Digital Accessibility Work Group

Work Group Members

Work Group Charge

The Digital Accessibility Work Group, convened by the University System of Maryland Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation, is charged with fostering cross-institutional collaboration to support faculty in meeting the Department of Justice's Title II ruling on digital accessibility. The work group in its initial composition will bring together representatives from USM institutions, Maryland community colleges, and Maryland organizations focused on online learning and accessibility to address the critical need for accessible course materials that meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) standards.

Purpose and Scope

The work group will serve as a collaborative body to identify campus needs related to digital accessibility, develop shared resources, and establish best practices for creating accessible course materials. Through monthly meetings from March 2025 through April 2026, the work group will focus specifically on supporting faculty in making their course materials fully accessible, both in remediating existing materials and in creating content and tools using a “born-accessible” approach. This approach “involves building accessibility into digital technologies and content from the beginning, meaning that only technologies that are accessible are released to users” (MIDA, 2024, para. 1).^[1]

Primary Responsibilities

The work group will:

1. Assess and document campus needs related to digital accessibility, with particular attention to faculty support requirements and resource gaps.
2. Develop and curate a comprehensive collection of resources to support faculty and to support the supporters of faculty in creating and remediating accessible course materials and in reviewing/assessing/evaluating for accessibility.
3. Share and coordinate professional development opportunities, including campus-based trainings and workshops that can benefit faculty across the state.
4. Explore and evaluate innovative approaches to faculty support, such as cross-campus remediation work sessions, course remediation problem identification, and professional development recognition through certificates or badges.
5. Review and assess tools that can assist campuses in meeting requirements, providing informed recommendations about their effectiveness and value.
6. Create best practices documentation for incorporating accessibility considerations into the initial development of course materials.
7. Provide regular updates and recommendations to campus leadership regarding digital accessibility needs and solutions.
8. Consider the creation of a statewide or regional group to focus on institutional capacity building and “born accessible” efforts beyond the Title II rule requirements.

Membership and Structure

The work group consists of representatives from each USM institution, Maryland community colleges, and Maryland organizations focused on online learning and accessibility. Members serve as liaisons between the work group and their respective institutions, responsible for sharing information, resources, and recommendations with their campus leadership and relevant campus working groups.