The University of Michigan is committed to maintaining an accessible digital environment where educational content can be used by all members of the U-M community, including individuals with disabilities.
Digital accessibility is a shared responsibility. All members of our community are expected to do their part to help meet our obligations and to enable the broadest participation in our educational mission.
Instructors can meet digital accessibility obligations outlined in university policy and federal regulations (including Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act) by using accessible learning technologies, selecting accessible content from library e-resources, and creating accessible materials with tools available at U-M — such as Panorama in Canvas, Grackle for Google workspace, and built-in tools in Microsoft Word.
There are many ways to approach updating course content for digital accessibility, and it is important to get started today. You may also attend a training on digital accessibility. U-M offers sessions focused on document accessibility, using Panorama, and more. Take advantage of available tools and resources to support your progress.
Course content should be accessible from the compliance date and onward.
Create Accessible Content
From the compliance date and onward, new course materials that instructors create should be accessible.
Use how tos to incorporate digital accessibility into your content, ensuring everyone can fully engage with your work. Consider the use of templates and other strategies to help sustain your digital accessibility work as you teach. Instructors should also create accessible video content using media player accessibility features, including by providing captioning and descriptions of visuals in lectures.
Fix Inaccessible Content
Current course content that will be maintained for use should be made accessible. Prioritize which content to update. Start with high impact documents such as syllabi, slide decks, and Canvas page content.
When providing electronic books, articles, and other academic resources to students, provide a link to the web resource in addition to, or in place of, a downloaded file. If you need to provide a textbook, you may work with your liaison librarian to discover if the textbook is available through the library, determine if it is accessible, and find out if it can be licensed.
If instructors have established that the use of a publisher-provided document qualifies as Fair Use and have uploaded it directly to their course website, they may proactively remediate the document for accessibility. Please note that any remediated document must only be used within the context of that specific course and should not be shared outside of it.
If students, faculty, or staff with accommodation needs require accessible versions of Library materials, they may contact the Accessibility Remediation Program. The Accessibility Remediation Program cannot remediate large amounts of course content for ADA compliance. Enrolled student needs outside of Library materials should be addressed by Services for Students with Disabilities, which handles student academic accommodations.
Remove Unused Content
Do not delete active course content in Canvas; ensure all active materials are accessible. Remove content that is no longer used or needed to support U-M programs, courses, or activities. Clearing out inactive or outdated materials improves usability and reduces accessibility barriers. Consider moving inactive content to a separate storage area outside your active Canvas course, or simply unpublish unused content.
Additional Support
Contact the Disability Equity Office (DEO) when complex issues arise. If you encounter challenges with digital accessibility, please work with your unit and digital accessibility liaison. If needed, the DEO can provide additional consultation. Some courses may include content that is difficult to make accessible.
Instructors must still continue to work with Student Accessibility & Accommodation Services (SAAS) and the Services for Students with Disabilities Office (SSD) to provide accommodations to students with disabilities.
SSD will continue to work with students with disabilities to provide reasonable accommodations in courses. Instructors should be responsive to accommodation requests facilitated by SSD.
- For general student accommodation questions (e.g., excused absences, preferential seating, etc.), reach out to [email protected], or the coordinator listed in the Accommodation Letter.
- For testing-related accommodations (e.g., how to extend time on Canvas, how to use exam proctoring services), contact [email protected].
- For questions regarding remediation of course materials for students connected with the SSD office, contact [email protected].