{"id":9092,"date":"2021-02-10T12:32:42","date_gmt":"2021-02-10T17:32:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/webguide\/?page_id=9092"},"modified":"2025-02-13T15:37:25","modified_gmt":"2025-02-13T20:37:25","slug":"accessibility","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/webguide\/accessibility\/","title":{"rendered":"Digital Accessibility"},"content":{"rendered":"
The web is a powerful, and increasingly necessary way of connecting with one another and the world. In order to provide equal access and opportunity to all, we must do our part to make ºÚÁÏÍø (SOM) websites accessible to everyone.<\/p>\n
This web accessibility guide includes best practices, resources, and practical advice about how to ensure all users have equal access to information and functionality on our websites. These best practices are targeted at helping ºÚÁÏÍø website editors meet WCAG level AA standards on their websites.<\/p>\n
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One in 4 U.S. adults \u2013 61 million Americans \u2013 have a disability that impacts major life activities.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s roughly the populations of California and Florida combined.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Digital accessibility is achieved when a website, web application or electronic document can equitably be navigated and understood by all users<\/strong>. However, access for all doesn’t happen by default. Everyone who shares content in a digital format (websites, email, documents, presentations, etc.) must take action to create an equitable experience.<\/p>\n People who interact with our School of Medicine websites are extremely diverse. They have a wide variety of characteristics, and limitations.\u00a0Consider the following users. If they visited your website, would each of them have a good experience?<\/p>\n Designing with user accessibility in mind means envisioning all users<\/strong> as having needs that require attention. We must consider how we create web content to ensure as many people as possible can use our websites.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n\n A little over 2 million college students, which is about 11% of the college student population in 2016, reported having a disability.<\/p>\n Source: U.S. Department of Education\u2019s\u00a0National Center for Education Statistics: Students with Disabilities<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Having an accessible web site brings a number of benefits.<\/p>\n Hopefully you understand the importance of accessibility and will make it an integral part of your site content.<\/p>\n The offices of\u00a0Accessibility Services<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Equal Opportunity\/ADA Office<\/a>\u00a0offer other resources for the Carolina Community, such as information on accommodations. The offices work closely with the\u00a0Digital Accessibility Office<\/a>\u00a0to support the accessibility of digital content, resources and technology.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Here are some examples of how inclusive design and development can impact lives.<\/p>\n\n
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Benefits of Accessibility<\/h2>\n
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Campus Resources<\/h2>\n
Related Accessibility Videos<\/h2>\n