Investing in Access

Digital accessibility is not just about meeting compliance standards. It involves meeting the needs of learners and broader audiences by removing barriers to access. Whether you are teaching, publishing content, or managing digital resources, you are shaping experiences that elevate outreach and transform education.

Texas A&M University is committed to advancing digital resource accessibility across higher education. We are embracing evolving accessibility expectations by aligning with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), investing in technology tools, and providing proactive training. These efforts help ensure that every learner and audience member can engage with digital resources fully and without barriers.  

By elevating accessibility as a core value, we create a campus where innovation and inclusion intersect, so every learner has the chance to succeed and thrive. See Our Progress and Plan.

The importance of ADA Title II 

ADA Title II is vital in higher education because it mandates that large public colleges and universities make all websites, mobile apps, and digital course materials fully accessible under WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards by April 24, 2026. These updated regulations shift accessibility from a reactive accommodation model to a proactive requirement. See ADA Title II FAQs.

Institutions have a responsibility to design content that removes barriers rather than creating them, ensuring equal access without discrimination. Accessibility should be integrated cohesively and implemented in ways that protect privacy and dignity. 

Our investment

Texas A&M has invested in innovative technology tools to ensure that digital accessibility is not just a goal, but a standard across campus. These solutions—along with increased staffing for course remediation—empower faculty, staff, students, and visitors to engage fully with our digital resources. 

• Siteimprove provides automated accessibility checks for websites, web applications, and web-associated digital content, prompting our teams to identify and correct issues efficiently. This helps ensure that all web pages are easy to navigate, meet compliance standards, and provide a barrier-free online experience.

• Yuja Panorama and Anthology Ally focus on checking accessibility of files and document remediation, giving students access to accessible digital formats within Canvas, our Learning Management System. Accessible audio, tagged PDFs, and HTML versions of course materials enable better engagement and learning outcomes. 

• AI Services leverage real-time guidance and solutions for faculty and staff, positioning our university to streamline the process of creating accessible content as machine models improve. These AI resources comply with university data protection policies and contractual agreements, ensuring your data remains private and is not used for external model training.

Together, these investments reflect Texas A&M’s commitment to universal access. By embedding accessibility into web development, course design, and content creation, we are building a digital environment where everyone can participate fully in academic and campus life.

To support faculty and staff in meeting accessibility standards, the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE), in cooperation with the Office of the Provost and Technology Services, has curated resources in a Digital Accessibility web page focused on accessible course design and content creation. CTE and the Office of Distance and Digital Education offer workshops and departmental training designed to help faculty and support staff understand best practices and integrate accessibility into teaching and engagement. 

Additional role-based training recommendations are available on the IT Accessibility website. Get started by enrolling in TrainTraq Course 2114218: Digital Accessibility Awareness. 

To help faculty, staff, and students design and deliver digital content most effectively, the campus Help Desk knowledge base now features a growing collection of Digital Accessibility articles, searchable by key words. These resources provide practical guidance for ensuring that online courses, websites, and digital materials are usable by everyone, including individuals with disabilities. 

As technology advances, institutions are embracing universal design principles, adaptive learning tools, and AI-driven solutions to create equitable experiences for all learners. Future trends include personalized accessibility settings, immersive technologies that accommodate diverse abilities, and proactive accessibility audits integrated into course development. 

Transparency, accountability, and a commitment to continuous improvement are essential as technology and student needs evolve. By prioritizing accessibility now, our leadership is positioning Texas A&M to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse student population and to ensure that innovation benefits everyone.