To ensure an accessibility-first mindset, all faculty and staff who manage web content will be required to complete a set of training modules and earn a “Certification of Training in Digital Accessibility.” Editing access to the St. Olaf website will only be provided to employees who successfully pass these modules. This mandatory training will be re-administered on an annual basis to reinforce these habits.
modules
Mandatory Training Modules
The Equalize Digital training module is available now on Moodle and covers topics including:
- Accessible Use of WordPress Core Blocks
- Accessible Use of St. Olaf Custom Theme Blocks
- Utilizing Accessibility Checker Plugin
- Intro to the Accessibility Checker
- Determining What You Can/Can’t Fix
- Preventing Recurring Issues (Alt Text, Heading Use, Ambiguous Links, Color Contrast)
- Accessibility and PDFs (Cautionary Note)
certification
Certification of Training
While this initiative is still under development, it is intended to be administered annually. The first phase of this training is required to be completed by October 31, 2026.
It is our hope to move accessibility from a “checkbox” to a “culture.”
Re-Certification
Recertification Policy
An annual refresher strategy will be essential in maintaining an ongoing commitment to accessibility, ensuring continuous conformance with evolving WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards, and to account for staff turnover among web content owners.
To ensure this annual refresher does not become a burden, our strategy focuses on efficiency and streamlined processes while maximizing impact and effectiveness. To support this, a series of drop-in training sessions will be available throughout September and October leading up to our internal deadlines.
Access Requirements
To uphold our commitment to Title II accessibility standards and ensure a barrier-free digital environment, all Key Admins must complete the Web Content Accessibility Certification prior to receiving administrative access to WordPress. This policy ensures that every member of our digital team is empowered with the skills to create content that is Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust for all users.