Digital Accessibility

Background

Student Life Technology Services (SLTS) helps teams create digital content that is easy for everyone to use. We support Ohio State's digital accessibility standards so all students, staff, faculty, and guests can easily access our websites, documents, and digital tools.

Our Goals

SLTS works to improve access across all Student Life digital platforms. We focus on five iterative goals that demonstrate Digital Accessibility Policy maturity:

• Build Accessibility Skills: We offer Monthly staff training to the 7 Core accessibility skills for digital content creation.
• Accessibility Assessment: We provide manual testing, support and guidance for accessible software procurement and creation.
• Site Builder Content Editor Teams: We review current websites and documents to find access barriers and plan steps to fix them.
• Manage Support Requests: We provide prompt help and answers for accessibility questions and complaints.
• Track Progress: We help Student Life departments track their accessibility efforts and report on their success to the university.

Our Standards

SLTS follows the Ohio State Minimum Digital Accessibility Standards (MDAS), which are based on Web Content Accessibility Guidelines WCAG 2.1 Level AA. This ensures that our websites, documents, and software applications are:

• Perceivable: Information is presented in ways all users can sense.
• Operable: Interface components are navigable by keyboard and assistive tech.
• Understandable: Content and operation of the interface are clear.
• Robust: Content remains accessible as technologies evolve.

Our Skill Focus: The 7 Core Skills

Getting started with digital accessibility can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. To make our digital spaces accessible for everyone, SLTS focuses on the 7 Core Skills of digital accessibility. These are seven simple but powerful habits that all Ohio State staff, faculty, and student employees should use when creating documents, emails, websites, or CarmenCanvas courses.

Training and Resources

Learning to create accessible content is an ongoing process. We offer resources to support Site Builder editors, course creators, and department staff.

• Self-Guided Learning: Use the ADA Digital Accessibility Center's 7 Core Skills resources for step-by-step guidance in Word, PowerPoint, and Canvas.