Department URL
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.
Accessibility Research
General Resources
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.
Laws
Key U.S. Laws on Digital Accessibility in Higher Education
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).
Working With Vendors
When UIS faculty or staff work with outside vendors—especially when buying software, digital tools, or online services—it’s important to make sure those products are accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities.
What Accessibility Standard Do We Use?
WCAG stands for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. These are rules created by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) to help make digital content usable for people with disabilities.
Accessibility Testing
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.
Accessible By Design
Accessible By Design: Our 2026-2027 Theme
Accessibility isn't a checklist we complete after the fact — it's a standard we build toward from the start. This year, the Office of Digital Accessibility is organizing our work, our partnerships, and our professional development around a simple idea: access should be designed in, not added on after the fact.
Office Hours
Academic Year Office Hours
Get live assistance with digital accessibility and remediation from the Digital Accessibility Specialist during drop-in hours, or schedule a 1-on-1 meeting.