A Quick Check-In on Accessible Documents
About a year ago, I shared a blog post about making accessibility a habit - small, repeatable actions that add up over time. With the Department of Justice's final Title II ADA rule taking effect in April 2026, now is a good time to pause and check in with ourselves.
This isn't about perfection, but about taking a moment to reflect on where you are on your accessibility journey right now.
- Do you recognize the 7 core accessibility skills and know when to use them?
- Are you comfortable using the accessibility checker in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint, or Grackle Docs to check Google Docs, Sheets or Slides before sharing them?
- When you start creating something new, does accessibility cross your mind early - or only at the end?
For many of us, accessibility started as something we fixed after the fact. Over time, it may have shifted into something we think about while we are working, or even plan from the start. This shift doesn't happen all at once. It happens through awareness, practice, and a willingness to keep learning.
As April 2026 gets closer, the focus isn't on checking a box, it's about building skills, using the tools available to you, and making accessibility part of how you work - one document, one habit, and one improvement at a time.
Be sure to check out Extension's digital accessibility resources. Here you will find:
- Who is responsible for digital accessibility?
- Several training resources, including a basic skills online course, webinar recordings, guides, and more!
- Guidance about PDFs, captioning and transcripts
- UMN resources and support
- Frequently asked questions
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