025 Headings Hierarchy 101 Quick Fix Guide: Master the use of heading styles to create logical document structure that helps all users navigate your content, especially those using screen readers. Download the Headings Hierarchy 101 Quick Fix Guide.

  • October 2025 Accessible Links in 5 Minutes Quick Fix Guide: Transform generic "click here" links into meaningful, context-rich hyperlinks that make sense when read out of context by screen readers. Download the Accessible Links in 5 Minutes Quick Fix Guide.

  • November 2025 Color & Contrast Quick Fix Guide: Learn to test and apply color combinations that meet WCAG standards, ensuring your content is readable for users with low vision or color blindness. Download the Color & Contrast Quick Fix Guide.

  • December 2025 Quick Fix Guide Creating Alt Text for Images: Learn how to write effective alt text that conveys meaning without being overly verbose, when to mark images as decorative, and how to handle complex images like charts and diagrams. Download the Creating Alt Text for Images Quick Fix Guide.

  • January 2026 Quick Fix Guide for Tables & Data: Discover how to build tables that screen readers can interpret correctly, including proper header designation and keeping table structures simple. Download the Quick Fix Guide for Tables & Data.

  • February 2026 Multimedia Remediation Quick Fix Guide: Get practical strategies for captioning videos and providing transcripts for audio content, including how to edit auto-generated captions efficiently. Download the Multimedia Remediation Quick Fix Guide.

  • March 2026 Sprint to the Finish Checklist: Use the assessment, prioritization, and verification strategies to manage your final weeks before the deadline strategically. Download the Sprint to the Finish Checklist.

How to Use This Library

• • As a Learning Resource: If you're new to accessibility or missed earlier newsletters, work through the guides in order from August through January to build your foundational skills in theSix Essential Steps.

  • As a Reference Tool: Bookmark this page or save these guides in a folder you can access quickly when you encounter a specific accessibility challenge.

  • As a Training Resource: Share relevant guides with teaching assistants, new colleagues, or anyone who creates digital content for your courses or department.

  • As a Quality Check: Before publishing any material, run through the relevant Quick Fix Guides to verify you've addressed all accessibility considerations.

What’s Next

While this collection covers the essential accessibility practices you need for most academic content, accessibility is an evolving field. We'll continue to share updates, advanced techniques, and discipline-specific guidance in future newsletters. If there's an accessibility topic you'd like to see covered, let us know atcai@usmd.edu.

Tools & Tactics: Your Accessibility Workflow Toolkit

During the past eight months, you've become familiar with accessibility checking and remediation tools. Now let's explore tools and strategies that help you maintain accessibility with less ongoing effort.

Automate What You Can

• • Accessible Templates: Create and save document templates in Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and your LMS that include proper heading structures, color schemes with sufficient contrast, and placeholder alt text reminders. Starting with an accessible template eliminates many common errors before they happen.

  • Style Libraries: Build custom style sets inWord and PowerPointthat include only accessible color combinations and properly structured heading styles. This prevents accidental accessibility violations when you're working quickly.

  • LMS Course Templates: Work with an instructional design colleague to create accessible course shells that include properly structured modules, accessible announcement templates, and assignment submission guidelines that request accessible formats.

Build Accessibility Into Your Workflow

• • Pre-Publication Checklist: Create a simple checklist that lives where you work (pinned document, browser bookmark, sticky note on your monitor) reminding you to verify the Six Essential Steps before publishing any content.

  • Peer Review Partnerships: Establish reciprocal arrangements with colleagues to review each other's materials for accessibility before they go live. A fresh perspective catches issues you might miss in your own work.

  • Scheduled Accessibility Audits: Set quarterly calendar reminders to spot-check a sample of your materials, ensuring accessibility standards haven't slipped during busy periods.

Leverage AI and Emerging Tools

• • AI-Powered Alt Text (with Human Review): Tools like Microsoft's AI-generated alt text can provide starting points for image descriptions but always review and refine them for accuracy and context. AI can speed up the process but shouldn't replace human judgment.

  • Automated Accessibility Scanning: Set up regular automated scans of your web content using tools like Siteimprove or similar platforms if your institution provides them. Automated monitoring catches new issues as they're introduced.

  • Caption Editing Efficiency: Use auto-generated captions as a first draft, then develop an efficient editing workflow. Many instructors find it faster to watch videos at 1.5x speed while editing captions rather than transcribing from scratch.

Pro Tip: The 20/80 Rule for Sustainable Accessibility

Focus your ongoing effort on the key 20% of practices that prevent 80% of accessibility issues: using heading styles instead of manual formatting, adding alt text as you insert images (not later), and starting with accessible templates. These habits, once established, maintain accessibility with minimal additional time investment.

Campuses in Focus: Accessibility Champions in Action

As we approach the April deadline, it's worth pausing to recognize the countless individuals across the University System of Maryland who have transformed accessibility from an abstract requirement into tangible improvements for their students and colleagues. This month, we're spotlighting two accessibility champions whose journeys demonstrate that meaningful progress is possible, regardless of where you start or what resources you have available.

These stories showcase different paths to accessibility success: one person who tackled a massive remediation project, and another who built sustainable systems for their department. While their approaches differ, they share common threads: persistence, strategic thinking, and a commitment to inclusive education that extends beyond compliance.

Louise Anderson, Co-Chair Music, Theatre and Dance, Salisbury University

• The Challenge: After achieving 100% accessibility on one Canvas course, Louise recognized that many faculty colleagues were struggling with the same technical issues she had worked through—particularly around PDFs and Word documents.

• The Approach: Rather than keeping her hard-won knowledge to herself, Louise documented her process while working through her next course. She created short, focused "nuts and bolts" video tutorials targeting specific accessibility fixes: one on PDF title elements and tags, and another on Word title elements and headings. She utilized campus support documentation from SU while also conducting her own research to find solutions to Canvas accessibility issues.

What is Digital Accessibility?

Digital accessibility ensures that everyone, including people with disabilities, can access and use digital content and tools. Building accessibility into websites, documents, and course materials from the start helps everyone. It reduces the need for last-minute fixes, improves usability across the board, and supports a wide range of users — including those with temporary or situational challenges. Accessible design is smart design.

 

Four Quick Tips

Are you looking for easy ways to improve your digital content today? Here are four quick tips that will help you improve your content's accessibility: 

1. Include Alternative Text (Alt Text) to describe images for screen reader users. Find additional resources for Accessible Images here. 
2. Use Headings (Heading 1, Heading 2) to create a clear structure rather than just bolding text in documents, presentations, myUMBC posts, and websites. Find additional resources for Accessible Documents and Presentations here.
3. Provide descriptive link text (e.g., "Register for the Workshop") instead of vague phrases like "Click Here." Learn more about Website Accessibility here. 
4. Ensure all videos have accurate captions. Utilize Video Resources and Audio Accessibility Resources. 

 

UMBC's Commitment to Digital Accessibility

Your Work Matters. Whether you are sending a newsletter, updating a website, or sharing a video, you are helping build a more inclusive UMBC. Accessibility is not just a technical checklist; it is a shared commitment to ensuring that every Retriever and guest can participate fully.

Together, we can build a more inclusive digital experience for everyone at UMBC. 

• More Information about Quick Tips for Digital Accessibility