04/16/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 04/16/2024 13:19
We are working together to ensure that all UM information and communication is accessible by May 1, 2024, to meet provincial legislation for the AMA Accessible Information and Communication Standard.
How are things going with updating documents, course materials and websites? Have you completed your mandatory accessibility training yet? These should be top of mind as the deadline approaches. Thank you to those who have already taken the training course - over 5,000 so far - and to everyone working diligently to make websites, print and digital materials compliant.
Read on for an overview of how to focus your time over the next few weeks.
Top three things
Here are the top three things you need to know for the May 1 deadline:
If you have questions, please reach out to the AMAIC team using this AMAIC question form.
Updating materials for accessibility: Prioritizing for the May 1 deadline
As we work to make websites and print and digital materials compliant by the May 1 deadline, use the following strategy to complete the compliance requirement:
About PDFs
The project team has had a lot of questions about PDFs and whether (and how) they can be used.
PDFs can be used - for text-heavy, dense documents in particular - but should be accessible. Ensure that your PDFs have been properly formatted so that they can be read by a screen reader and check your PDFs using the tools/training provided, as outlined in the section below.
On websites, HTML pages are preferred but sometimes PDFs cannot be avoided. Ideally PDFs on websites should be accessible - you will need a plan to remediate inaccessible PDFs on the website. As a temporary measure if you're not able to remediate by May 1, include an active offer clearly on the webpage.
See also: 'Using PDFs' in Drupal support on UM Intranet.
Tools and training for creating accessible documents
UM has invested in resources to help faculty and staff make print and digital material accessible.
Training for creating accessible documents in Microsoft and Adobe (including PDFs) is available weekly through April. All faculty and staff who create PDF documents should take at least one of these training sessions. Register through the LOD registration system; the courses are listed as:
Additional supports are available here: Microsoft accessibility resources (Microsoft support) and on the Accessibility hub.
A course content accessibility checker called Panorama is available in UM Learn for all UM employees including faculty, instructors and staff. Visit The Centre's Panorama information page for more information.
Accessibility hub on UM Intranet
The Accessibility hub on UM Intranet is a self-serve site resource with definitions and documentation, links to the Act, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, instructions and techniques for creating accessible content, Siteimprove training and information, and much more.
Visit the Accessibility hub for more information about the Information and Communication Standard (AMAIC) and links to documentation and tools to support this effort.  
Previous UM Today articles
Apr. 9: What is 'Duty to notify' or an active offer? Breaking down accessibility requirements, including alternate or accessible formats
Mar. 18: Mandatory training for employees will make UM more accessible for all (UM Learn course)
Mar. 12: Accessibility in UM's digital spaces : Why designing for digital accessibility matters to us all
Mar. 5: A shared responsibility: Employees to help ensure accessibility of UM information (web remediation, Siteimprove training)
Nov. 27: Project launched to meet Manitoba's Accessible Information and Communication Standard