Digital Accessibility
Minnesota State University, Mankato (MSU) is dedicated to integrating digital accessibility into our academic and administrative practices, led by collaborative efforts among Accessibility Resources, IT Solutions, and Academic Affairs. This involves regular reviews and updates to our digital content and platforms, as well as ongoing training for faculty and staff to ensure compliance and awareness.
All faculty and staff can improve access to digital resources. Please review resources and engage in training opportunities to learn more about how your daily work can incorporate accessibility best practices. Here are some resources to get you started:
- State of Minnesota Enterprise Learning Management (ELM) - Digital Accessibility Foundations module
- Participate in additional training and professional development opportunities related to digital accessibility:
- Use the built-in accessibility checker tools on PPT, Word, and PDF documents before posting them in your classes, on the website or Fountain, or sending in an email.
- If you use any 3rd party software solutions, publisher materials, or Open Educational Resources (OER) as part of your teaching, check to see that all content is accessible.
- Make accessibility a regular agenda item for your department, division, and committee meetings.
If you have any questions or need support with making your digital resources more accessible, please see options for specific support areas in the menu on the right.
Together, let us continue to build an inclusive and accessible academic environment for all.
What is Digital Accessibility?
Digital accessibility refers to the practice of making digital content and platforms usable for everyone, including individuals with disabilities. This involves ensuring that our institutional websites, learning management systems (D2L), and other online tools are navigable and usable for all students, faculty, and staff. Additionally, we need to ensure textbooks, presentations, videos, and other educational resources are accessible to all individuals with various disabilities, including visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive impairments.
Why is Digital Accessibility Important to Minnesota State University, Mankato and Higher Education?
- Promotes Equity and Reflects Our Values: As faculty, staff, and administrators at MSU, embracing digital accessibility reflects our dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion. It shows that we value every member of our academic community and are committed to providing an equitable educational experience.
- Supports Compliance: MSU as a public institution is required by both federal and state law to comply with accessibility standards. Adhering to these guidelines helps us comply with legal requirements based on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA, 1990) and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 which require electronic communications and information technologies—such as websites, social media, email, or web documents—to be accessible. This requirement has been interpreted to apply to all digital materials used in classroom contexts; compliance is tied to federal aid eligibility for the institution.
- Enhances Learning Outcomes: Accessible design often results in a more effective learning experience for all students. Clear and well-organized content benefits everyone and supports diverse learning needs.
- Broader Audience Reach: Making our digital presence accessible opens opportunities to connect with a wider audience, including people with disabilities who represent a significant portion of the population.
How is Accessibility determined?
- There is a set of international standards: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 and 2.1 - Compliance Level AA
- For our website content, IT Solutions uses a tool called “Siteimprove” which scans all website materials and identifies items that do not meet the standards.
- The standards include expectations such as:
- Alt-text for images
- Use of heading style tags
- Appropriate color contrast
- Closed Captions for Videos
