Upcoming Accessibility Events

Upcoming Events

Create Accessible Google Docs

Join the Accessibility Ambassadors for a presentation by members Amy Drayer, user interface developer from University Libraries; and Khaled Musa, director of the Office for Digital Accessibility.

The University just enabled the ability for everyone to use Grackle Suite to check the accessibility of their Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets. In this presentation, Amy will go over the ins and outs of how to create accessible Google Docs that are usable by everyone. Khaled will provide a demonstration on using Google Docs with a screen reader, and what navigating an inaccessible document is like for screen reader users.

Presenters will demonstrate how to use Grackle Docs to check the accessibility of your documents as you work on making them accessible and usable by everyone. Bring your document, follow along, and learn a few accessibility tips and tricks.

Date and Time

Presenters

  • Amy
    Drayer
    University Libraries
  • Khaled
    Musa
    Office for Digital Accessibility

Sponsors

Accessibility Ambassadors

Registration

Registration for this session is required. Let us know if you are attending. By default, we enable auto-captioning in the webinar. Please let us know what additional accommodations we can provide. Two weeks notice (April 10) will help us to better fulfill requests. This session will be recorded, captioned, and shared with the Google Group.

Use Accessibility Checkers Early and Often

Overview

Accessibility checkers highlight areas in your document that might be problematic for people with disabilities, as well as for anyone using assistive technology. UMN-supported accessibility checker tools are built in to Canvas and Drupal websites, and can be used for checking other websites as well. Some tools are also available for content created with other digital technologies. 

However, these tools cannot find all accessibility issues, and they won't be able to tell you whether your content makes sense or is out-of-date. Accessibility checkers, manual assessments and tests, and critical thinking must work in tandem.

Course Sites

Two accessibility checking tools are built into the University's learning management system, Canvas.

ToolDescriptionResources
Rich Content Editor (RCE)The RCE includes an accessibility tool that detects common accessibility errors in content created within the RCE.How do I use the Accessibility Checker in the Rich Content Editor?
Universal Design Online Content Inspection Tool (UDoIT)

UDOIT scans content within a specific course site and creates a report that identifies possible accessibility issues. 

Additionally, the included U FIX IT tool provides guidance on how to repair the issues.

UDoIT UMN self-help resources

Digital Documents

Accessibility checking features are built in to Microsoft Word, which is available systemwide (see the Microsoft Office page). The feature can be used to check both Word documents and Google Docs. Accessibility checkers for content created in other tools exist but are not supported by UMN.

ToolDescriptionResources
Microsoft Word accessibility toolAn accessibility checker is built in to Microsoft Word that works with any version released after 2010.Consult the list of rules for Microsoft's Accessibility Checker.
Google DocsAt present, Google Docs does not have a built-in accessibility checker, but you can use the accessibility checker built into Microsoft Word (row above) or the GrackleDocs extension (row below).
  1. Download your Google Doc as a Microsoft Word file.
  2. Use the accessibility checker built into Microsoft Word or GrackleDocs.
  3. When you are finished, you can upload your Microsoft Word file to Google Drive again. Accessibility changes made when the file was in Microsoft Word format are retained.
GrackleDocsGrackleDocs is an add-on within Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides that is available to UMN Google Drive users as of 3/18/25. It walks users through accessibility fixes for content created in some Google Apps.See Google Drive: Use GrackleDocs Accessibility Checker for installation instructions.

Websites

An accessibility checker is built into UMN Drupal websites, and another can be used on all websites, including those built in Drupal.

ToolDescriptionResources
Editoria11yContent contributors can use the Editoria11y module to identify accessibility issues on each page in Drupal Lite and Drupal Enterprise websites.Drupal: Find Content Accessibility Issues with Editoria11y
Pope TechWebsite owners and their delegates can use Pope Tech to scan a website or single web page for accessibility issues and see a report of specific errors along with their exact locations. Pope Tech UMN self-help resources

ODA Services

Digital Accessibility Office Hours

Our team is available to answer questions and provide technical guidance and support to the University of Minnesota community. We hold virtual office hours via Zoom on the first Thursday of every month, 1–2 p.m. CST. Sign up to attend below or at z.umn.edu/ODA-OfficeHours.

Accessibility Office Hours Scheduler Form

Digital Accessibility Consultation or Audit

Please submit the following form if you have specific questions about the accessibility of a University of Minnesota course, website, or document.

ODA Consultation or Audit Request Form

Digital Accessibility Presentation or Training

If you or your team would like a refresher on accessibility, we can help!

We provide customized presentations and training for the University of Minnesota community about accessibility topics such as: 

  • General accessibility best practices
  • Why accessibility matters
  • Website content and/or development techniques
  • Automatic and manual tools and testing methods
  • Accessible course work strategies
  • Learning tools accessibility
  • Accessible presentations, documents, and forms

We invite you to fill out a request form so we can connect with you!

ODA Presentation or Training Request Form

Accessibility Compliance Review

Are you considering procuring a new tool for use at the University of Minnesota, and not sure how to make accessibility a part of the request for proposal (RFP) or procurement process? We can help!

All tools must undergo an accessibility evaluation before being procured, regardless of whether they are free or purchased, and whether they are procured through a RFP or by a department or faculty member. Complete a review form to request an accessibility evaluation prior to procuring a tool:  

ODA RFP or Tool Review Form

About the ODA

Why Does Digital Accessibility Matter?

Digital accessibility is the practice of designing, creating, and sharing digital content so it can be used by everyone—including people with disabilities—in an equitable manner. Following digital accessibility best practices and adhering to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1 AA) helps to ensure that everyone, including disabled individuals, have equal access to webpages, software, mobile applications, documents, videos, and other electronic resources. Improving accessibility improves the user experience for everyone. 

History of Digital Accessibility at UMN

Over the past several decades, the dedicated efforts of numerous passionate individuals have propelled the University of Minnesota towards a more accessible digital landscape. The creation of the ODA formalizes, builds upon, and expands these efforts.

2002

2010

The University launches the accessibility.umn.edu site.

2016

The Digital Accessibility Community of Practice Steering Committee convened a stakeholders’ group from across the University to examine the University’s digital accessibility landscape. 

The University launches its next iteration of accessibility.umn.edu, which is called Accessible U.

2017

2018

  • Starting in February, all uploads to the University’s Kaltura media management system receive auto-generated captions; our implementation includes a comprehensive process for editing those captions and paying for human-reviewed captions.

2019

2020

2022

The University first offers Pope Tech.

2023

The first accessibility course required for faculty and instructors at a university is launched, called Fundamentals of Disability Accommodations and Inclusive Course Design.

2024

A cross-unit virtual Office for Digital Accessibility (ODA) is established and the Accessible U website is renamed accordingly. 

Understanding Disability

Prevalence and Impact of Disabilities

About 20% of the world and the U.S. population experiences disability during their life span. Compared to non-disabled people, disabled people experience:

  • poorer health outcomes
  • less educational attainment
  • fewer relationships
  • higher rates of under- and unemployment
  • higher rates of poverty

These social and economic disparities are very often compounded by race, ethnicity, national origin, home language, and system barriers to accessing services. 

Ways to Understand Disability

Paradigms for understanding human variation have changed over time.

Social Model

The social model of disability emerged in the 1970s as disabled people began to understand full participation as a civil right. Their activism reshaped public schools, public transportation, higher education, and expectations for employment and enjoyment.

According to the model, the most significant barrier for individuals with disabilities is not the disability itself; rather it is the environment in which a person with a disability must interact. A society that is built to suit non-disabled people reproduces barriers for disabled people.

Social Model Animation on YouTube (1:26 minutes)

Outmoded Models

Although they continue to circulate and to limit opportunities for disabled people, the models of disability described next are outmoded. They advance an understanding of disability that is grounded in deficit thinking about individuals. They do not reflect a contemporary legal/policy landscape; they do not contribute to the kind of equitable and inclusive community that we strive for at the University of Minnesota.

  • “The Medical Model” understands disability as a problem impacting an individual. In the medical model, a disabled person is understood to be better off when their disability can be cured or overcome. This person is defined uniquely in terms of what they are unable to do.
  • “The Moral Model” defines disability as a sign of moral failing, the result of not doing enough of the right things. Inherent in the moral model is a distrust of disabled individuals and their experiences.
  • “The Charity Model” defines disability as a tragedy. Disabled experiences are met with pity. They are presumed to be unable to voice their own needs or care for themselves and are often placed in protective settings
  • “The Rehabilitation Model” promotes the idea that people with disabilities should work hard to function as “normally” as possible, to avoid causing discomfort or inconvenience to people who don’t experience disability.

Accommodations

To devise suitable accommodations for people with disabilities, contact the Disability Resource Center on your campus. See One DRC.

Learn more about how both accommodations and accessibility are essential to people with disabilities on Web Accessibility: Essential for Some, Useful for All.

GAAD 2025

Global Accessibility Awareness Day is a virtual accessibility event on Thursday, May 15, 2025. The year’s theme is “Committing to Change.”

ODA Site Map

Speakers

Thank you for participating in Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2025! We have best practices and some resources to help you, as well as a timeline for when we’ll be asking for content. Please reach out to us with any questions or concerns.

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