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Screenshot of Accessible Course Content Checklist

Simple Check, Small Steps, Big Impact: Making Course Content Accessible for Every Learner

Written by CEN-SLATINAL on . Posted in blog, Instructional Design, resources, teaching online.

You don’t need to be an expert to make your digital course content more accessible! With a few thoughtful tweaks and the helpful SUNY Online Accessible Course Content Checklist, you can provide digital learning materials that support every learner.

When Title II updates take effect in April 2026 and impact higher education institutions, we instructors must ensure our digital course materials are accessible from the start of learning, and not just remediated as needed (ADA.gov, 2024; Garrett, 2025). However, accessibility is more than a legal requirement; it is an ethical responsibility to support all our students. As a bonus, accessible content is easier to update and is better suited for evolving technologies. A few improvements now will save time later and better support everyone!

The SUNY Online Accessible Course Content Checklist can help with that process. It is a customizable resource inspired by OSCQR with best practices and WCAG standards to help educators meet these expectations and create inclusive learning environments. Faculty or Instructional Designers can download a copy of the checklist to use in reviewing or developing accessible course content. It includes drop-down menus for completion tracking, space for comments, and related resources. Campuses can also adapt it to fit their specific needs or processes.

Here are some tips that may be helpful while updating instructional content:

  • Use the checklist as a guide and tracker​
  • Start with the easiest or highest priority​ items to update
  • Use available checkers and your own review​
  • Use built-in tool functionality​
  • Use or create accessible templates

Looking ahead to the April 2026 Title II compliance deadline, now is the time to create a plan, compile a toolkit, and stay informed. SUNY Online is hosting several related webinars during National Distance Learning Week, including two sessions on the Accessible Course Content Checklist. SUNY’s Access for All webinar series also focuses on creating accessible documents, presentations, and PDFs. Providing accessible content benefits all learners, but it’s essential for those with disabilities. The checklist is a great starting point, and taking small steps now can make a big difference in supporting all our learners.

References:

ADA.gov. (2024, March 8). Fact Sheet: New Rule on the Accessibility of Web Content and Mobile Apps Provided by State and Local Governments. ADA.gov. https://www.ada.gov/resources/2024-03-08-web-rule/

Garrett, K. (2025, September 25). New Federal Digital Accessibility Requirements: What Higher Ed Needs to Know and Do Now – Online Learning Consortium. Online Learning Consortium. https://onlinelearningconsortium.org/olc-insights/2025/09/federal-digital-a11y-requirements/

#NDLW, accessibility, instructional design