Website Accessibility Compliance at UNC
As of recently, all University of North Carolina websites are required to meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA accessibility standards by April of 2026, in accordance with federal law under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. OASIS is committed to supporting departments in making their websites accessible by offering guidance, tutorials, and personalized assistance. However, we highly encourage departments to utilize the robust resources offered by the UNC-Chapel Hill Digital Accessibility Office, which provides excellent training and tools for achieving and maintaining compliance. While OASIS is happy to help, due to the volume of websites we support and our limited staffing, we may not be the most immediate solution for every request. Departments are encouraged to take proactive responsibility for their sites’ accessibility to meet compliance deadlines and provide an inclusive experience for all users.
UNC-Chapel Hill Digital Accessibility Office (DAO) Resources
- Training Opportunities – Live and recorded sessions covering accessibility best practices.
- Accessibility Tool Box – A collection of checklists, tools, and resources for editors, designers, and developers.
- Content Editor Checklist – Step-by-step guide for accessible content creation.
- Image and Media Accessibility – Best practices for alt text, captions, and audio descriptions.
- Accessible Documents – Guidance for accessible PDFs, Word documents, and presentations.
- Testing & Evaluation Tools – DAO’s recommendations for evaluating accessibility.
- Consult DAO Directly – Request help or ask questions.
- JAWS, Fusion, and ZoomText Access via UNC Software Distribution – Screen reading and magnification tools available to eligible UNC users.
Trusted External Accessibility Tools
- WebAIM Contrast Checker – Test color contrast for readability and WCAG compliance.
- ASU Image Alt Text Generator – Helps create meaningful alt text for images.
- WAVE Accessibility Tool – Visual accessibility checker with in-page highlights.
- axe DevTools Browser Extension – Automated testing tool for developers.
- NVDA Screen Reader – Free screen reader for Windows, useful for testing with non-visual interaction.
- Apple VoiceOver – Built-in screen reader for macOS and iOS testing.
- WCAG 2.1 Quick Reference – Official W3C standards and guidance for accessible web design.