Notice: this webpage is still being developed to provide actionable steps for faculty and staff on how to begin working on making digital content accessible.

New federal requirement
All online content must be accessible

Montana State University is committed to providing digital content that is accessible to everyone. New federal regulations require that all digital materials be accessible, including course materials, webpages, PDFs, videos, and other online resources. 

We are asking faculty and staff to begin updating their online web and course materials, both in Canvas and the CMS, to meet these new accessibility requirements. 

Additional training, resources, and support will be shared in the coming months to assist in this transition. 

Where do we start?

Start reviewing and updating courses and content related to upcoming classes.

Once those are updated, start looking at courses and content for classes coming up, and older content per the regulation schedule.

  • Digital content created after April 24, 2025, needs to be accessible. 
  • Digital content created before April 24, 2025, but in use after this date, needs to be made accessible. 
  • Archived digital content created before April 24, 2025, does not need to be immediately made accessible, only by request. 

MSU has tools to support updating course materials and other online content. Canvas contains an accessibility tool called Yuja, which helps identify common accessibility concerns, assisting faculty and staff as they make improvements. The CMS has its own accessibility tool, which identifies accessibility concerns and provides documentation to help make improvements.

 

The Digital Accessibility Rule of 5 

To support faculty, instructors, and staff, MSU is introducing the Digital Accessibility Rule of 5. By focusing on these five practices, faculty and staff will address the majority of accessibility barriers.

#1. Avoid scanned PDFs 

Documents must contain selectable text and be readable by screen readers. Any handwritten or scanned materials should be converted to text-based formats. 

#2. Add alt text to images 

Provide a brief, meaningful description of what the image conveys. 

#3. Ensure videos have captions 

Use captioned videos whenever possible. All new course recordings should be created in Panopto to ensure captioning support. 

#4. Use headings for structure 

Organize pages and documents using built-in heading styles to support navigation by assistive technologies. 

#5. Fix major issues flagged by accessibility tools 

Start by addressing the red indicators in Canvas and the CMS, which identify the highest impact accessibility issues. 

 

Digital Accessibility Resources

 

Where can we ask for help?

Academic Technology and Outreach (ATO), the UIT Helpdesk, the Center for Faculty Excellence (CFE), the Office of Disability Services (ODS), and University Compliance have formed the Digital Accessibility Task Force (DATF). We are working together to build resources and provide support for this work. Utilize the resources listed as much as you can, and reach out when you need assistance.

 

Email ATO at ecat@montana.edu for help using Canvas and Panopto.

Email the CFE at cfe@montana.edu regarding the development of new course materials, and future training for excellent accessible teaching and learning.

Contact Web & Digital Communications for help using the CMS to make accessible content.

 

Email the UIT Helpdesk at helpdesk@montana.edu for technical support related to Microsoft Office and Adobe software, including installation and quick how-to help.

Request accommodations from the Office of Disability Services (ODS) for help with assistive listening devices, CART, and other disability-related accommodations.