Global Accessibility Awareness Day

Welcome to Global Accessibility Awareness Day, 2026 and thank you for joining us in celebrating all the ways faculty and staff are creating a more accessible and inclusive campus!

By ensuring course materials, syllabi, documents, images, websites and physical spaces are accessible, we’re breaking down barriers to learning for all students. 


2026 Highlight: Faculty Champions in Accessibility!

This year, the Faculty Champions in Accessibility have created discipline specific accessibility guidance and they've participated in lively and engaging panel disucssions exploring simple changes faculty can make to create more equitable learning environments.

Faculty Champions in Accessibility Crystal Fausett, Rachel Lazzeri-Aerts, Yi Yuan

This Faculty Fixes: Accessibility in Action Podcast episode (5 min) features Faculty Champions in Accessibility:

  • Crystal Fausett (College of Information, Data, and Society)
  • Rachel Lazzeri-Aerts (College of Social Sciences)
  • Yi Yuan (College of Health and Human Sciences)

(Note: This podcast was created using the original audio recordings of the panel discussion, Notebook LM and Adobe Podcast).


To Learn More

Even small changes can make a big difference in our students’ learning experiences. 


SJSU Faculty and Staff Videos

Accessibility in the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library 

SJSU King Library Accessibility (2 min video)

In celebration of Global Accessibility Awareness Day, learn about the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library's many accessibility features that help create an inclusive and welcoming space for all. From accessible entrances and elevators, sensory-friendly study areas, and online accessibility, King Library is committed to ensuring equitable access for every visitor. Learn how we’re working to support the diverse needs of SJSU and local communities! Whether you’re new to accessibility or already an advocate, watch for quick inspiration to move your accessibility awareness to the next level! King Library is for everyone!  

Accessibility Power Up - Getting Started with Alternative Text

Accessibility Power Up - Getting Started with Alternative Text (4:45 min video)

Adding alternative text (ALT Text) is the quickest and easiest way to begin creating accessible content! In this video, Kara Stanley, SJSU Online Instructional Designer, provides a succinct explanation of the importance of ALT text in our increasingly visual world. Kara also gives multiple useful examples of how to write clear and concise ALT text and long descriptions for more complex images.

Taking Flight with Grackle towards Accessibility

Taking Flight with Grackle towards Accessibility (4:38 min video)

Are you using slides in your classes? Do you wonder if they’re accessible to all? In this video, Holly Quinones, Manager of Organizational Development and Enrichment Programs with University Personnel explains how she uses GrackleDocs and GrackleSlides to ensure her training materials and resources are accessible. It is essential that we create accessible content from the start because we really never know what accommodations students, faculty and staff might need.

The Introducing GrackleDocs (5:26 min video) provides an overview of how to install the GrackleDocs Add-on and how to check and remediate the accessibility of your Google Docs, Slides and Sheets. Note: You will need to install the add-on for each tool separately following the same instructions as described in the video. The SJSU GrackleDocs Webpage offers additional details.

GrackleDocs: Accessibility & Google Docs 

GrackleDocs: Accessibility & Google Docs (1:48 min video)

Sarah Schraeder Cisneros, Associate Director of Academic Scheduling and Space Management, explains how she uses GrackleDocs to seamlessly get feedback and tips to improve the accessibility of everyday and broadly shared GoogleDocs. She strongly believes access to easy-to-use tools, like Grackle, are the key to reducing and overcoming digital barriers for our campus community. 

Website Accessibility

Website Accessibility (8:03 min video)

Are you adding content to SJSU websites? Have you checked your content for accessibility? In this video, Klaus Trilck, Instructional Designer at Center for Faculty Excellence and Teaching Innovation, explains how to create accessible web content at SJSU and demonstrates Siteimprove which is an easy and useful tool to check web accessibility at SJSU.

Additional Related Resources: 
SJSU Web Content Standards 
Siteimprove Website 
Siteimprove Account Request 
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 

LinkedIn Learning: Accessibility for Web Design SJSU login required.
LinkedIn Learning: Accessibility-First Design SJSU login required.

SJSU Official Syllabus 

SJSU Official Syllabus Overview (2:18 min video)

The SJSU Official Syllabus is a standardized syllabus template so students can easily find the content they need and it is fully accessible to students using screen readers. In this video, Anthony Bolanos, SJSU Online Instructional Designer, demonstrates just how easy it is to get started! 

Additional Related Resources:
SJSU Official Syllabus Webpage 

Accessibility at  SJSU Library 

Essential Library Resources:
Accessibility services at the library
Adaptive equipment at the library
Partner library San José Public Library accessibility services
SJSU Subject Librarian 


Additional Accessibility Resources

Essential Campus Resources

Accessibility at SJSU is a comprehensive, easy to use webpage for students, faculty and staff. It outlines how to get accommodations, how to assist students who have requested accommodations, how to be an ally for those on our campus with disabilities and additional tips on how to create accessible learning environments.

Accessible Education Center (AEC) supports our students with disabilities by providing services and tools to bolster their academic success.

Accessible Media

For videos to be accessible to all, they must include corrected captions. The SJSU Panopto webpage has videos and tutorials.

LinkedIn Learning: Creating Accessible and Inclusive Video SJSU login required.

Self-Directed Training Opportunities

Audit Your Syllabus Course - Public Version
Accessible Canvas Courses You can use the content as a resource or complete all four assessments for a certificate. 
Disability Sensitivity Training (source GAAD website)
LinkedIn Learning: Inclusive Learning Design SJSU login required.


A to Z: A Complete list of Accessibility Resources

General Accessibility Resources

Accessibility at SJSU
Accessible Education Center (AEC)
Audit Your Syllabus Course - Public Version
Global Accessibility Awareness Day 
Equidox
GrackleDocs
SJSU Panopto webpage
PDF Accessibility
Siteimprove Account Request
SJSU Official Syllabus
SJSU Web Content Guidelines
TidyUp
UDOIT

Library Accessibility Resources

Accessibility services at the library
Adaptive equipment at the library
San José Public Library accessibility services
Web Accessibility Libguide 
Local accessibility training resources 
Collections in alternative formats 
Library Liaison: Find Your Subject Librarian

LinkedIn Learning Courses on Accessibility (SJSU Login Required)

Accessibility for Web Design
Accessibility-First Design
Inclusive Learning Design
Creating Accessible PDFs
Creating Accessible and Inclusive Video