What Has Changed?
The U.S. Department of Justice recently finalized Title II regulations requiring all digital content at public institutions to be accessible by April 2027.
In response, campus leadership has prioritized accessibility improvements for courses that either (1) enroll 200 or more students or (2) are required for a degree program. These accessibility requirements apply to all digital course materials, including documents, media, and external resources.
You can learn more about the official Title II ruling from the ADA Title II Fact Sheet.
What Support Is Available?
Gies Teaching & Learning (T&L) is here to support you! In alignment with the campus guidelines and available resources, here is what you can expect:
For Courses That Either Enroll >200 Learners or Are Required for a Degree
Per campus guidelines, T&L prioritize proactive work on large-enrolling courses and courses required to complete a degree. We will soon reach-out to faculty of the largest enrolling courses to develop a course-specific remediation plan. This support will include T&L staff reviewing and remediating (correcting for accessibility requirements) the content of your course. No changes will be made to your course without your permission. Rather, changes will be made collaboratively with you to ensure there are no changes to the meaning of your content.
For All Other Courses
We encourage you to take advantage of the training workshops hosted by CITL and offered by experts from across campus (including Gies’ own Accessibility Specialist). These workshops will equip you with basic skills that will address most foundational accessibility requirements.
We also encourage you to join the Boldly Accessible Challenge. The Boldly Accessible Challenge is a program that guides faculty through three phases of course remediation.
We have also launched:
- A library of templates that will help ensure your content is accessible
- A help desk to consult with you on your specific situation
- A guide to using automated technology to help address common accessibility issues within your course
Accessibility Help Desk
The Accessibility Help Desk is available to assist with accessibility-related topics, including digital content, course design, and inclusive teaching practices.
To get started, visit the Gies Teaching and Learning Faculty and Staff Support Request form and choose “Accessibility Consultation” from the category drop-down menu when submitting your request. You will be contacted about your help desk request within two (2) business days.
When Will All of This Happen?
Workshop offerings (including recordings) through CITL are already available.
T&L is currently remediating and reviewing content in large-enrollment/required courses.
What Should I Do as Faculty?
- Check out the Bottom Line for more communications about accessibility.
- Attend or watch the prerecorded workshops from CITL.
- Consider joining the Boldly Accessible Challenge.
Where Can I Find Accessible Course Templates?
Accessible Syllabus Templates:
- Gies Common Syllabus Template
- For individuals using Canvas and DesignPlus, templates are also available through the New DesignPlus Sidebar for both undergraduate/non-iDegree and iDegree courses
Accessible Canvas Templates:
Other Accessible Templates:
Where Can I Go For More Info and Training?
- ADA Title II Fact Sheet
- UIUC Minimum Accessibility Standards
- CITL – Make Your Course Accessible
- CITL – Accessibility Training Opportunities
Who Can I Contact With Questions?
Jason Mock
Sr. Dir. Teaching and Learning Strategy
jmock@illinois.edu
Nancy Hightower
Accessibility Specialist
nancymh@illinois.edu