As part of our ongoing commitment to student success and inclusive teaching practices, MercerOnline is officially launching our Accessibility and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Awareness Campaign this week. This semester-long initiative will provide practical strategies, short how-to guidance, and resources to support accessible, engaging course design across our online, hybrid, and digital learning environments.
Recent federal regulations require public institutions to comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Version 2.1, Level AA by April 24, 2026. These standards are designed to make digital content usable by as many people as possible. They include practices such as appropriate color contrast, descriptive hyperlinks, logical document structure, alternative text for images, captioned media, and accessible course materials. This applies to web pages, Learning Management System course content, mobile apps, web-based tools, and digital student services.
Why Accessibility Matters
Accessible course design benefits all students—not only those with documented accommodations. Clear organization, readable materials, captioned media, and flexible learning approaches improve comprehension, engagement, retention, and overall academic success. Universal Design for Learning helps us anticipate learner variability and create learning environments that support diverse academic, technological, and personal circumstances.
This work also aligns with evolving accessibility expectations in higher education and supports our preparation for Blackboard Ally Fix Your Content Day this November, when we will focus campus-wide attention on improving course accessibility.
To begin the campaign, we are sharing some core accessibility practices:
CORE ACCESSIBILITY FOUNDATIONS
- Why accessibility matters (student success, equity, legal compliance)
- ADA Title II implications for higher education (2026 readiness)
- Blackboard Ally overview and interpreting scores
- Common accessibility/Quick accessibility barriers in LMS courses
- Quick accessibility wins that faculty can implement immediately
UDL Integration Topics