Digital Accessibility Challenge

Front view of a historic academic building at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, framed by large trees, with bold white text overlay reading 'Digital Accessibility Challenge.

Every Student, Every Course

What is the Digital Accessibility Challenge: Every Student, Every Course?

Digital Accessibility Challenge: Every Student, Every Course is a campus-wide initiative that invites UNO instructors to improve the accessibility of their Canvas courses. This is a self-paced program. When you sign up for the course, there are eight key areas that you will address: Course Navigation, Headings, Links, Lists, Tables, Color, Images, Video and Audio.

Note: This challenge does not currently address document remediation (such as PDF, PowerPoint, or Word). That component will be introduced in the future.

After you sign up and begin working, we’ll send you regular check-in emails to see how everything is going. If you need help at any point along the way, you can book a time to meet with an Instructional Designer or Technologist. Links to book those meetings will be provided in the check-in emails.

By completing the challenge, you will make your course more usable for all students, meet federal requirements, and support UNO’s ongoing commitment to inclusive education. Ready to get started?

Get Started on the Digital Accessibility Challenge

What happens after I finish the challenge?

When you complete the challenge, you will:

Earn recognition for your work, including a digital badge to display in your Canvas course and language to use in your syllabus.

Know that your course content meets ADA Title II standards.

Gain reusable skills that you can apply to future courses and share with colleagues.

Contribute to UNO’s leadership in digital accessibility across higher education.

Most importantly, you will give your students a more inclusive, flexible, and supportive learning experience.

Card labeled 'Course Navigation' in bold black text centered on a white background, with a horizontal color bar in red, black, and gray below.

Streamline your course by keeping only the essentials visible in the navigation.

Learn More About Course Navigation

Card labeled 'Headings' in bold black text centered on a white background, with a horizontal color bar in red, black, and gray beneath it.

Organize your pages with clear heading styles so students and screen readers can easily follow the content.

Learn More About Headings

Card labeled 'Lists' in bold black text on a white background, with a horizontal bar in red, black, and gray below the label.

Use Canvas’s list tool to format information into clear steps or grouped items students can scan quickly.

Learn More About Lists

Card labeled 'Links' in bold black text centered on a white background, with a horizontal bar of red, black, and gray shades beneath it.

Write descriptive link text so students know exactly where each link will take them.

Learn More About Links

Card labeled 'Color' in bold black text centered on a white background, with a red, black, and gray horizontal bar underneath.

Choose colors with strong contrast and never rely on color alone to show meaning.

Learn More About Colors

Card labeled 'Tables' in bold black text centered on a white background, with a red, black, and gray color bar underneath.

Add headers and captions to keep tables simple, clear, and accessible for all students.

Learn More About Tables

Card labeled 'Images' in bold black text centered on a white background, with a red, black, and gray horizontal bar underneath.

Add concise alt-text to images or mark them decorative if they do not add meaning.

Learn More About Images

Card labeled 'Video and Audio' in bold black text centered on a white background, with a horizontal color bar in red, black, and gray below.

Caption all videos and provide transcripts for audio.

Learn More About Video and Audio

Should I sign up?

Yes! The challenge is designed for all UNO faculty. We recommend starting with 1-2 courses. The steps are simple, and support is available at every stage.

If you are new to accessibility, the challenge provides a clear starting point.
If you already have experience, the challenge gives you the structure and accountability to move your courses to the next level.

Every instructor who joins contributes to building a stronger culture of access at UNO.

Why is digital accessibility important?

Accessibility ensures that every student has equal access to learning. Students may use assistive technologies, need alternative formats, or benefit from clear and consistent design. When courses are accessible, all students gain from easier navigation, better readability, and more flexible engagement with content.

Accessibility is also required by law. The U.S. Department of Justice updated the Americans with Disabilities Act Title II in 2024 to include web accessibility standards. Public universities of UNO’s size must meet these standards by April 24, 2026. By taking part in the challenge now, you help UNO stay ahead of this requirement and support the success of every student.

Additional Resources

If you haven’t already, consider exploring Digital Learning’s other resources on Accessibility:

As a compliment to this challenge, consider signing up for Improving the Accessibility of Your Canvas Course. This six-week asynchronous course is offered online using the Canvas LMS. This course helps participants understand the most important criteria for creating an accessible Canvas course, why each step matters, and how to test your efforts.
Sign up for all or some sessions in our Digital Accessibility Workshop Series—an engaging opportunity to build practical skills and deepen your understanding of accessibility best practices.

Need Help?

Stop by our Virtual Support Drop-In Zoom Room, which is open Monday – Friday, 9-4.
Book a time to meet with a team member through our Digital Learning Bookings page!
Email us at its.digitallearning@unomaha.edu.