How to Fix Higher Ed’s Accessibility Problem
If a college education should be available to all, higher ed websites should be accessible to everyone
An Americans with Disabilities Act lawsuit was recently issued to 50 colleges and universities by a blind prospective student who felt the schools’ websites were not accessible. Not just tiny schools, either — big ones like Northeastern, Drexel, and Cornell are at the top of the list (figuratively speaking, that is, the list is in alphabetical order). Subsequently, many schools were also audited by the ADA to ensure they are working toward full WCAG compliance for their institutional websites.
Why accessibility is important in higher education
Yes, it’s important you don’t get sued. But if that’s the only reason behind making accessible websites, are we really solving anything?
Widen your audience
Diversity is one of the most important criteria for rising freshmen searching for their perfect college experience. But race is obviously not the only element of diversity prospective students care about. Diversify your audience by making your website accessible to those with disabilities. Each prospective student who utilizes a screen reader and lands on your…
