[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#E71939″ use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_direction=”90deg” background_color_gradient_stops=”#ffffff 0%|#e71939 100%” background_enable_pattern_style=”on” background_pattern_style=”honeycomb” background_pattern_color=”#FFFFFF” background_enable_mask_style=”on” background_mask_style=”corner-blob” background_mask_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” width_tablet=”” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|phone” max_width=”100%” max_height=”90px” max_height_tablet=”40px” max_height_phone=”40px” max_height_last_edited=”on|tablet” locked=”off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,1_4,1_4,1_4″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” width_tablet=”” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width_tablet=”none” max_width_phone=”none” max_width_last_edited=”on|tablet” max_height=”90px” max_height_tablet=”41px” max_height_phone=”50px” max_height_last_edited=”on|tablet” custom_margin=”-55px|0px|-55px|10px|true|false” custom_margin_tablet=”-55px|0px|-55px|10px|true|false” custom_margin_phone=”-55px|0px|-55px|10px|true|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”|||16px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|||15px|false|false” custom_padding_phone=”|||15px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.qc.cuny.edu\/cetlltest\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/138\/2025\/09\/cetll_300_notag_150ppi-3-1.png” alt=”Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning & Leadership” src_tablet=”https:\/\/www.qc.cuny.edu\/cetlltest\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/138\/2025\/09\/cetll_300_notag_150ppi-3-1.png” src_phone=”https:\/\/www.qc.cuny.edu\/cetlltest\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/138\/2025\/09\/cetll_300_notag_150ppi-3-1.png” src_last_edited=”on|tablet” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” transform_scale=”120%|120%” transform_scale_tablet=”100%|100%” transform_scale_phone=”100%|100%” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|tablet” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|tablet” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|tablet” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|tablet” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|tablet” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|tablet” custom_margin=”-5px||-5px||true|false” custom_margin_tablet=”-16px||-16px||true|false” custom_margin_phone=”-16px||-16px||true|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=”” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.8″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”30px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.9″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-15px||-15px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.9″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.9″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.8″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.8″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.9″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.5em” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
In April 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice issued new ADA Title II regulations requiring public universities to ensure that actively used digital content is accessible. These regulations apply directly to course materials such as websites, documents, videos, media, and other web-based instructional resources housed in Brightspace and otherwise used in teaching. The DOJ deadline for compliance with the federal website and services accessibility requirement is April 26, 2027. However, the\u00a0New York state digital accessibility requirements deadline is still in effect for\u00a0January 1, 2027.<\/strong> <\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Why is accessibility important? \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n All students, regardless of disability or assistive technology use, should have equal access to content in your Brightspace course or website. Among other requirements, documents and webpages should follow a logical structure; images should have descriptions (alt text); and video and audio files should have closed captions.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The work to make your course content can be overwhelming, especially if you\u2019re new to the process. CETLL wants to help by presenting bite-sized how-to\u2019s each month.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This month we will focus on<\/strong> <\/span>Headings<\/span><\/b>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Start by reviewing your syllabus and make sure it has the proper heading structure. Headings and subheadings help the reader understand the organization of the text and navigate to specific content. To enable screen readers to convey organizational information to a blind, visually impaired, or other user, it is essential to use the <\/span>built-in heading styles<\/span><\/a> rather than making text bolder or larger.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In Word, you can have multiple\u00a0H1,\u00a0H2,\u00a0and H3\u00a0headings. Think of H1 as a page\u2019s main title, H2 as chapters, and H3 as subtopics within a chapter. A page using the proper hierarchy will allow all users to jump to different headings to find the section they want.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Be sure to follow a logical hierarchal\u00a0structure. For example,\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0start with H2, then\u00a0nest\u00a0H1\u00a0within H2. This disrupts the\u00a0reading order.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This is an example of how\u00a0<\/span>not\u00a0<\/span><\/i>to use headings:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.qc.cuny.edu\/cetll\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/138\/2026\/03\/HeadingStructureIncorrect.png” alt=”Course Information with H2 tag is followed by Instructor Information with H1 tag, followed by Office Hours with H3 tag.” title_text=”HeadingStructureIncorrect” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.9″ _module_preset=”default” width=”50%” module_alignment=”center” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”#A9A9A9″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.9″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.5em” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n This is an example of how to use headings correctly:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.qc.cuny.edu\/cetll\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/138\/2026\/03\/HeadingStructureCorrect.png” alt=”Syllabus is tagged H1, Course Information and Instructor Information are tagged H2 with their subtopics tagged H3.” title_text=”HeadingStructureCorrect” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.9″ _module_preset=”default” width=”60%” module_alignment=”center” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”#A9A9A9″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.9″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.5em” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n For more information on using Word headings, go to <\/span>Headings.<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n You can also download an <\/span>accessible syllabus template<\/span><\/a> which is pre-formatted with appropriate heading styles.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For more resources on accessibility, visit <\/span>Make Your Course Content Accessible.<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color=”#E71939″ divider_position=”center” divider_weight=”2px” _builder_version=”4.27.9″ _module_preset=”default” width=”40%” module_alignment=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.9″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.5em” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Faculty and staff are encouraged\u00a0to participate in \u201cDesigning for All: Digital Accessibility in Practice,\u201d a new self-paced Brightspace course for faculty and staff. It’s part of the <\/span>CUNY Digital Accessibility Initiative<\/span><\/a>, a university-wide effort to build digital accessibility knowledge and skills across CUNY. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Participation is optional, but whether you\u2019re just getting started with accessibility or looking to strengthen your existing skills, the Designing for All course provides practical, hands-on guidance you can apply immediately to your teaching and everyday work.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n To enroll, visit: <\/span>Designing for All: Digital Accessibility in Practice<\/span><\/a> in Brightspace and if prompted, log in with your CUNY Login account.\u00a0 Alternatively, all CUNY employees can request access to this free professional development opportunity through Brightspace from their campus LMS Administrator.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Read more about the <\/span>CUNY Digital Accessibility Initiative<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color=”#E71939″ divider_position=”center” divider_weight=”2px” _builder_version=”4.27.9″ _module_preset=”default” width=”40%” module_alignment=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.9″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.5em” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n If you need assistance, please join us during our virtual Drop-in Hours on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 2 pm to 4 pm on <\/span>Zoom<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nCUNY Digital Accessibility Initiative<\/h2>\n