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  • A garnet banner displaying six white line icons symbolizing digital accessibility: a magnifying glass with a plus sign for zoom, an eye for visibility, text letters “Aa” for readable fonts, an open book with a person for learning access, “CC” for closed captions, and an image with “ALT” text for alternative descriptions.

HRSM Digital Accessibility Initiative

The University of South Carolina College of HRSM is committed to offering workshops, resources and support to help faculty and staff create accessible, inclusive digital content for all users.

Updates to Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) will go into effect April 24, 2026, and HRSM is committed to making all digitally transmitted content accessible under the new guidelines. This applies but is not limited to:

  • Websites (e.g., USC's main website and any College-specific websites)
  • Course materials in Blackboard
  • Emails
  • Videos and presentations
  • Office documents and forms

“Accessible” means content is usable by all, such as enabling screen readers to interpret content for those with low vision, or providing video captions for those with hearing impairments.

Spring Workshops

To support all faculty and staff, the College of HRSM and the USC's Center for Teaching Excellence will continue hosting training sessions and drop-in events to help everyone make the content they work with accessible.

HRSM-Hosted Events

Accessibility Fundamentals for Support Staff

Required for all full-time HRSM staff, this 75-minute workshop is designed to equip all HRSM support staff with the essential skills needed to ensure all digital content is accessible under the university's standards. Participants will begin by understanding the "why" behind accessibility requirements before diving into practical, hands-on techniques for creating accessible documents, emails, and communications across Word, PDF, Excel, and PowerPoint.  The training addresses content types that support staff regularly produce—including documents, flyers, forms, and reports—with focused instruction on accessible tables, charts, data visualizations, and spreadsheets.  Staff will learn to effectively use built-in accessibility checkers and develop strategies for identifying and remediating existing materials within their units. Choose any ONE the six sessions below (four in-person; two virtual).

Faculty Course Content Fundamentals

Open to all HRSM employees, this 75-minute virtual training workshop is designed to help faculty make course content accessible by focusing on the "Fast Four" fundamentals—four high-impact, easy-to-implement fixes that will immediately improve digital content. Attendees will learn practical techniques for applying ALT-text to images, utilizing proper Headings in documents, ensuring sufficient Color contrast, and creating Readable Hyperlinks. The session concludes with an interactive open lab, enabling participants to receive real-time guidance and personalized coaching from our Learning Experience Designer, Tammy Macek.

Resources at Your Fingertips

CTE Micro-Learning Webinars

Blackboard Ally: Making Digital Accessibility Simple
Blackboard’s Ally tool simplifies the process of identifying and resolving accessibility issues across a variety of file types. In this session, learn how to use Ally’s features to check accessibility, fix issues, and improve your course materials.

Wednesday, Jan. 14 | 10:50-11:20 a.m. | Register - Blackboard Ally
Monday, Feb. 2 | 1:10-1:40 p.m. | Register - Blackboard Ally
Wednesday, March 4 | 9:40-10:10 am. | Register - Blackboard Ally

Creating Accessible Word Documents
All course materials hosted on USC platforms, including Blackboard, must be digitally accessible. This session focuses on Microsoft Word and covers how to use heading styles, the accessibility checker, and other tools to create accessible syllabi, assignments, and handouts.

Wednesday, Jan. 21 | 12:00-12:30 p.m. | Register - Word Documents
Wednesday, Feb. 11 | 10:50-11:20 a.m. | Register - Word Documents
Monday, March 16 | 2:20-2:50 p.m. | Register - Word Documents

Designing Accessible PowerPoint Presentations
PowerPoint presentations can powerfully support student learning when designed accessibly. This session explores key accessibility practices such as reading order, alternative text, and slide structure to ensure every student can engage with your visual content.

Friday, Jan. 23 | 10:50-11:20 a.m. | Register - PowerPoint Presentations
Monday, Feb. 16 | 10:50-11:20 a.m. | Register - PowerPoint Presentations
Monday, March 30 | 1:10-1:40 p.m. | Register - PowerPoint Presentations

PDFs without Barriers
PDFs are one of the most common file types shared across courses and websites, but they can also be one of the least accessible if not properly designed. This micro-workshop explores how to create and remediate accessible PDFs, whether you’re exporting from Word, PowerPoint, or scanning existing materials. Learn how to check PDFs for accessibility as well as resources to address the most common errors.

Thursday, Jan. 29 | 11:40 a.m.-12:10 p.m. | Register - PDFs
Tuesday, Feb. 24 | 11:40 a.m.-12:10 p.m. | Register - PDFs
Thursday, April 9 | 11:40 a.m.-12:10 p.m. | Register - PDFs

Video Captioning and Transcription Made Easy
Captioning and transcripts make video content more engaging, flexible, and accessible. Learn how to use USC’s supported video platform, Panopto, to easily add and manage captions for lectures and other recorded materials.

Wednesday, Jan. 28 | 10:50-11:20 a.m. | Register - Video Captioning and Transcription
Monday, Feb. 23 | 1:10-1:40 p.m. | Register - Video Captioning and Transcription
Thursday, April 2 | 2:20-2:50 p.m. | Register - Video Captioning and Transcription

Digital Accessibility Microlearning Series on Demand (Fall 2025)

Free Webinars from Maine CITE

  • Creating Accessible Online Content (Part 3) | Register | Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026 | TBD | Webinar

Your HRSM Digital Accessibility Contacts

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