San Jose State University
 
 
 
Welcome to our Spring 2025 Newsletter!
 
 
Dear Colleagues,
Recent developments in accessibility-related legislation—including updates to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act—emphasize expanding digital accessibility to keep pace with rapidly advancing technologies. Updates to Section 508, for instance, set clearer standards for making websites, apps, and digital materials accessible to individuals with disabilities. These changes aim to remove barriers in areas like online learning, digital course content, and campus websites, ensuring equitable access for all members of the university community.
For SJSU, this means adopting a proactive approach to creating accessible materials and technology. This means working to provide faculty and staff with the training and tools needed to meet these standards, from captioning videos to designing inclusive documents. Institutions that prioritize accessibility not only comply with the law but also foster a more inclusive and supportive learning environment. 
These legislative updates underscore the importance of embedding accessibility into all aspects of campus operations, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to participate fully in academic and campus life. There will be much activity in this area in the coming months, so stay on the lookout for further updates and resources for integrating accessibility into all we do!
Thank you,
Magdalena L. Barrera
Vice Provost for Faculty Success
ATI Executive Sponsor

 
 
 
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A Tale of Three Universities: Accessibility in Higher Education: “Clear obstacles need to be addressed to provide the maximum number of services and resources to students with disabilities.”
Colleges Must Revise Millions of Web Pages. It Will Be ‘Painful’: “The task means making a major culture shift — on deadline”
Academic Success Tip: Addressing Accessibility in Class: Creating reasonable accommodations for all students can promote accessibility and student success. Here are six considerations for educators.
 
 
 
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We’re excited to share our updated Employee Accommodations Resource Center (EARC) brochure, now available on our About Us page. This resource provides an overview of the services we offer and how we support employees in the workplace. Feel free to share or post the brochure in your department to help spread the word and promote accessibility across campus!
Did you know:
San Jose Public Library offers local Disability Inclusion events including a Virtual Access Book Club. They also have accessible materials for checkout including audiobooks, large print, close captioned, and sound descriptive videos. They also have a "Library by Mail" service, to deliver library materials to SJPL members of all ages with permanent or temporary disabilities living in San Jose. 
 
 
 
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All students, faculty, and staff at SJSU are eligible for the CSU Academic Fusion License to install JAWS, ZoomText, or Fusion on their personal (non-CSU) computers. Sign up using your SJSU email address. Two concurrent installations are permitted on personal machines and machine authorizations can be managed to move licenses where they are needed.

To get this software installed on a campus computer, please contact your IT Desktop Support Technician.

Please see the CSU Academic Fusion Training Resources for support using this tool. 
 
 
 
 
 
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When uploading an image to a Canvas course, a website, an email or to any digital platform, it is essential to add alternative text (ALT Text) so people using screen readers or people with slow bandwidth can understand the content of the image. To write effective ALT text, think to yourself, “What is the purpose of this image?” and “What is the key message this image is conveying?”

See ALT Text for Accessibility for guidance.
 
 
 
 
 
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Permalinks, as the name suggests, are permanent links to the library’s electronic resources. Using them ensures the links will be available to your students and it gives librarians the ability to track the materials’ usage. This leads to more accurate, data supported purchasing decisions and avoids potential copyright issues. 
Do not use the URL at the top of the screen. Instead copy and paste the permalink. For more information see the SJSU Library’s LibGuide on Permalinks.
 
 
 
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CSU ATI Partners with WebAIM for Accessible Documents Training
Documents are a common way to share information online, whether for processes, procedures, reports, or general communication. However, many documents are not designed with accessibility in mind, creating barriers for some users. To address this, the CSU Accessible Technology Initiative (ATI) has partnered with WebAIM to provide a free online training and certification program. This course equips users with the skills to create accessible documents that meet web accessibility standards.
For more details, visit the CSYou website.
 
 
 
 
 
 
San Jose State University
One Washington Square
San Jose, CA 95192

 
Last Updated Feb 4, 2025