Digital Media Accessibility

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is committed to upholding the principles of Colorado House Bill 21-1110, ensuring that people with disabilities have equal, available, and reliable access to the university’s services, digital content, and technologies. Our promise extends to all aspects of accessibility, encompassing both technology and our people.

The CU Anschutz community is collectively responsible for ensuring that the technologies we choose, use, and create are fully accessible, in alignment with the requirements of the bill. This commitment underscores our dedication to fostering an inclusive and accessible environment for all members of our campus community.

Accessibility is the degree to which a product, device, program, service, resource, or environment is available to a given user.

Digital accessibility refers to the practice of designing digital products, such as websites, applications, and documents, so that people with disabilities can use them effectively. This includes designing interfaces that can be navigated using assistive technologies like screen readers, ensuring content is perceivable by those with visual impairments, providing alternatives for audio and video content, and making interfaces operable for those with mobility impairments.

The goal of digital accessibility is to ensure that everyone, regardless of their abilities, can access and use digital content and services.

Equal Access

Digital accessibility ensures that people with disabilities have equal access to online content and allows them to participate fully in the digital world.

Independence

Accessible websites and digital content empower users with disabilities to navigate digital content independently. This supports self-sufficiency and autonomy.

Social Inclusion

In the age of social media, accessibility means equal access to social growth and community engagement.

Legal and Ethical Obligations

Many countries have laws and regulations that mandate digital accessibility. Organizations must comply to uphold ethical standards avoid legal consequences.

Better User Experience

Accessibility benefits all users. Clear navigation, well-structured content, and adaptable interfaces enhance the overall user experience, leading to increased engagement and satisfaction.

Our ongoing accessibility effort works towards being in line with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.1, level AA criteria. These guidelines not only help make technology accessible to users with sensory, cognitive and mobility disabilities, but ultimately to all users, regardless of ability.

We welcome comments on how to improve our technology’s accessibility for users with disabilities. Please let us know if you need to report a barrier or request an accommodation.

Report a barrier or request an accommodation

File Accessibility Remediation Tool

SensusAccess: Self-service tool that converts documents into a range of digitally accessible alternative formats.

Document Accessibility and eCommunications

Digital Accessibility Content Development Workflows: General best practices to consider when designing and developing media content. The following best practices can guide you through creating accessible media and assist alleviating many of the most common accessibility issues.

Digital Accessibility Standards and Resources: A repository of recommended resources to support you navigating and adhering to our Digital Accessibility Policy and Standards and Guidelines. 

Digital Accessibility Office CU Boulder: A collection of resources related to Content Accessibility Fundamentals, Document Accessibility, and more.

Accessibility Best Practices: Best practices you can apply to all digital communications.

4 Strategies for Creating Accessible Content: Four simple guidelines you can follow to ensure that your communications meet accessibility standards.