The Modern eAccessibility Landscape in Public Libraries

On April 24, 2024, the Department of Justice's issued a final rule updating its regulations for Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The final rule has specific requirements about how to ensure that web content and mobile applications (apps) are accessible to people with disabilities. This webinar will provide information, tips and techniques for library web, mobile site, and app content creators to assist them in ensuring their library's websites, apps, and mobile sites are compliant with new accessibility requirements.

Learners will be able to compare their library to 620+ other public libraries on key web accessibility success indicators. Learn about the supports a library needs to create and maintain an accessible digital footprint.

This presentation is intended for library directors and staff who manage and maintain library websites, mobile sites, and apps, as well as for those who are responsible for a library's ADA and PWDCRA and accessibility compliance.

Participants in this program will be able to:

• Describe the basic requirements included in the new ADA Web Accessibility Regulations.
• Discuss the impact accessibility can have on library experiences of vision impaired and other disabled members of their community.
• Create a plan for making their library's website and other online presences more accessible in compliance with the new regulations.

Instructor: Sonya Schryer Norris is a librarian and instructional designer who has worked in eAccessibility since 1999. In 2016, she led the Library of Michigan web team through a two year remediation process after a Department of Justice civil rights complaint. Sonya then consulted with public libraries when they were investigated. In 2020-2022, she conducted a survey of over 600 public libraries on eAccessibility success indicators. Sonya has taught eAccessibility online and in person to thousands of library staff in all 50 states and internationally. She has presented on eAccessibility for ALA-CORE and PLA as well as the Library of Virginia. Sonya published on the public libraries eAccessibility survey with Jared Oates, COO of Niche Academy, in Computers in Libraries. Sonya currently offers instructional programs and consultant services through her Company, Plum Librarian LLC

This project is made possible by grant funds from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) administered by the State of Michigan through the Library of Michigan.