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Catch up on the latest news, events, and tips from the Office of Digital Accessibility
Unit Accessibility
The Digital Accessibility Sprints are a structured, collaborative initiative led by the Office of Digital Accessibility (ODA) to enhance digital accessibility across university departments and programs. Each sprint cycle runs for approximately eight weeks and provides a dedicated space for departments to work closely with the Digital Accessibility Remediation Team (DART).
Digital Accessibility Leadership Team
Formed in Spring 2025, the UIS Digital Accessibility Leadership Team is a cross-functional committee providing strategic collaboration and guidance to advance digital accessibility across campus. The team operates through dedicated working groups focused on the following areas:
What is an Accessible Link?
Links are one of the foundational elements of digital content. They are found on websites, online courses, apps, and email. Accessible links connect concise and descriptive text to a website or file. They make it easier for everyone to navigate and consume content.
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)
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.
DART
Who We Are
The Digital Accessibility Remediation Team works with faculty and staff at UIS to ensure that documents, presentations, and multimedia are accessible. We are also available for short-term or long-term consultations with departments or units on campus.
Staff
Carey Applegate, Ph.D., CPACC
Director of Digital Accessibility
Dr. Carey Applegate joined UIS in April 2023, bringing nearly two decades of expertise in instructional design, educational program management, and university-level teaching and research. In her role with the Office of Digital Accessibility, she is dedicated to promoting inclusive digital environments.
Contact
Connecting with ODA Staff
For help with your digital accessibility questions or needs, please contact the Office of Digital Accessibility.
Email + Telephone Support
We are here to support UIS instructors! Call us at 217-206-8561 or email us for help with teaching strategies, technologies, and accessibility.