ACRL/NY User Experience Discussion Group
Spring 2026 Meeting: Introduction to WCAG 2.1 : Web Content Accessibility Guidelines and the ADA Title II
Thurs, April 23, 2026 (1pm-2pm) via Zoom
You will receive the Zoom link in the confirmation email.
Our Spring 2026 virtual meeting will discuss the upcoming Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1) which take effect April 24, 2026. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are internationally recognized technical standards designed to make web content accessible to people with disabilities. They are the technical standards used to fulfill the legal requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II.
Professor Ashley Dirzis, Health Sciences Librarian at the College of Staten Island, CUNY, will be our guest speaker for our meeting. She will discuss the importance of WCAG 2.1 level AA and how you can incorporate these best practices into your LibGuides, YouTube videos, and instructional materials. With the WCAG 2.1 Title II deadline approaching in April, librarians need clear, actionable steps to prepare their digital content for compliance. The presentation will begin by introducing the foundational concepts of WCAG as a framework for evaluating digital accessibility. Then, these core concepts will be applied to actionable steps librarians can take to ensure their web content is inclusive. Color contrast ratios, alt text, headings, and more will be discussed. Finally, we explore how to craft effective Statements of Commitment to Accessibility that reflect library values and reduce institutional risk by documenting ongoing accessibility efforts. Attendees will leave with practical guidance to strengthen accessibility and inclusivity across their library’s digital presence.
We invite you to an informal meeting where we can talk about how to adapt and revise our current LibGuides, instructional videos, PDF files, and other digital assets so they adhere to the current standards and best practices of WCAG 2.1 Level AA.
The spring 2026 meeting is open to ACRL/NY members only.
We do encourage you to join ACRL/NY.
Please join online https://acrlny.org/join-us
If you think you are a member, but are unsure of your membership status, please contact Werner Sbaschnik, ACRL/NY Membership Secretary, at acrlnymembership@gmail.com
All ACRL/NY events, programs, and discussion groups are guided by our Code of Conduct https://acrlny.org/code-of-conduct/, which we encourage you to review.
Please reach out if you have any questions!
Mark Aaron Polger and Joy Dunkley, co-chairs
ACRL/NY User Experience Discussion Group
https://acrlnyux.wordpress.com
