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Bridging the Accessibility Gap

Scalable Solutions for Higher Ed Websites

Digital Collegium Regional Conference, June 11, 2025

Michelle Britt and Chris Mancuso, MSU Denver

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Introductions

Michelle Britt

Director of Digital Marketing and Content Strategy

Chris Mancuso�Associate Director of Digital Content Strategy

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Agenda

  • The Challenge
    • Laws
    • Complaints
  • The Solutions
    • Communication and Reports
    • Development fixes
    • Policy

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The Challenge

Addressing website accessibility in a decentralized system

  • 300+ web authors
  • No formal content approval structure
  • No mandatory accessibility training policy for web authors

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The Challenge: Federal Laws

  • Section 508
    • Ensures that electronic content from entities that receive federal funding is accessible. This includes websites, software, hardware, and digital documents. 
  • American Disabilities Act
    • The ADA prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, which includes businesses and state/local governments. 
  • Web Authors are relied upon to adhere to federal laws

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The Challenge: 2017 Complaint

  • 5 pages and a Facebook video
  • Delays and process changes
  • DOE Engagement
  • Result: Achieved compliance but structural changes are needed

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The Challenge: CO HB21-1110

  • All digital content published after July 1, 2024 must be accessible
  • $3,000 per complainant, per complaint
  • Good faith effort and accommodations apply
  • Significant impact to web authors and entire university

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The Solutions

Addressing website accessibility in a decentralized system

  • Testing and dev improvements
  • Communication and reports
  • Brand policy

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Solutions

Identifying Development Improvements

    • Ablr Partnership
    • 119 Issues Identified
    • Manual testing by native assistive technology users

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Solutions

Identifying Development Improvements

    • Example of Global Search Issue

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Solutions

Improved Web Author Communications

    • Web Author Cohort
    • Microsoft Teams channel 
    • Email distribution list
    • Monthly Cohort Teams meeting

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Solutions

  • Improved accessibility reports
    • Filtered to what web authors need
    • Enhanced design
    • Emphasis on importance

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Automated Reports: �Before and After

  • Before
    • Overwhelming information
    • Long tables of all issues
    • Filterable, but lots of jargon
    • SEO and QA mixed into report
  • After
    • Introduction, links to existing resources
    • Easy to contact us
    • Organized for flow, readability, priority
    • Prefiltered to 'content'
    • Prompts for 'Why'

Siteimprove: MSU Denver Dashboard/report

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Solutions

  • Brand policies emphasizing a11y
    • Visual identity
    • Websites and apps
    • Advertising

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The Outcomes

  • On track to resolve 90% of critical and serious dev issues by July 1
  • Improved engagement from web authors
  • Brand policy implemented and enforceable

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What's next?

  • Mandatory accessibility training for web authors
  • Additional faculty and staff training
  • Policy plans
  • Remediation plans

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Thank you!