Getting Started with Digital Accessibility

An Empowered & Inclusive Rice: Your Digital Responsibility

Digital accessibility is more than a policy—it is a human right.

As part of Rice’s committment to an inclusive campus experience for all, we must ensure our digital environment fosters belonging and equal opportunity. This page serves as your "Start Here" guide. The resources you need are housed here in the How to Guides and Accessibility Practices sections of this website.

What You Need To Do (By Role)

🎓 Faculty & Instructors

Your Goal: Ensure every student can access learning materials on Day 1.

  • Check Your Canvas Courses: Rice uses Anthology Ally that is live in your courses. Look for the accessibility "gauges" next to your files and while you are using the editor.
    • Resource: Visit Accessibility Practices > Teaching for Inclusion to learn how to fix issues identified by Ally.
  • Design for Access: Before uploading a Syllabus or Slide Deck, run the Microsoft Accessibility Checker.
    • Resource: See How to Guides > Documents for step-by-step checklists on Word, PowerPoint, and PDF remediation.
  • Caption Your Media: Ensure all course videos have accurate captions. Automated captions (Zoom/Kaltura) must be edited for accuracy.
    • Resource: Review How to Guides > Multimedia for instructions on Zoom and Kaltura editing tools.

💼 Staff & Administrators

Your Goal: Operational excellence means everyone has equal access to digital information and technologies.

  • Procure Responsibly: Do not purchase software or digital platforms that do not meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards. You must require a VPAT from vendors before you buy and assess the accuracy of that information to make an informed decision.
  • Communicating Clearly: When sending department emails or posting to social media, avoid "images of text" and always add Alt Text, among other best practices.
    • Resource: Use the How to Guides > Social Media and Communications sections for best practices on hashtags, flyers, and email newsletters.
  • Usable Websites: Incorporate WCAG 2.1 AA requirements into new designs and remediate existing web content to ensure everyone can equally access the information.
  • Hosting Events: Ensure your virtual and in-person meetings are inclusive (e.g., enabling live transcripts).

🎒 Students

Your Goal: Advocate for yourself and create an inclusive culture.

  • Create Inclusive Content: Run the accessibility checker on your group projects and club websites. A seizure-inducing GIF or an untagged PDF excludes your peers.
    • Resource: Check the How to Guides section for tips on accessible social media and documents.
  • Speak Up: If you encounter a digital barrier, report it. Your feedback helps us identify and fix hidden issues.

🔄 The Remediation Approach: "Assess & Triage"

You likely have years of existing content. Do not try to fix everything at once. Follow this workflow to manage your "digital clutter":

  1. Clean House (Assess): Review your websites and file repositories. Delete or archive outdated content like CampusPress blogs or PDFs that are no longer needed.
  2. Prioritize (Triage): Focus on Active & High Traffic content first (Syllabi, HR forms, Application portals).
  3. Test Your Content: Don't guess if your website, documents or multimedia meet the requirements.

🚀 Empower Your Journey: Resources

We are here to help you move from "Compliance" to "Culture."

  • Get Trained: Go to Training & Events > Self-Paced Training and Live Events to enroll in the teaching for inclusion Canvas course or sign up for live training sessions.
  • Get Help: Unsure about a vendor? Stuck on a complex PDF?
    • 📧 Email: helpdesk@rice.edu
    • 📅 Navigate to Get Help to get more complex help from the Digital Accessibility Team.

"An accessible campus is an empowered campus, where every individual can reach their full potential."