Skip to content

Accessibility Frequently Asked Questions


This guide addresses the responsibilities of the UC Merced community under federal accessibility regulations and UC Policy IMT-1300. Our goal is to ensure all digital environments—courses, websites, documents, and software—are inclusive and accessible to everyone.

General Policy & Standards

These updates ensure compliance with new federal regulations issued in 2024 by the U.S. Department of Justice under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These regulations clarify our legal obligation to make web content and mobile apps accessible and set a specific technical standard we must meet.

The DOJ Title II Final Rule establishes WCAG 2.1 Level AA as the required standard for all state and local government entities, including public universities.

UC Merced must comply with the new federal accessibility standards by April 24, 2026. There are no extensions to this federally mandated deadline.

All digital content (websites, documents, software, apps) must meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards. This applies to content we create internally as well as content provided by third parties.

WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) is an internationally recognized standard developed by the W3C. You can explore the requirements using the WCAG 2.1 Quick Reference.

Yes. The policy applies to almost all Information Technology (IT) used at UC Merced, including:

  • Websites and web applications
  • Electronic documents (PDFs, Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
  • Video, audio, and podcasts
  • Learning Management Systems (Canvas)
  • Software and mobile apps (including those procured from vendors)
  • Kiosks and digital signage

For guidance on creating accessible content, visit our Creating Content Checklists page.

Course Accessibility (For Faculty & Instructors)

Yes. All digital course materials—including syllabi, slide decks, readings (PDFs), and videos—must be accessible at the time of publication. As an instructor, you are responsible for ensuring your course content meets accessibility standards to support all students.

Key resources for faculty:

If you cannot remediate everything immediately, prioritize content based on impact. Consider this order of priority:

  1. High-volume gateway courses
  2. New courses
  3. Courses that have been "materially altered" (significantly changed)
  4. General Education (GE) courses
  5. Courses with enrolled students who have declared disabilities/accommodations
  6. Fully online courses
  7. Mandatory training materials

UC Merced provides multiple resources to support accessible course content:

Contact the Ed-Tech team for YuJa Panorama training, or schedule a consultation with the Digital Accessibility Coordinator.

Web & Document Accessibility (For Staff & Creators)

You must ensure all web pages and the files linked on them (PDFs, docs) meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards. Key requirements include:

  • Adding alternative text to images
  • Ensuring proper heading structures (H1 → H2 → H3)
  • Verifying sufficient color contrast
  • Captioning videos
  • Making all interactive elements keyboard accessible

Start here:

Not necessarily. There is a narrow exception for archived content if it meets all four of these criteria:

  1. Created before April 24, 2026
  2. Retained exclusively for reference, research, or recordkeeping
  3. Never altered or updated after archiving
  4. Stored in a clearly identified "Archive" area

If you are in doubt, your content likely does not meet these criteria.

If the content is currently used to support an active University program or service, it must be made accessible, regardless of its age.

It covers almost every interaction a person has with UC Merced online, including:

  • Applying for admission or jobs
  • Paying fees or tuition
  • Reading research publications
  • Registering for classes
  • Accessing telehealth services
  • Reading department newsletters
  • Viewing event information

If a user needs the digital content to participate in what we do, it must be accessible.

Follow these key steps for document accessibility:

  1. Use heading styles — Structure content with built-in heading styles, not just bold text
  2. Add alt text to images — Describe the meaning and purpose of images
  3. Use sufficient color contrast — Ensure text is readable against backgrounds
  4. Create accessible tables — Use header rows and avoid merged cells
  5. Use descriptive link text — Avoid "click here" links

Detailed guidance:

Yes. Ongoing social media activity should be accessible to ensure equitable access to UC Merced communications. Key practices include:

  • Adding image descriptions/alt text to photos
  • Captioning videos
  • Using CamelCase for hashtags (#AccessibleContent)
  • Avoiding conveying information through color alone

Resources:

Email communications should also meet accessibility standards. Key considerations:

  • Use descriptive subject lines
  • Structure content with headings
  • Add alt text to images
  • Use sufficient color contrast
  • Ensure links are descriptive

See the Email Campaign Accessibility Checklist for detailed guidance.

Software Procurement & Third-Party Vendors

Yes. The University is responsible for the accessibility of third-party content we provide or require. This includes:

  • Software and SaaS platforms we purchase
  • Digital content linked from our sites
  • Tools embedded in our websites (e.g., calculators, maps, forms)
  • Learning tools integrated with Canvas

You must verify that any technology you purchase or renew meets WCAG 2.1 AA standards. Before purchasing:

  1. Request a VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template) or ACR (Accessibility Conformance Report) from the vendor
  2. Review the documentation to assess conformance levels
  3. Submit for accessibility review via ServiceNow
  4. If not fully conformant, work with the Digital Accessibility Coordinator to complete an EEAAP (Equally Effective Alternative Access Plan)

If a vendor is not compliant and cannot provide a remediation timeline, you may need to look for a different solution.

Additional Resources:

Exceptions & Compliance

If full compliance is not immediately feasible, prioritize remediation of existing content and ensure that all new content is published in compliance with WCAG 2.1 AA standards going forward.

Prioritize remediation by considering:

  1. Content that is crucial for the experience or program being offered
  2. New content that can be created accessibly from the start
  3. Updated content that can be remediated during revision

Highest priority accessibility issues to address:

Priority accessibility issues
Priority Issue Why It Matters
1 Keyboard Accessibility Users who cannot use a mouse must be able to navigate all content and functionality using only a keyboard
2 Text Alternatives (Alt Text) Screen reader users need meaningful descriptions of images and media to understand content
3 Headings and Structure Proper heading hierarchy (H1 → H2 → H3) helps screen reader users navigate efficiently
4 Unique Page Titles Every page needs a descriptive HTML title for orientation and context

An Equally Effective Alternative Access Plan (EEAAP) documents how you will provide equivalent access to a person with a disability when technology is not fully accessible. The plan includes:

  • Description of the accessibility gaps
  • Who is affected and how
  • How equivalent access will be provided (e.g., human reader, text-based alternative, alternative workflow)
  • Timeline for remediation
  • Responsible parties

An EEAAP does not excuse you from providing access—it documents how you will ensure access while working toward full compliance.

No. Exceptions are generally approved for a two-year duration. You must:

  • Renew the exception every two years
  • Demonstrate meaningful progress toward remediation
  • Continue providing alternative access during the exception period

If the vendor has resolved the accessibility issues, the exception should be closed and the software should be updated.

Getting Help

If you encounter digital content that is not accessible, report it using:

We acknowledge all reports within 2 business days and work to provide interim access within 10 business days.

Training and Resources:

Consultations:

Accommodations:

UC Merced Office of Information Technology - Digital Accessibility Program

Last Updated: January 2026