Accessibility Training for Faculty and Staff: Tips for Higher Education

For higher education institutions, digital accessibility training is a critical step toward compliance and social responsibility.

Many colleges and universities have a legal obligation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to provide accessible digital experiences. Specifically, new rulemaking under ADA Title II mandates that public institutions meet technical web and mobile accessibility requirements by April 2026 or April 2027 (depending on population size).

However, achieving digital accessibility can be complex, particularly when content is created by a wide range of individuals and groups—including faculty, staff, and third parties—with varying levels of understanding of accessibility.

Accessibility training can bridge knowledge gaps across an institution, empowering faculty, staff, and other content creators to better identify and address barriers to digital inclusion. It also reduces the risk that new inaccessible content will be published, and the amount of time and energy needed to remediate accessibility barriers in live assets.

In this blog post, we’ll unpack what accessibility training involves and take a deeper dive into its benefits for institutions. We’ll also outline tangible best practices higher education organizations can use to implement training programs that drive meaningful change.

What is digital accessibility training?

Digital accessibility training refers to the process of educating teams about how to create and maintain accessible digital assets. In the context of higher education, training may equip faculty and staff with the knowledge and skills required to ensure that websites, mobile applications, online course content, and digital tools and resources work for people with disabilities.

Accessibility training may also focus on spreading awareness about legal requirements, and the importance of equitable access to education.

Digital accessibility training can take many forms, including:

• Live training: Accessibility experts may conduct live in-person or virtual training sessions with teams. These sessions may be part of a formal training program or involve experts presenting during existing faculty and staff meetings.

• Self-paced courses: Self-paced online training courses allow faculty and staff to engage with learning content independently, at their own pace.

• Newsletters and resource sites: Institutions can share accessibility guidance and best practices in educational newsletters. Many also develop resource sites dedicated to accessibility information.

Why training faculty and staff is vital

Accessibility training is critical in higher education for multiple reasons. Without sufficient knowledge and skills, faculty and staff may be unable to support institutions’ ADA compliance efforts, exposing organizations to legal risk.

However, beyond legal obligations, accessibility training ultimately enhances students’ success and well-being. By educating faculty and staff about best practices, higher education institutions empower teams to foster an inclusive environment where all students, regardless of disability, have equal access to educational and campus resources.

When digital materials and systems are not designed with accessibility in mind, students with disabilities may face unnecessary barriers to learning, as well as broader participation in campus life. Faculty and staff who receive accessibility training are better equipped to recognize and remove these barriers, ensuring that all students can make the most of their time at an institution.

Moreover, digital accessibility benefits all students, not just those with disabilities. For example, captions on videos assist students who prefer studying in a quiet environment, while transcripts support students who prefer text-based learning. By embedding accessibility into institutional practices, through training, colleges and universities can offer every student a more enriching experience.

Accessibility training tips for the academic sector

Because accessibility training plays a crucial role in building an inclusive college or university community, organizations should take a thoughtful, strategic approach to implementing training programs. These best practices can help increase the effectiveness of accessibility training:

1. Ensure leadership support and institutional commitment: Accessibility training is most effective when supported by an institution’s leadership. Administrators can help you secure sufficient resources for training programs, and even set aside budget for accessibility certifications. They can also use their authority to make courses mandatory for certain faculty and staff (when legally permitted).

2. Incorporate accessibility training into faculty development programs: Consider integrating accessibility training into faculty development programs and new faculty orientations. Workshops, webinars, and online courses on accessibility best practices, such as those outlined by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), can help educators design inclusive course materials and other digital experiences from the outset. You may also invite experts to department meetings to share their insights on making educational content more accessible.

3. Create a centralized hub for accessibility support: Set up a single channel—whether a website, email address, or newsletter—for teams to access support and information about accessibility. Identify key topics individuals are likely to need guidance on and prepare resources providing clarity on these topics. Consider making these resources available to students as well as faculty and staff, as students may benefit from this foundation as they move into the workforce.

4. Provide hands-on training and resources: Effective accessibility training should be interactive and practical. Ensure courses provide faculty and staff with opportunities to apply tangible skills—such as writing alt text for images, formatting accessible documents, and using accessibility checkers —to their day-to-day responsibilities. To ensure relevance, it may be helpful to tailor training programs to specific roles, like web development and instructional design. Additionally, providing “take home” resources, like step-by-step guides and checklists, can keep accessibility top-of-mind beyond training sessions.

5. Engage with members of the disability community: Accessibility training can only be deemed effective if it makes a positive impact on students, faculty, and staff with disabilities. To align training with the most pressing needs of these individuals, directly involve people with disabilities who are part of the college or university community in the development of training programs. You should also maintain an open feedback loop with users with disabilities regarding the accessibility of your institution’s digital assets and systems, and use this feedback to inform future training sessions.

6. Offer continuous and updated training: Accessibility standards and technologies evolve, making it essential for higher education institutions to provide ongoing and current training opportunities. Regularly updating training materials, offering refresher courses, and encouraging faculty and staff to stay informed about new accessibility tools and legal requirements ensures that accessibility and compliance efforts remain effective over time.

7. Encourage collaboration and peer learning: Creating a community of practice around accessibility allows faculty and staff to share experiences, challenges, and best practices. Establishing accessibility working groups or mentorship programs can facilitate collaboration and provide ongoing support for educators and other members of your faculty and staff as they strive to improve their digital accessibility skills.

Accessibility training in higher education: Building a culture of inclusion

Accessibility training isn’t just essential for meeting compliance requirements; it’s a fundamental aspect of fostering an inclusive academic environment. By educating faculty and staff on digital accessibility, universities can break down barriers to learning, boost enrollment, and create equitable opportunities for all students.

Not all accessibility training programs achieve the same results—so choosing the right training solution for your organization is key. Backed by the market’s deepest bench of subject matter expertise, the Level Access Academy provides live and on-demand courses designed for practical skill-building, with learning paths tailored for specific roles.

To better understand how our training resources can support your institution’s accessibility goals, engage with our team today.

FAQ

Why is digital accessibility training important for faculty and staff?

Digital accessibility training ensures that a university’s faculty and staff have the knowledge and skills necessary to create inclusive digital experiences for all students, including those with disabilities. Training empowers educators to remove barriers that may prevent students with disabilities from accessing online learning content and campus resources, ensuring every student can participate in university life. It helps educational institutions comply with laws such as the ADA.

How do you implement accessibility training in universities?

Universities can implement effective accessibility training by securing leadership support, integrating accessibility into faculty development programs, and offering hands-on, role-specific education. Providing interactive workshops that cover tangible skills—such as accessible content design and using tools like accessibility checkers—can help faculty and staff apply best practices in their work. Engaging with the disability community and encouraging peer learning through mentorship programs or working groups further enhances training’s impact.

How often should accessibility training be updated?

Accessibility training should be updated regularly to keep pace with evolving accessibility standards, technologies, and legal requirements. Universities should offer refresher courses, revise training materials as guidelines change, and ensure that faculty and staff remain informed about new accessibility tools. Continuous training helps institutions maintain compliance and sustain a culture of digital inclusion over time.