The Jackrabbit Way to Digital Accessibility
It's as Easy as One-Two-Three!
One: Gather the Team. Build the Network.
- Create a collaborative network that supports accessibility across your unit. Identify leads, liaisons and contributors.
Two: Put the Plan into Action. Follow the “Rs.”
- Review and remove outdated or inaccessible digital content.
- Revise materials to meet accessibility standards.
- Reach everyone — start with accessibility.
- Responsibility is shared — every role plays a part.
Three: Make a Big Impact.
- Create accessible digital experiences. Every accessible document, webpage and communication makes a difference.
SDSU Digital Accessibility Network
Everyone and every unit has a vital leadership role in moving digital accessibility forward. Working together, this network builds consistency, accountability and innovation — keeping SDSU at the forefront of creating digitally accessible environments.
Service Partners
- Digital accessibility experts in the offices of Information Technology, Instructional Design Services, and University Marketing and Communications.
Service Partners Details
- Role
- Lead and set standards for digital accessibility across the university.
- Offer expert tools, guidance, training and support to leads, liaisons and contributors.
- Drive innovation in accessibility technologies and practices.
- Responsibilities
- Establish and maintain policies, frameworks and best practices aligned with university goals.
- Provide tools, templates and expert advice to leads, liaisons and contributors.
- Develop and deliver targeted training to build accessibility skills across roles.
- Manage audits and recommend emerging technology solutions.
- Benefits
- Promotes consistency and compliance across units and platforms.
- Aligns central services with unit-level efforts for a unified strategy.
- Boosts efficiency through shared resources and expert support, empowering all roles in the accessibility network.
Lead
- A dean, director, department head or leadership role in the unit.
Lead Details
- Role
- Champion digital accessibility within the unit.
- Support the liaison through leadership, advocacy and accountability.
- Responsibilities
- Promote accessibility as part of the unit’s culture and operations.
- Hold contributors and unit accountable for digital accessibility.
- Provide resources, authority and support for accessibility initiatives.
- Ensure compliance, promote training and drive continuous improvement.
- Benefits
- Strengthens support for liaison and team to succeed.
- Reduces risk and builds lasting impact.
Liaison
- A unit member chosen by the lead to help coordinate accessibility efforts and share resources with contributors. Units may have more than one liaison depending on their size and needs.
Liaison Details
- Role
- Collaborate with the lead, the Digital Accessibility Committee and service partners.
- Responsibilities
- Serve as the unit’s primary accessibility contact and shares updates and resources.
- Represent the unit in accessibility-related meetings and initiatives.
- Benefits
- Access to experts, tools and resources.
- Guided support for implementing accessibility practices.
Contributor
- All other individuals within the unit, who are ultimately responsible for creating accessible materials in their daily work, engaging in ongoing learning and helping advance the goals set by their unit’s lead and liaison.
Contributor Details
- Role
- Create digital content that meets accessibility standards.
- Ensure materials are accessible before seeking support from the liaison.
- Responsibilities
- Integrate accessibility into daily work and content creation.
- Use accessibility tools and checkers before submitting or publishing materials.
- Seek liaison support for complex issues and participate in ongoing training.
- Benefits
- Builds confidence and skill in accessible content creation.
- Frees liaison to focus on complex accessibility challenges.
Steps to Digital Accessibility Compliance
Review and Remove
Eliminate outdated or inaccessible digital content.
- Conduct a comprehensive inventory of all digital materials (e.g., websites, Word documents, Excel spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations).
- Evaluate which content is current, relevant and necessary.
- Identify and remove or archive obsolete or inaccessible materials (e.g., delete, unpublish or store as needed).
- Review websites for compliance with University Policy 7:14 on digital accessibility.
Revise
Improve the accessibility, relevance and effectiveness of existing content.
- Review and update content regularly to ensure it remains accurate, relevant and effective.
- Evaluate purpose and impact and make sure content meets current needs and serves its intended audience.
- Align with accessibility best practices and university policies, including 2:3, 2:7 and 2:10 (academic materials) and 7:14 (websites).
- Prioritize strategically. Focus first on content with the highest visibility or impact.
Reach
Design for accessibility from the start to engage all users.
- Learn and apply digital accessibility basics and applicable university policies, including 2:7 (course design) and 7:14 (websites).
- Utilize accessibility checkers as routinely as spell check tools.
- Plan ahead to create space for accessibility to be part of the process, not as an afterthought.
- Commit to continuous improvement. Practice leads to proficiency, and accessibility will become second nature.
- Use available resources and seek assistance when needed.
Responsibility
Foster a culture of shared accountability across ֱ.
- Adhere to institutional policies for effective and accessible communication, including 4:13 (ADA compliance) and 5:35 and 7:12 (accessible purchasing).
- Recognize individual responsibility in maintaining accessibility and regularly review digital materials.
- Embrace collective responsibility and help build a universitywide culture of digital accessibility.
- Stay informed and adaptable as policies, guidelines and technologies evolve.
- Establish a Digital Accessibility Network within each unit to coordinate efforts, offer consultation and maintain progress.
