Accessible Course Content for all UC Berkeley Students
At UC Berkeley, we want every student to be able to engage fully with their coursework from the moment they open a reading, watch a video, or log into bCourses. Accessibility is simply part of creating a learning environment where all students can participate, succeed, and feel included.
We know that instructors juggle many responsibilities, and making course content accessible can feel unfamiliar or overwhelming at first. This hub is designed to make that process easier. Here, you’ll find clear guidance and small steps you can take to ensure your course materials don’t unintentionally create barriers for students.
ADA Title II: What's Changing in 2026
In 2024, the Department of Justice released an update to Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These new regulations, which take effect in April 2026, include updated expectations for the accessibility of digital course materials; everything from readings and documents to videos and interactive tools.
While the full rule covers many areas of public institutions, this page focuses specifically on what instructors need to know about digital instructional materials.
Beginning in April 2026, materials shared with students—whether on bCourses or inside other password-protected tools—will be expected to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA.
This shift is significant, and it’s completely normal to have questions about what it means in practice.
Top 5 Actions Instructors Can Take Now
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Use the Accessibility Checker (Ally) in bCourses to survey the accessibility status of your existing course content, and follow the guidance that Ally provides for fixing different issues. Prioritize materials you will actively use on or after April 24, 2026.
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Revisit this Accessibility in Teaching and Learning Resource Hub as needed to avail yourself of resources and tools for making material such as slides, documents, and PDFs accessible - including specific guidance related to STEM needs and handwritten notes. Bookmark this site for easy reference.
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Unpublish Inaccessible Course Content from bCourses sites: Focus on materials that you are currently using, and unpublish materials not in current use while you work on them. This way, you can update materials gradually, beginning with those that will be available to students on or after April 24, 2026. Consider letting students know you are actively working on accessibility and invite them to flag any files that are inaccessible.
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Start with Editable Formats: Start making accessibility fixes in your original, editable format. Formats such as Canvas pages (HTML), Word or Google Docs, and ePub versions are easier for students to navigate and typically require far less remediation than scanned PDFs. All new materials created on or after April 24, 2026 should be built accessibly from the outset.
- Utilize the Accessibility of Library Collections: When possible, link to accessible licensed library resources instead of uploading scanned pages or personal PDF copies. Please submit questions, suggestions, or requests for support through the Library digital collections intake form.
FAQs
Q: Does the ADA Title II update apply to physical course materials?
A: No. The ADA Title II update focuses on digital materials and does not apply to analog hard copy course materials, such as physical textbooks or handouts.
Q: What is the best strategy for handling PDF documents?
When managing PDFs, keep in mind the following:
- Consider alternatives to PDFs, as PDF accessibility can be very difficult to achieve.
- When creating new PDFs, build accessibility into source files before exporting.
- For existing PDFs, OCR and tagging can make them more accessible.
For detailed instructions, refer to Accessible PDF Files.
Q: How should I share digital reading materials?
A: Whenever possible, link directly to licensed Library resources rather than uploading scanned pages or personal PDF copies. However, please note that the Title II update requires that linked materials be accessible. If a Library document is not WCAG compliant, please request support using the Library digital collections intake form.
Q: If I must scan a document, how do I ensure the PDF output is accessible?
A: Avoid creating "image-only" PDFs, as screen readers cannot read text locked inside an image. Use Library scanners or hardware that offers Optical Character Recognition (OCR). OCR converts image-based text into searchable, machine-readable text. For further guidance, see the "Remediating Inaccessible PDFs" section of Accessible PDF Files.
Q: How can I make handwritten lecture notes accessible?
A: Digital scans of handwritten notes are often inaccessible "image-only" files. We suggest converting these notes into accessible formats using campus-licensed AI tools like Gemini or NotebookLM. Refer to the "Accessible scans of handwritten notes" section within Accessible PDF Files for guidance.
Q: What should I do about complex figures and mathematical expressions in STEM materials?
A: Math content presents unique challenges because equations, symbols, and notations often export as inaccessible images. Your approach will depend on whether you have access to edit the original document. Please review the "STEM Considerations for math in PDFs" section of Accessible PDF Files for scenarios covering typical situations.
Q: Do my lecture slides need to be accessible?
A: Yes. If you share digital copies of your lecture slides with students, they need to be accessible. Visit Accessible Slides for guidance on PowerPoint and Google Slides, covering essential steps such as using built-in accessible layouts, setting reading order, adding alt text, and using accessibility checkers.
Q: What are the accessibility requirements for audio and video content?
A: To align with WCAG 2.1 AA standards and ADA Title II, all digital media shared with students need to be accessible, which includes providing captions and transcripts for videos and text transcripts for audio-only content. Kaltura, a tool integrated with bCourses (Canvas), facilitates this process by automatically generating draft text for both captions and transcripts upon upload. For further instructions on managing these features and adhering to content creation best practices, please refer to the Accessible Audio & Video guide.
Q: Whom can I contact for further assistance?
A: If you cannot find the information you need in these resources, please reach out to us using the RTL Accessibility Guidance Inquiries webform.