The Guide to Digital Accessibility from Routledge is an essential resource for educators and administrators committed to inclusivity in online learning environments. Authored by experts with extensive experience in advancing accessibility practice, this comprehensive volume provides clear insights into the importance of accessibility in education. It highlights the imperative for making meaningful changes in policy, practice, and professional development to ensure all learners have equitable access to digital content.

In the United States, approximately 8.5% of the general population lives with a disability that impacts their computer and Internet use. This statistic translates to over 28 million individuals who face challenges accessing digital content. Moreover, recent studies reveal that around 19% of undergraduate students have disabilities, underscoring the responsibility that higher education institutions have to create accessible online learning experiences.

This edited volume is specifically addressed to higher education administrators, instructional designers, faculty developers, and educators. It showcases the practices and experiences of institutions recognized by Quality Matters, emphasizing the core tenets of digital accessibility. The contributors come from a diverse range of institution types and classifications, ensuring that readers can adapt the concepts to their own unique contexts.

The book situates the digital accessibility movement within the framework of significant federal legislation, including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. It provides a historical overview of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) as they pertain to online course design and professional development, all grounded in the Quality Matters framework.

Subsequent chapters delve into the evolution of accessibility policy development, illustrating how it can drive organizational culture and foster inclusive instructional practices. Readers will find a continuum of course design practices that can be implemented to develop instructional materials proactively, ensuring they meet the needs of all learners.

In addition, the guide concludes by identifying a variety of professional development formats aimed at enhancing accessibility knowledge and skill acquisition. These include asynchronous workshops, micro-credentials, and train-the-trainer models, all of which are designed to share evaluation protocols that encourage continuous improvement.

Written by practitioners for practitioners, the Guide to Digital Accessibility addresses critical compliance issues while mapping out a range of proven practices. It aims to enrich the learning experience of all students in digital environments, ensuring that accessibility is not just an afterthought but a fundamental aspect of educational quality.

This guide serves as a roadmap for advancing accessibility in higher education, illustrating the collective commitment of institutions to create equitable digital spaces for all learners. By integrating accessibility into course design and institutional practices, educators can transform the learning experience and ensure that no student is left behind.