Accessible web design ensures that the public and students can access information, services, and programs offered by the University.
Digital accessibility begins with awareness and action across the UMB community. New federal regulations that take effect April 24 require public universities, including UMB, to ensure that their websites, course content, digital documents, and online tools are accessible to the public and students with disabilities to access our programs, services, and activities. Over the next few months, we will be sharing information and tips each week in “The Elm Weekly.”
The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) provides guidance on its Digital Accessibility website to help faculty and staff ensure that web content is accessible to the public and students, including individuals who rely on assistive technologies such as screen readers. Accessible web design ensures that the public and students can access information, services, and programs offered by the University.
When creating or editing webpages, content creators should follow accessibility best practices such as:
- adding meaningful alternative text for images
- using descriptive text for links instead of “click here”
- using proper headings and document structure
- ensuring tables are formatted correctly with row and column headers.
These steps help assistive technologies interpret and present information clearly to users.
Title II requires that any electronic documents linked from public webpages or for student use — such as PDFs, Word files, PowerPoint presentations, or spreadsheets — meet accessibility standards. Tools such as Silktide, Equidox, and built-in accessibility checkers in common software can help identify and fix accessibility issues before content is published online.
Following these practices supports UMB’s commitment to inclusive digital experiences and helps ensure compliance with accessibility requirements such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA.