Instructional Materials

Instructional materials within the Accessible Technology Initiative

The Instructional Materials (IM) priority within the Accessible Technology Initiative (ATI) focuses on the access and development of course materials that support the teaching and learning mission of the university. Instructional materials are a form of communication and must therefore be delivered in a way that is usable by students with disabilities, in alignment with:

  • The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the ADA Title II web and mobile accessibility rule
  • Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act
  • California Government Code 11135
  • CSU policy, including Executive Order 1111 and CSU ATI guidance

Beginning April 24, 2026, public universities must ensure that digital course materials and related web content conform to WCAG 2.1 Level AA on a defined timeline. Instructional materials accessibility at 缅北禁地 is one of the primary ways we meet these requirements and support equitable learning for all students.

What counts as instructional materials?

“Instructional materials” include any content used for teaching and learning, regardless of format or delivery method. Examples include:

  • Digital textbooks, e-books, course readers, and articles
  • Documents such as syllabi, handouts, assignments, and rubrics (Word, PDF, Google Docs, etc.)
  • Canvas course pages, modules, quizzes, and discussion forums
  • Slide decks and presentations (PowerPoint, Google Slides, etc.)
  • Recorded lectures, videos, podcasts, and other multimedia used for a course
  • Publisher or third-party learning platforms and tools used by students
  • Online assessments, proctoring tools, and interactive learning activities

Whether materials are hosted in Canvas, provided as links, or shared through other platforms, they must be accessible to students with disabilities.

“Equally effective” communication

Instructional materials are considered accessible when communication is equally effective for students with disabilities. In practice, this means that access is:

  • Comparable in quality to that received by students without disabilities,
  • Comparable in timeliness of delivery and availability, and
  • Provided in a manner and medium appropriate to the significance of the message and the abilities of the person receiving it.

The goal is for students with disabilities to obtain the information they need at the same time, and with the same educational benefit, as other students.

Who is responsible for accessible instructional materials?

Accessible instructional materials are a shared responsibility across the campus:

  • Faculty and instructional staff design, select, and deliver accessible course materials.
  • Accessibility Services coordinates accommodations and alternative formats for eligible students.
  • Online Campus provides training, tools, and Canvas support for accessible course design.
  • Information Technology Services and Procurement support accessible technology selection and use.

Faculty & staff responsibilities

Expectations, timelines, and practical guidance for creating and selecting accessible course materials, including how to respond to accommodation letters.

Information for students

What students can expect, how to request accessible formats and accommodations, and tips for using assistive technology.

Title II & campus policy (Online Campus)

Campus policy on accessible textbooks and instructional materials, Title II timelines, and workshops for faculty and staff.

Tutorials and document-accessibility training

Below are tutorials in video and text format for creating accessible electronic documents in Microsoft Office, PDFs, and related tools. Some resources (for example, LinkedIn Learning) may require you to sign in with your East Bay NetID account.

Accessible PDFs

Accessible Word documents

Accessible PowerPoint presentations

Accessible Excel and email

CSU accessible document training

CSU faculty and staff can participate in systemwide training on accessible documents:

CSU ATI instructional materials resources

The CSU Accessible Technology Initiative (ATI) provides systemwide guidance on instructional materials, planning, and online materials:

If you encounter an accessibility barrier

If you experience an accessibility barrier with instructional materials, course content, or related technologies, please let us know so we can address it:

Last updated: December 2025