The ‘why’ of digital accessibility compliance

With an April 24, 2026, deadline for public entities — including UND — to meet new guidelines in the Americans with Disabilities Act, President Andrew Armacost hosts a conversation about digital accessibility for his latest video message to campus.

Joining him are Sara Kaiser, director of Student Disability Resources & Academic Support; Lynette Krenelka, executive director for UND’s Teaching Transformation & Development Academy; and Donna Smith, assistant vice president of Civil Rights & Title IX.

Armacost addresses digital accessibility both as a federal mandate as well as an “important facet” of University activities. He asks the group about UND’s progress in meeting the new standards, the impact of accessible practices and what is expected of the campus community.

In the first video clip, Sara Kaiser addresses the “why” aspect of UND’s move toward becoming a federally compliant campus community regarding digital accessibility. Kaiser does this by sharing information on her team’s work with students at all levels: from 2023 to 2025, there was a 30% increase in students seeking services from the Office of Student Disability Resources & Academic Support.

Moreover, improving digital accessibility makes learning easier for everyone in today’s multi-modal environment, she says. Today’s students use a variety of technologies, often moving between devices, to learn and engage with their courses. She joins Krenelka in encouraging faculty to practice “Universal Design for Learning” principles when creating course materials, promoting services offered by the Teaching Transformation & Development Academy (TTaDA).

The University’s “Accessible UND” webpage is the hub for all things accessibility, including information on regulations as well as resources across all areas of campus.