What is Alternative Text?

Alternative text is a concise description of an image embedded within a webpage’s code. The description is read aloud to visually-impaired viewers using a screen reader. Its primary purpose is to provide context and meaning to users who cannot see the image. Alt text also provides a fallback in case the image fails to load and plays a role in search engine results. (Alternative Text from WebAIM)

News Categories

The digital accessibility requirements in Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (2024) are broad and impact digital files shared across campus. Given breadth of these requirements, accessibility will become part of our daily work. As we advance in our accessibility compliance efforts, it will be essential for those of us creating shared documents, recording videos, and managing websites to understand the guidelines for producing accessible content.

What is color contrast?

According to WebAIM, “contrast is a measure of the difference in perceived ‘luminance’ or brightness between two colors.” Contrast is expressed as a ratio with a range of 1:1 (both colors are the same; for example, white text on a white background) to 21:1 (for example, black text on a white background).

On April 24, 2024, the Department of Justice published a final rule updating the regulations for Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This rule emphasizes the need for web content and mobile applications provided by state and local governments, including public higher education institutions, to be accessible to people with disabilities. 

Upcoming Workshops - Fall 2024

Canvas Basics for Instructors - COLRS

Join COLRS staff to learn about navigating the Canvas interface and the foundational tools for organizing and building a course at UIS. Topics covered include: navigating, communicating with students, creating modules and assignments, and gradebook.

Essential Information & Dates

New "Assign to" Workflow & Functionality

screen shot of Manage Assign To in Canvas assignments.
Figure 1.