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.
For help with your digital accessibility questions or needs, please contact the Office of Digital Accessibility.
We are here to support UIS instructors! Call us at 217-206-8561 or email us for help with teaching strategies, technologies, and accessibility.
Adopting a UDL Attitude within Academia by Mary Quirke et al., Routledge, 2023.
Evaluating and Monitoring Digital Accessibility: Practitioners' Perspectives on Challenges and Opportunities by Letícia Seixas Pereira and Carlos Duarte, in Universal Access in the Information Society, 2025.
Digital accessibility is a civil right. It ensures that all students, faculty, and staff—regardless of ability—can fully participate in learning, teaching, research, and campus life. Accessible digital content and tools remove barriers to education, promote equity and inclusion, and are essential for compliance with laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
When working with vendors, UIS faculty and staff should try to keep a couple of things in mind in terms of digital accessibility.
Accessibility testing is a crucial aspect of creating an inclusive digital environment. It ensures that all users, including those with disabilities, can access and interact with web content effectively. This testing is not only important for inclusivity but also for compliance with legal standards such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 508.
Designing with accessibility in mind means creating content and products that are usable by people with a wide range of abilities and disabilities. This includes considering visual, auditory, cognitive, and motor impairments. The POUR principle guides accessibility design: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust.
During this time, the Digital Accessibility Specialist will answer questions on remediation and accessibility. Individuals can also use the Outlook booking tool to set up an appointment outside of these hours with ODA staff.
As your department or program begins your work with digital accessibility, we would recommend the following: