Learn how ITS is making digital accessibility a top priority.
ITS wants to lead the way for digital accessibility across FSU by ensuring our website and other technologies are compliant and by providing documentation and resources for other departments across campus.
What is digital accessibility?
Digital accessibility refers to the practice of designing and developing digital content, websites, tools and technologies so people with disabilities can use them effectively. This includes ensuring all users, regardless of their abilities, can perceive, understand, navigate and interact with digital content.
Why is it important?
It is important to people with disabilities who rely on assistive technology to view and use websites and other technologies to be able to interact effectively with content. Digital accessibility also ensures FSU is meeting legal and ethical obligations and promoting equal access and an overall better user experience for everyone.
Digital accessibility is a fundamental aspect of our commitment to excellence in teaching and learning. Our apps and websites are accessed by people around the globe, and it is imperative that we build an environment where everyone can thrive and fully participate in the FSU experience.
Documentation
ITS Digital Accessibility Policy
View the ITS official policy concerning digital accessibility.
ITS Digital Accessibility Guide
Browse this guide on how to resolve accessibility issues found on webpages, PDFs and Excel files.
FAQs
What digital accessibility requirements does ITS follow?
FSU ITS uses a combination of the latest W3C’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.1 guidelines, Section 504, Section 508, and ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) website accessibility requirements to ensure our website and other technologies are fully accessible and in compliance.
The updated Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.1 were adopted in April 2024 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) as the new standard. FSU ITS is currently working to ensure our website and other technologies comply with these standards. According to the new rule, higher education institutions that are large public entities (census-defined populations of 50,000+) such as FSU have two years to reach full compliance. The DOJ bases the size of a higher education institution on the size of its governing jurisdiction.
What tool does ITS use to keep track of and monitor accessibility issues on their website?
ITS uses a web tool called Siteimprove. It tracks accessibility issues in addition to other things such as search engine optimization, quality assurance and broken links.
For more information on Siteimprove, including how to request this service or how to sign in if you already have access, please visit the Accessibility and Link Checking Service Catalog webpage.
If you are already a Siteimprove user and wish to learn more and access getting started training articles, please visit the Siteimprove Help Center.
Do files on my website (i.e., PDFs, Excel spreadsheets) have to be accessible?
Yes! All types of files that appear on your website must be accessible. This is important for people with disabilities who use and rely on assistive technologies such as screen readers. Here in ITS, all files are checked for accessibility before being uploaded to our website. This is considered best practice.
To ensure all the files on your website are accessible to all, check out the following resources:
Do custom apps utilized on my website have any special accessibility requirements?
Custom application development incorporates basic accessibility standards by default unless specific project requirements state otherwise. When using third-party tools, the vendor is responsible for ensuring their product meets relevant accessibility compliance standards.
What accessibility guidelines does the ITS Custom Apps Team follow when creating new apps?
Custom app development adheres to accessibility guidelines derived from the (WCAG) version 2.1 guidelines and other relevant federal regulations. Each specific accessibility requirement is uniquely identified and tracked. Comprehensive documentation detailing how each requirement is addressed is provided for every custom application.
Resources
Available through FSU
Use these resources and trainings available to all FSU employees
Helpful Tools
Reference these free tools to help get and keep your website and other applications compliant
Requirements Overview
Learn about different digital accessibility regulations to ensure your website and other technologies are compliant
Digital Accessibility in the News
Check out these digital accessibility stories making the news.
Agencies still struggling to meet digital accessibility standards
Limited staffing and resources are key drivers of agencies’ ongoing challenges with digital accessibility and Section 508 conformance.
Meeting the Looming Web Accessibility Regulations: The Time to Start Was Yesterday
A recent NWHeat webinar highlighted that public institutions must mobilize immediately (if not sooner) to meet the coming U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) accessibility guidelines.
More agencies turn to AI to fix website accessibility issues
Federal agencies are looking at artificial intelligence tools to flag content on their websites that aren’t meeting government accessibility standards.
New DOJ Ruling Clarifies & Enforces ADA Digital Accessibility Requirements
In a historic and exciting ruling, the United States Department of Justice bolsters the digital accessibility requirements of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Justice Department to Publish Final Rule to Strengthen Web and Mobile App Access for People with Disabilities
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland today signed a final rule under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ensure the accessibility of web content and mobile applications (apps) for people with disabilities.
DOJ's Proposed Web and Mobile App Accessibility Regulations: An Overview
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) released its long-anticipated proposed regulation outlining web accessibility requirements under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
W3C WCAG 2.2 Now Available
WCAG 2.2 adds nine new Success Criteria to WCAG 2.1 (which added 17 Success Criteria to WCAG 2.0) and includes links to supporting documents that explain how to make web content more accessible to a wider range of people with disabilities.
Support
If you have further questions or concerns with digital accessibility, please email the ITS Integrated Communications team at ITS-Communications@fsu.edu.
