In response to American Disabilities Act Title II guidelines, all digital content—including materials in Canvas courses—must meet new federal accessibility standards by April 24, 2026. That may sound like a long way off, but the work involved in remediating existing content can be substantial. Instructors are encouraged to have their course materials in compliance by the start of the 2025–26 academic year, so now is a good time to get started.
To help you prepare, the Center for Transformative Teaching is offering the Accessibility Motivation Plan, a virtual community for instructors of all experience levels. Summer can be busy, and sometimes it’s hard to stay on track with big projects, so AMP will provide a light, fun, and flexible accountability structure hosted in Microsoft Teams. Participants will be able to pose questions, discuss challenges, and get advice when they need it.
Registration for AMP is available online.
In addition to the virtual community, the CTT will also be hosting virtual office hours weekly to answer questions in real time. Whether you're just beginning or already on your way, this program will equip you with tools, guidance, and best practices for making your digital content more inclusive.
Here’s how it works:
- Everyone who signs up gets added to a dedicated Teams channel alongside members of the CTT accessibility team.
- Every Monday, a “Monday Motivator” thread with focused tips on accessibility topics will be posted. Participants are encouraged to share their weekly accessibility goals for accountability.
- Every Wednesday from 1-2 p.m., the CTT will host office hours where you can join a Zoom room to get your questions answered or talk through challenges you’re experiencing. Office hours are not exclusive to Teams channel participation. Anyone is free to join and ask questions during this time.
- Every Friday, a “Reporting Thread” will be posted where participants can reflect on their progress, share any roadblocks, and celebrate their weekly wins.
- Participants are welcome to post in the channel anytime they are working and have a question — someone from the CTT or a peer can help out quickly.
- Hit a snag? A member of the CTT accessibility team can join a quick zoom session for help. If no one is immediately available, we’ll get a meeting on the books within a day or two.
- Going on vacation for part of the summer? There’s no expectation that you engage every single week. Just turn off Teams notifications while you’re gone and turn them back on when you’re ready to get back to work.
- Bonus: As a participant, you will be part of a supportive community where others are working on the same things, facing similar challenges, and cheering each other on.
AMP will be low-pressure, fun, and easy to join throughout the summer. If you sign up and don’t find the experience useful, you can leave the Teams channel whenever you like.
Key Details:
- Participation: This community is open to any instructor at UNL ready to take on accessibility.
- Format: All participants will be added to the Teams channel for asynchronous work.
- Resources: All learning materials, such as program specific videos and checklists, are available on the Center for Transformative Teaching website.
- Scheduled Office Hours: Wednesdays beginning June 4, 1-2 p.m. via Zoom.
The CTT’s instructional designers are your partners in this journey, providing expert support and practical strategies to prepare for this important transition. Together, we can create a more inclusive digital environment that benefits all learners.
More information about American with Disabilities Act Title II compliance is available online.
More details at: https://go.unl.edu/amp