Act Now to Ensure Zero Pope Tech Accessibility Errors Before April 24, 2026
As our April 10, 2024 news article Justice Department's Final Rule on Web Accessibility stated, we have until April 24, 2026 to make sure that UMD web content conforms to the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 at Level AA.
The Office for Digital Accessibility has established the April 24 deadline for achieving 0 Pope Tech errors across University websites. The Playbooks are designed to help you meet this important deadline.
Start Using the Drupal Accessibility Playbooks
Ready to dive in? Visit the full Drupal Drop-in Accessibility Playbook & Slide Index.
This resource is always growing. New topics will be added as they are developed to address evolving needs.
Your Go-To Resource: The Drupal Accessibility Playbooks
To help UMD content editors meet these critical standards, the Drupal Drop-in Accessibility Playbook & Slide Index has been developed as a central resource.
This index provides comprehensive, actionable guidance focused on the daily tasks of UMD content editors within the Drupal environment. For each topic, you'll find a detailed Playbook for step-by-step instructions and a Slide Deck that summarizes key principles for quick reference or training.
Topics: Practical Steps for Content Editors
The playbooks provide clear instructions on how to create accessible web content right now. Current topics include:
- Headings: Implementing a logical heading hierarchy for improved structure and navigation.
- Tables & Lists: Guidance on creating accessible data tables and correctly implementing ordered and unordered lists.
- Text Alternatives for Images: Writing and implementing effective alternative text that conveys the purpose and context of images.
- Links & Text:
- Why and how to make accessible links.
- Creating well‑structured, plain‑language content that is easy to read and works effectively for people with disabilities.
- Contrast & Color: Evaluating contrast ratios and ensuring that color is never the only means used to communicate information.
- Video & Audio: Understanding the requirements for media accessibility.
- Documents: Best practices for creating accessible documents like PDFs, Google Docs, and Microsoft files.
- Editoria11y: Instructions on utilizing this built-in tool to perform real-time accessibility checks and correct errors directly in Drupal.
- WAVE Extension: Step-by-step guide detailing how web authors, editors, and developers can effectively use the WAVE (Web Accessibility Visual Evaluator) browser extension to run accessibility analyses, interpret feedback, and resolve web accessibility issues.
We strongly encourage all content editors, from experienced veterans to new authors, to review the Playbooks to proactively identify and remediate content barriers ahead of the deadline.
Get Support at Drupal Drop-in Sessions
For real-time consultation and hands-on guidance with these materials, the ITSS Drupal Drop-in sessions where these modules originate are held twice weekly. These sessions are instrumental for receiving direct support.
For a current list of drop-in sessions, check the Events & Training Calendar on the Drupal Service at UMD web page.