{"id":29908,"date":"2026-03-20T10:45:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T14:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/?p=29908"},"modified":"2026-03-24T09:58:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T13:58:09","slug":"march-digital-accessibility-make-your-sites-and-content-accessible","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/2026\/03\/20\/march-digital-accessibility-make-your-sites-and-content-accessible\/","title":{"rendered":"March Digital Accessibility: Make Your Sites and Content Accessible"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" src=\"https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AdobeStock_1566884351-Angel-Mills-600x338.jpg\" alt=\"A keyboard with the shift key re-labeled to accessibility and a person-in-wheelchair icon to the left of it\" class=\"wp-image-29911\" srcset=\"https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AdobeStock_1566884351-Angel-Mills-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AdobeStock_1566884351-Angel-Mills-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AdobeStock_1566884351-Angel-Mills-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AdobeStock_1566884351-Angel-Mills-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AdobeStock_1566884351-Angel-Mills-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AdobeStock_1566884351-Angel-Mills-665x374.jpg 665w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During March, the ITS Digital Accessibility team is highlighting website accessibility \u2014 what it is, why it matters, and the practical steps U-M technology staff and faculty can take to improve the web experience for everyone, including people with disabilities and people who use assistive technology. If you manage websites, publish content, support a CMS, or want a clear starting point for web accessibility, we can help you move forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why website accessibility<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Web accessibility is a foundation of digital accessibility. It means creating and maintaining digital content that can be used without barriers \u2014 whether someone is using a screen reader, keyboard navigation, captions, or a mobile device. While this focus is \u201cweb,\u201d many of the same habits (clear headings, descriptive links, meaningful alt text) also strengthen documents, emails, and other digital communications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Learn on your own: Quick resources<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Prefer to move at your own pace? These resources are a strong starting point:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/umich.instructure.com\/courses\/682446\/pages\/web-content-home\">Web Content Accessibility (U-M Canvas)<\/a>:<\/strong> A practical module with techniques you can apply immediately<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/accessibility.umich.edu\/how-to\/web-content-sites-apps\/quick-tips\">Quick Tips for Web Accessibility<\/a>:<\/strong> Short, actionable guidance for common fixes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/accessibility.umich.edu\/basics\/concepts-principles\">Accessibility concepts<\/a>:<\/strong> Foundational best practices for inclusive digital content<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/accessibility.umich.edu\/contact-services\/scanning\">Using Siteimprove at U-M<\/a>:<\/strong> How to access the ITS Web Accessibility Scanning service and use Siteimprove effectively<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Make progress this month: Choose your next step<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pick one action that matches your role and capacity right now:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>If you update web content:<\/strong> Run an automated check on your pages and fix what you can (headings, links, and alt text are great first wins).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>If you manage multiple sites:<\/strong> Make sure your sites are set up in Web Scanning with Siteimprove, then use dashboards to prioritize remediation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>If you already use Siteimprove:<\/strong> Set a simple improvement goal for March and track progress over time.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Do your part: Start where you are<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>For instructors and faculty<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Use clear headings on Canvas pages and course sites<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Write descriptive links that make sense out of context<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/accessibility.umich.edu\/basics\/concepts-principles\/alt-text\">Add meaningful alt text to course images<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/umich.instructure.com\/courses\/682446\/pages\/web-content-home\">Review the Web Content Accessibility Canvas module for practical guidance<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>For content editors and communicators<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Apply <a href=\"https:\/\/accessibility.umich.edu\/how-to\/web-content-sites-apps\/quick-tips\">Quick Tips<\/a> while editing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use headings, descriptive links, and alt text consistently<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/accessibility.umich.edu\/how-to\/web-content-sites-apps\/using-cms-editors\">Learn how your CMS (WordPress\/Drupal) supports accessible content<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>For developers and technical teams<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Validate structure, semantic markup, and accessible patterns<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/accessibility.umich.edu\/contact-services\">Partner with accessibility staff<\/a> when issues require deeper technical review<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/accessibility.umich.edu\/how-to\/web-content-sites-apps\">Review guidance for accessible web content and applications<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\">Related training: <a href=\"https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/?p=29912&amp;preview=true&amp;preview_id=29912\">Siteimprove training with live Q&amp;A<\/a><\/pre>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The ITS Digital Accessibility team is highlighting website accessibility \u2014 what it is, why it matters, and the practical steps U-M technology staff and faculty can take to improve the web experience for everyone, including people with disabilities and people who use assistive technology.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":195,"featured_media":29911,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_umich_oidc_access":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6,4],"tags":[95,1203,1204],"class_list":["post-29908","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-professional-development","category-features","tag-accessibility","tag-digital-accessibility","tag-tips"],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AdobeStock_1566884351-Angel-Mills-scaled.jpg",2560,1440,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AdobeStock_1566884351-Angel-Mills-400x266.jpg",400,266,true],"medium":["https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AdobeStock_1566884351-Angel-Mills-300x169.jpg",300,169,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AdobeStock_1566884351-Angel-Mills-768x432.jpg",665,374,true],"large":["https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AdobeStock_1566884351-Angel-Mills-600x338.jpg",600,338,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AdobeStock_1566884351-Angel-Mills-1536x864.jpg",1536,864,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AdobeStock_1566884351-Angel-Mills-2048x1152.jpg",2048,1152,true],"excerpt-thumbnail":["https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AdobeStock_1566884351-Angel-Mills-200x140.jpg",200,140,true],"themonic-thumbnail":["https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AdobeStock_1566884351-Angel-Mills-60x42.jpg",60,42,true],"ioslider-thumbnail":["https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AdobeStock_1566884351-Angel-Mills-658x300.jpg",658,300,true],"post-thumbnail":["https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AdobeStock_1566884351-Angel-Mills-665x374.jpg",665,374,true],"400x250-crop":["https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AdobeStock_1566884351-Angel-Mills-400x250.jpg",400,250,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Stephanie Rosen, Information and Technology Services","author_link":"https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/author\/ssrosen\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"The ITS Digital Accessibility team is highlighting website accessibility \u2014 what it is, why it matters, and the practical steps U-M technology staff and faculty can take to improve the web experience for everyone, including people with disabilities and people who use assistive technology.","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29908","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/195"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29908"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29908\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29925,"href":"https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29908\/revisions\/29925"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29911"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29908"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29908"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29908"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}