Rutgers logo
Communicating about Rutgers
Rutgers logo
Communicating about Rutgers
Rutgers logo
Communicating about Rutgers
Rutgers logo
Communicating about Rutgers

Words on Websites #4

  This issue of Words on Websites was originally sent to the Rutgers Communicators Network on October 23, 2025

 --------------   

🌐Words on Websites: Is Your Content Accessible?

Greetings, Rutgers Communicators,

This is your next installment of Words on Websites. These occasional emails offer information on best practices for website content management and production. Today’s email is all about website accessibility. 

As communicators across Rutgers, we play a vital role in ensuring that our digital content is accessible to everyone—including individuals with disabilities. With the recent updates to Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), it's more important than ever to understand how accessibility applies not only to websites, but also to the documents, images, videos, and other content we publish online.   

🔎Why Accessibility Matters 

The Department of Justice’s new Title II rule requires that all web and mobile content provided by state and local governments—including public universities—meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards by April 2026. This means that inaccessible content can no longer be overlooked. From missing alt text on images to unreadable PDFs, every element of a webpage must be designed with accessibility in mind. Learn more from the Title II Fact Sheet on ADA.gov.   

💎Accessibility Is Multifaceted

While the Rutgers Core Component Library (RCCL) is routinely updated with accessibility improvements to handle the technology side of website accessibility, content creators must additionally follow best practices when formatting text, images, documents, videos, and other website content. Accessibility is not just about code—it’s about communication. 

✅Resources to Help You Get Started

Rutgers offers a range of resources to support accessible content creation, including: 

🔧Tools for Spot-Checking Your Pages 

Even small steps can make a big difference. Try these free tools to evaluate your content: 

🔑What You Can Do Today 

Review your unit’s web pages and documents for accessibility Use the tools above to spot-check and remediate issues Share these resources with your teams and content contributors Register for an accessibility workshop, or start a LinkedIn Learning course Get started with RCCL for your next website project  Together, we can ensure Rutgers’ digital presence is inclusive and compliant with federal standards. Thank you for your commitment to making Rutgers accessible to all. 

📣ICYMI 

Don’t forget about these resources as well:  

Until next time.