Creating an inclusive learning environment is a collective effort. To ensure all students have equal access to learning materials, we ask that faculty prioritize accessibility when submitting items for Course Reserves.
The Role of Course Reserves Staff
Our Course Reserves team is committed to supporting your teaching.
Unfortunately, we do not have the capacity to remediate external PDFs, materials already on reserve being re-used in courses, or personal documents submitted by faculty. We appreciate your partnership in ensuring your course materials are “accessibility-ready” before submission.
Best Practices for Accessible Materials
- Prioritize Accessible Originals: Use original document formats (Word or PowerPoint) and remediate them before converting to PDF.
- Source Accessible Articles: Use vendor-evaluated accessible versions whenever possible. Consult the Library Accessibility Alliance evaluations for guidance on vendors that offer accessible articles.
- EBSCO eBook Remediation: If you find a non-accessible eBook in EBSCO, you can utilize EBSCO’s new remediation service to request an accessible copy.
- Follow Standards: For tips on creating accessible PDFs, refer to the Harvard University Accessibility Guidelines.
Resources and Training
If you need assistance preparing your materials, the Center for Instructional Technology & Training (CITT) is available to help:
- Software: UFIT is providing free access to Adobe Acrobat Pro to faculty upon request until May 31, 2026.
- Consultation: Contact citt@ufl.edu or fill out their request assistance form.
- Quick Start: Review the 8 Steps to Course Accessibility.
- Training:
- Accessibility Basics (Self-paced, staff-facing)
- Accessibility Fundamentals (Self-paced, instructor-facing)
- Accessible Online Environments (Facilitated, instructor-facing)