Digital Accessibility at Barnard

Digital accessibility is an essential part of being inclusive online and ensuring that Barnard's websites, course materials, and digital tools work for everyone in our community. This page provides guidance on accessibility standards, tools and support resources, and the shared responsibilities across campus for creating and maintaining an inclusive digital environment.

Barnard’s Accessibility Standard

Barnard College adheres to the World Wide Web Consortium’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA. The departments and teams across the campus are actively working to bring www.barnard.edu and all affiliated domains into compliance with this standard.

Roles & Responsibilities

Digital accessibility is a shared responsibility across the Barnard community. Anyone who creates, shares, or publishes digital resources plays a role.

Tools & Support for the Barnard Community

Ally — Built Into CourseWorks (Canvas)

Ally is automatically enabled in all CourseWorks (Canvas) course sites at Barnard. It checks course materials for accessibility concerns, provides guidance for remediation, and allows students to download alternative formats of content — for example, an audio version of a PDF. Ally helps make course materials more accessible without requiring students to formally request accommodations.

For questions about Ally or to request it be removed from your course, contact ATLIS at atlis@barnard.edu.

ATLIS Consultations

Academic Technologies and Learning Innovation Services (ATLIS) offers 45-minute consultations for faculty, instructors, and TAs on digital accessibility. During a consultation, ATLIS can:

• Review and interpret feedback from Ally
• Walk through the process of remediating a specific piece of content
• Discuss how to implement accessibility practices more broadly in your course
• Demonstrate assistive technologies such as screen readers
• Answer any other questions about digital accessibility

To request a consultation, email atlis@barnard.edu or use the ATLIS consultation request form.

Note: ATLIS does not provide content remediation services directly, but can provide recommendations on prioritizing content and training on how to remediate.

CARDS — Center for Accessibility Resources & Disability Services

Students with disabilities at Barnard receive academic accommodations through CARDS. Accessible digital content and disability accommodations work together — accommodations are most effective when course materials are already in an accessible format. For example, students who use text-to-speech software rely on materials being properly structured to work correctly.

Additional Resources

Whether you are creating course materials, managing a departmental website, or building a new tool, the resources below will help you create and maintain accessible digital content.

Guides & Tutorials

• Start with the 7 Core Skills — University of Minnesota
• Introduction to Web Accessibility — WebAIM
• Writing Alt Text — WebAIM
• Alt Text as Poetry
• Captioning in Panopto

Accessibility Checkers

• WAVE Browser Extension
• Sa11y Bookmarklet
• WebAIM Color Contrast Checker
• TopTal Color Filters