Who is Counting on Accessibility?
Accessibility is a fundamental commitment to student success at Boise State, extending far beyond a technical checklist to support the entire Bronco community. By prioritizing accessible design in our courses, digital materials, and campus spaces, we ensure that no one is sidelined by permanent, temporary, or situational barriers. Ultimately, this proactive approach provides every individual—regardless of how they interact with the world—the opportunity to thrive, belong, and succeed at Boise State.
Want to learn more about what’s required? Check out the following link for details on the upcoming ADA Title II Rule on Digital Accessibility.
Your Digital Presence
What do you create in digital formats that others read or interact with? What do you create for Boise State students or employees? For the public?
Consider the following different types of content and how you can add accessibility into your creation process.
Daily Communication & Outreach
Daily Communication & Outreach
This includes:
- Emails and Newsletters
- Online forms and responses
- Web pages
The goal for daily outreach is clarity and structure. For emails, newsletters, and web pages, add the following into your messages:
- Headings: use built-in heading styles (Heading 1, Heading 2) rather than just bolding text; this allows your readers to “scan” the page quickly.
- Images: Add brief descriptions for any and all images you add to your communication to help users who can’t see the visuals understand their purpose.
- Links: Always use descriptive links—instead of “click here,” use “Register for the Workshop”—so the destination is clear.
- Forms: ensure every question has a clear, visible label so everyone knows exactly what information is being requested.
Instructional Materials & Resources
Instructional Materials & Resources
- Course content
- Documents (PDF, Google, Word, etc.)
- Digital textbooks
- Special software
- Research Posters
For teaching materials, the priority is flexibility and compatibility.
- Text: Whether it’s a syllabus in document or a digital textbook, ensure the text is “searchable” (not a scanned image of a page) so it can be read aloud by assistive software.
- Layout: Use simple, consistent layouts and provide materials in multiple formats when possible.
- Keyboard Navigation: For specialized software, verify that it can be navigated using only a keyboard, ensuring that students with motor impairments can interact with the content as effectively as their peers.
Multimedia & Visual Engagement
Multimedia & Visual Engagement
- Videos
- Presentations
- Images
- Live streams or broadcasts
With visual and audio content, the key is providing an alternative path to the information. By ensuring that your message doesn’t rely on sight or sound alone, you make your most dynamic content accessible to everyone.
For videos and live streams, this means providing the following alternatives:
- Captions: accurate captions for those who cannot hear.
- Audio Description: describe important on-screen visuals for those who cannot see.
- Alt Text: use “Alt Text” to briefly describe the meaning of a photo or chart.
Where can I find Help?
Web Support
- Website:Â Boise State Webguide
- Email: HelpDesk@BoiseState.edu
Instructor and Course Support
- Website:Â Teaching and Learning Knowledge Base
- Email: Belonging@BoiseState.edu
Compliance and General Accessibility Support
- Website:Â Boise State Accessibility
- Email: Accessibility@BoiseState.edu
Accessibility Starters
Digital accessibility starts with the following strategies:
- Appropriate color contrast
- Formatted and structured headings
- Descriptions for Images (alt text)
- Link titles that make sense
- Captions and transcripts for videos
- Simple tables with a header row
Roadmap for Digital Accessibility
If you are not sure where to start, we suggest continuing to the Adopt. If you feel confident that you have adopted good habits for accessibility, but haven’t reviewed your old content, we suggest starting at Archive. Already archived? Move on to the Update step!