Digital Accessibility

Compliance

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford is committed to ensuring equal access to information, programs, and activities for all individuals, including those with disabilities. In accordance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the 2024 Department of Justice (DOJ) ruling, we guarantee that our digital content and technologies are accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities.

Whether you are a student registering for classes, a faculty member updating a syllabus, or a member of the public browsing our events, you have the right to access our digital content independently and with ease.

The Federal Standard (Title II)

This commitment is aligned with the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Final Rule under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), signed on April 24, 2024. This ruling specifically mandates that state and local governments, including public universities, must ensure their web content and mobile apps are accessible.

The Technical Standard We Follow

To meet these requirements, Pitt-Bradford has adopted the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 Level AA as our official technical standard to comply with the April 24, 2026, deadline. While the Department of Justice’s 2024 ruling establishes WCAG 2.1 as the legal baseline for federal compliance, we have chosen to follow the newer WCAG 2.2 standard.

What does this mean? WCAG is the international standard for the web. By following 2.2 AA, we ensure our content is:

Perceivable: Information is presented in a way users can see or hear (e.g., captions on videos, alt-text on images).
Operable: The interface works with a keyboard, not just a mouse.
Understandable: Navigation is consistent and language is clear.
Robust: Content works across different browsers and assistive technologies (like screen readers).

We are proud to follow the digital accessibility standards set by University of Pittsburgh as well. By aligning with our main campus policies, we ensure that Pitt-Bradford provides the same level of inclusive access and support for our students, faculty and staff. Here, you can view the full University Digital Accessibility Policy.

We are continuously improving our content, if you encounter a barrier, please contact us immediately so we can provide you with an accessible alternative.

Exceptions

Archived documents and content: You don’t have to fix old web pages or files if they are strictly for historical reference and are no longer being used.
- Example: A department website for a research grant that ended in 2018, or a PDF of the 2012-2013 Course Catalog.
It must be in a clearly labeled "Archive" section and never updated. If you edit it even once, you must make it 100% accessible.
Third-Party Content: You aren't responsible for fixing content that the university didn't create or pay for. This does not cover software you buy. If the university licenses a third-party tool (like a library database, a ticket-buying app, or a housing portal), that vendor’s tool must be accessible.
Individual or Secure Content: Files that are meant for one person and kept behind a password don’t have to be accessible by default.
- Example: A specific student’s financial aid award letter, an employee’s pay stub, or a personal medical record in the student health portal.
This does not apply to "Course Materials." Even though Canvas is password-protected, a syllabus is for a group, not an individual, so it must be accessible.
Pre-existing Social Media Posts: Any social media posts that were made before the deadline are exempt from the compliance deadline. Any new posts made after the 2026 deadline must include alt-text and captions.
Pre-Existing Documents: Documents such as PDFs, Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc., that were available before the 2026 deadline are exempt. This only applies if they are not “active”.
- Example: A 2021 PDF Flyer for a “Career Fair” that has already occurred is exempt.
An old PDF syllabus or a 2019 "Change of Major" form is not exempt because students still use them, they are still active. If it's still being used, by anybody, it must be fixed.

Even if a document or content fits into one of these exceptions, there is still a legal obligation to provide a fully accessible version upon request.

Staff

All digital tools, documents, media, and forms must meet the standards by the deadline. To ensure this, remediate any content that may be inaccessible and always create new content with the standards in mind. Accessibility is something that everyone has a role in, your department is responsible for the content it publishes (emails, PDFs, presentations, etc.). If you need assistance, refer to any tools or training that may help, or you can contact Will Dube, Executive Director of Communications & Marketing at wjd33@pitt.edu.

Instructors & Faculty

All course content and Canvas content must meet the standards by the deadline. This includes any third-party content and software that may be used. This includes YouTube videos with correct captioning, any digital readings or textbooks, and external digital sources.

If you have old, clearly labeled “archive” courses, then you do not have to worry about updating them to meet the deadline standards. However, the moment you copy a file or module from a previous semester into a current course, it must be brought up to accessibility standards. If you need assistance, refer to any tools or training that may help, or you can contact Will Dube, Executive Director of Communications & Marketing at wjd33@pitt.edu.

When creating your syllabi for courses, consider using Canvas’s built in syllabus tool rather than just uploading a file. Since the content would be created natively in Canvas, it would be automatically responsive, mobile device friendly, and easier for a screen reader to navigate. If you prefer uploading a file, try sticking to a Microsoft Word document rather than a PDF. Word files are easier for students to download and customize if they need to make changes (increasing font size or changing colors) to improve their readability and understanding.

Always remember to follow these structural rules whether you're creating in Canvas or Word:

Keep a logical outline (H1, H2, H3)

Heading 1 is usually reserved for the course title.
Heading 2 is used for the main sections i.e. Class policy, Course Schedule, Required Materials.
Heading 3 and lower headings are for sub-sections.

Keep tables accessible for grading and schedules

Never use a table to just place text side-by-side.
Only use tables for text, such as grading scales. No images.
You must designate the top row as a header row so a screen reader can read the table correctly.

Use descriptive links

Avoid pasting long URLs or saying to "Click Here".

If you're creating a syllabus in Word and would like to save it as a PDF, there's some settings you can check to make sure the PDF will be tagged and readable. In Word, go to File > Save as and select PDF. Then in the file explorer window there should be an options button, ensure "Document structure tags for accessibility" is checked.

We are providing an accessible syllabus word template to build your own, if you would prefer that option.

Students

Generally, students will not be required to make their content accessible since it is mostly private work and personal notes. A student would only need to worry about their content being accessible if it is public. For instance, if a student has a work-study or campus job that involves creating posters, documents, social media posts, etc. then that content must be accessible. This also applies to any public-facing materials that come from student organizations. If you need assistance, refer to any tools or training that may help, or you can contact Will Dube, Executive Director of Communications & Marketing at wjd33@pitt.edu.