Accessibility

Accessibility

Florida A&M University is committed to providing an inclusive digital experience for all users, including people with disabilities. The University works to ensure that its websites, web content, digital documents, and mobile experiences are accessible, usable, and aligned with current accessibility standards.

What is Web Accessibility?

Web accessibility is the practice of designing, developing, and maintaining websites, applications, and digital content so that people with disabilities can perceive, understand, navigate, interact with, and contribute to the web. Accessible digital content improves usability for everyone and helps ensure equal access to University information, services, and resources.

 

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Florida A&M University Accessibility Commitment

Florida A&M University is committed to making digital content accessible across its web presence and digital services. This includes striving to provide content that is compatible with assistive technologies such as screen readers, keyboard-only navigation, captioning tools, text enlargement, speech recognition software, and other accessibility supports.

The University’s goal is to provide digital experiences that are:

• Perceivable — information and user interface components must be presented in ways users can perceive.
• Operable — interface components and navigation must be usable by a wide range of users, including keyboard-only users.
• Understandable — information and operation of the interface must be clear and predictable.
• Robust — content must work with current and future browsers, devices, and assistive technologies.

 

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Accessibility Standards and Requirements

Florida A&M University uses the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA as the primary standard for digital accessibility. These guidelines are recognized internationally and provide technical requirements for creating accessible websites, applications, and digital content.

The University’s accessibility efforts are also informed by applicable federal laws and regulations, including:

• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Title II
• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
• Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act

 

Important Legal Update for Public Universities

A new U.S. Department of Justice rule under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act takes effect on April 24, 2026 for public entities with a population of 50,000 or more. This rule requires covered web content and mobile applications provided by public entities to comply with WCAG 2.1 Level AA, subject to limited exceptions under the regulation.

As a public university, Florida A&M University is committed to supporting compliance with these digital accessibility requirements and to advancing equal access to its online programs, services, and activities.

 

What Should Be Accessible?

Accessibility applies to more than webpages alone. Digital accessibility considerations should be included in:

• Webpages and website navigation
• PDFs and other downloadable documents
• Word, PowerPoint, and Excel files shared online
• Images, graphics, charts, and other non-text content
• Audio and video content
• Online forms
• Web applications and mobile applications
• Third-party tools and services used to provide University information or services

 

Accessibility Best Practices

• Use meaningful headings and proper page structure.
• Provide alternative text for informative images.
• Ensure links are descriptive and make sense out of context.
• Maintain sufficient color contrast between text and background.
• Make all functionality available by keyboard.
• Provide captions for video and transcripts when appropriate.
• Use accessible tables only when data tables are necessary, with proper headers.
• Avoid using color alone to communicate meaning.
• Create forms with clear labels, instructions, and error identification.
• Ensure downloadable documents are created and remediated for accessibility before posting.

 

The following tools and resources can help website editors, developers, and content creators identify and resolve accessibility issues and maintain compliance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA guidelines.

• WebAIM Contrast Checker – Tests color contrast ratios between foreground and background colors.
• WAVE Browser Extensions – Evaluate web content accessibility issues directly within your browser.
• Adobe Color Contrast Analyzer – Checks whether color combinations meet accessibility contrast requirements.
• TPGI Colour Contrast Analyser (CCA) – A desktop application that helps determine if color combinations provide sufficient contrast for accessibility.
• Adobe PDF Accessibility Checker – Built-in accessibility checking tools within Adobe Acrobat.
• JAWS for Windows Screen Reader – A widely used screen reader that helps test how websites and applications are experienced by users with visual impairments.
• NVDA Screen Reader – A free, open-source screen reader for Windows used to test accessibility of web content.
• VoiceOver (Mac) Screen Reader – Apple’s built-in screen reader available on macOS and iOS devices.

 

Digital Documents and Media

All digital documents and media shared on Florida A&M University websites should be reviewed for accessibility before publication. This includes PDFs, Word documents, spreadsheets, presentations, videos, and audio files. Accessible files help ensure that students, employees, visitors, and community members can access important information without unnecessary barriers.

 

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Report an Accessibility Issue

If you experience difficulty accessing any content on a Florida A&M University website or digital platform, please report the issue to the appropriate University office or website owner. When reporting a problem, please include:

• The webpage or document URL
• A description of the problem encountered
• The assistive technology or browser used, if applicable
• Your contact information for follow-up, if desired

Florida A&M University will make reasonable efforts to address reported digital accessibility barriers and provide access to information in an alternate format when needed.

 

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