Advancing Digital Accessibility at FSU: Federal Updates and HR Support
This message has been approved by Renisha Gibbs, Associate Vice President for Human Resources and Finance & Administration Chief of Staff, for distribution to all Department Representatives.
Dear Human Resources Representatives,
As a leading public institution, Florida State University is reaffirming its dedication to advancing digital accessibility. This initiative is essential to ensure that everyone—students, employees, and visitors—can fully engage with our digital resources, regardless of ability.
Legal Requirements
FSU is legally required under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and its updated regulations to ensure all public-facing digital content is accessible to everyone. On April 24, 2024, the Department of Justice (DOJ) published a new rule on digital accessibility under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
This rule requires FSU's web content, including academic course content, videos, documents and social media, to be accessible beginning on April 24, 2026, and going forward.
Resources and Support
Compliance is a university-wide responsibility. Departments and units are responsible for reviewing and remediating legacy content. While a dedicated task force has been working diligently on this major undertaking, it will take all of us to meet the requirements of the rule.
To help FSU meet these requirements, the task force has developed a dedicated website with guides, standards, and best practices at digitalaccessibility.fsu.edu.
For direct support or questions, you can contact our accessibility task force team at digitalaccessibility@fsu.edu.
Training opportunities are being developed in collaboration with Human Resources and the Office of Distance Learning, and further details will be shared soon.
HR’s Role in Implementation
As HR representatives, you play a vital role in supporting your units through this transition. We encourage you to:
- Review the digital accessibility standards and resources available on digitalaccessibility.fsu.edu.
- Explore resources to learn how to create a digitally accessible document at digitalaccessibility.fsu.edu/digital-accessibility-training.
- Assist your teams in updating and remediating digital materials to meet accessibility requirements.
- Promote awareness and understanding of these changes within your units.
- Serve as a point of contact for questions and concerns about digital accessibility.
Preparing for Questions
Given that this information will be shared simultaneously with VPs, deans, directors, and department heads, we ask that you familiarize yourselves with the key points above and be ready to address inquiries from your teams. We will communicate this information to faculty and staff in the coming days. Your leadership and preparedness are crucial as we move forward.
Thank you for your partnership and dedication to creating an inclusive environment at FSU. If you have questions or need guidance, please reach out to digitalaccessibility@fsu.edu.
Sincerely,
Renisha Gibbs
Associate Vice President for Human Resources
