Accessibility of University Course Syllabi

Over the last twenty years, governments and a range of disability rights organizations have advocated for increased accessibility to educational materials and school documents for people with disabilities. Recently, several studies have shown that accessibility is still lagging among educational institutions and other government agencies. The purpose of this study was to analyze extant higher education syllabi to determine the level of compliance with the current Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.0). The study reviewed the current accessibility requirements for schools under WCAG 2.0 and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act as amended in 2018. It then provides a review of 62 higher education course syllabi to determine the accessibility of each for individuals with disabilities. The study found that only 6% of syllabi fully meet accessibility criteria. Recommendations for improving accessibility are included. Keywords: Accessibility, ADA, Disabilities, Section 508, WAI, WCAG, Course material