JMU Digital Accessibility Awareness Course
Get an introduction to the fundamental concepts of digital accessibility with a focus on creating accessible digital content.
This online, self-paced course is for members of the JMU community who work on digital content, such as JMU websites, documents, presentations, and online learning materials.
Why digital accessibility matters: Digital accessibility helps make it easier for anyone, including people with disabilities, to use and understand online information. It makes electronic resources effective for all users, regardless of ability, disability, or the need for assistive technology. By considering these needs, we can promote the general good by building a more inclusive environment for everyone.
Learn more about ways we can support the accessibility of your courses and visit JMU’s Digital Accessibility website for additional resources.
Completion time: The average completion time for this self-paced course is 1.5 to 2 hours, not including the time to apply what you learn.
To join this course: Enroll yourself at any time! Log in with your JMU credentials, then select “Enroll in Course.”
Related offering: This self-paced offering is related to but not the same as our Learning Access through Universal Design (LAUD) self-paced program for JMU faculty.
Objectives
After completing this course, you will be able to:
- Maintain awareness of relevant regulations, best practices, and rules for digital accessibility
- Apply technical and design standards that must be followed when producing accessible digital content
- Identify and evaluate tools and strategies for developing accessible digital materials
- Take practical steps toward applying digital accessibility concepts and standards to your work
JMU Libraries developed this online self-paced training based on a similar training offered by the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Digital Accessibility Office and content from the ADA National Network OCR Video Series.
What People Are Saying
“This course offers a wealth of resources. Thank you for putting it together in one place.”
“The 3rd module provided me with a helpful toolbox of resources, especially for identifying issues and how to correct them in Canvas. In Fall 2025, I focused on images and alt text in lectures, docs, and on Canvas pages. This semester, I plan to tackle structure and headings in text documents, slides, and navigation screens. Thanks for putting all of this together for us!”
“I was pleasantly surprised to learn some new things even though I have been paying attention to these issues in design for a few years. I think it is important that JMU as a community continues to improve our efforts and understanding on how to design for accessibility.”
“I found this course to be extremely helpful. I also am very grateful for the resources provided throughout the modules. Thank you for creating this course!”
Join This Canvas Course
You may enroll yourself at any time! Log in with your JMU credentials, then select “Enroll in Course.”