Web Accessibility in Higher Education: An Evaluation of the Department of Writing Studies Site

Abstract

Higher education institutions, including the University of Minnesota, have a duty to provide websites that are accessible to web users with and without disabilities. This duty stems from United States law, web best practices, and the universities’ own mission statements and accessibility guidelines. Two concepts, accessibility and universal design, guide the creation of successful, accessible websites. The purpose of this study is to conduct a preliminary accessibility audit of a website managed by the University of Minnesota’s Department of Writing Studies to determine if the site meets baseline accessibility requirements. The evaluation was completed using the Functional Accessibility Evaluator tool. The evaluation is supplemented by a brief review of accessibility/universal design and an overview of accessibility requirements affecting the University. The results of this initial evaluation suggest that, while the University of Minnesota may acknowledge the importance of accessibility, the University must take further steps to uphold the spirit of federal law and the University’s own mission. Further evaluation, including accessibility testing with prospective users at the University, is advised to better understand user needs and issues.