Digital Accessibility at USCB

Our Commitment to Digital Accessibility

Accessibility means creating digital content that everyone can use, regardless of ability, technology, or environment. At USCB, making all of our digital content and communications accessible supports our mission of student success.

When our websites, courses, documents, and social media are accessible, we remove barriers to information and participation. Accessibility benefits individuals with disabilities and improves usability for all members of the campus community.

Deadline for Compliance

By April 24, 2026, institutions of higher education must comply with the U.S. Department of Justice’s  Digital Accessibility ADA Title II Final Rule. This rule sets the W3C 's Web Accessibility Initiative’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA as the standard of accessibility for digital communications.

At USCB, this standard applies to:

• University websites
• Online courses and instructional materials
• PDFs, Word documents, and presentations
• Social media content and videos
• Email and other distributed digital communications

Who this Applies to

Digital accessibility is a shared responsibility at USCB. The requirements apply to anyone who creates, manages, or shares digital content on behalf of the university, including:

• Faculty creating online, hybrid, or face-to-face course materials
• Staff managing websites, email communications, or digital documents
• Employees and student workers posting on USCB-branded social media accounts
• Departments and programs distributing PDFs, forms, flyers, or presentations
• Anyone responsible creating e-mail blasts for the campus or public

If you create or distribute digital content as part of your role at USCB, accessibility applies to your work.

How to Make your Digital Content Accessible

WCAG 2.1 AA is an internationally recognized accessibility standard. In practice, it includes:

• Adding alternative text for images, including graphics
• Adding captions for video content
• Creating documents that work with screen readers
• Designing for keyboard-accessible navigation
• Using sufficient color contrast and readable text
• Employing clear headings, links, and content structure

Many of these practices are simple to implement and improve clarity and usability across devices.

USCB Support and Training

USCB is committed to helping faculty and staff prepare to meet accessibility requirements. Learn more at:

• The University of South Carolina’s guide to accessibility, which includes practical guidance for accessible courses, documents, and social media, tools, templates, and checklists
• USCB’s Center for Teaching and Learning trainings
• eLearning at USCB

Ongoing Support at USCB

Our focus is on building skills and confidence, so accessibility becomes a standard part of how we teach and communicate. Accessibility is an ongoing process. Each improvement—whether adding captions, structuring a document, or writing clear content—helps create a more accessible digital environment.

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