May 14, 2026

By Scott Baine, Center for Teaching and Learning, East Mississippi Community College

When I first was tasked with leading our accessibility efforts in instruction, I was not an accessibility expert. I still would not call myself one. What I am is someone who cares deeply about our students and our instructors, and what once sounded overwhelming has become the most meaningful work I do.

"East Mississippi Community College is a public community college dedicated to improving the quality of life for students, community, and personnel through instructional opportunities, with a specific focus on a healthy mind, body, and spirit." That mission is not just a statement on our webpage. It shows up in the classroom, in course design, and in the daily decisions our instructors make. A student using her screen reader should be able to navigate all her courses without barriers. A student watching his required course videos should not miss something because captions are unavailable. A student relying on assistive technology should not hit a wall because a document has no format structure. A student on a phone should not have to scroll through ten weeks of content just to find what is due this week. These are not outlier cases. They are everyday realities for students across all our campuses and modalities.

Accessibility is not really about technology. It is about whether students can participate in learning. Federal law agrees. The Americans with Disabilities Act requires all public colleges and universities to meet digital accessibility standards by April 26, 2027. 

My mantra for this initiative is simple: less friction, more traction. The goal is to keep students focused on the material and make sure nothing stands between them and what their instructor worked hard to build. I have spent the better part of the last three semesters sitting down with faculty one by one and in group settings, across every division and every campus, working through what accessible teaching actually looks like in practice. We have talked through alternative text, video captions, heading structure, color contrast, descriptive links, and document formatting. All of it matters more than most people realize.

The curb cut was not built for everyone. It was designed for people who use wheelchairs. But it helps people pushing strollers, delivery workers with hand trucks, and students carrying heavy backpacks. Accessible course materials work exactly the same way. When we design for the students who need it most, every student benefits.

The foundation for this work comes from internationally recognized digital accessibility standards established by the World Wide Web Consortium, the organization responsible for the guidelines that govern how web content and digital materials should be built so everyone can use them. Part of the role of our Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) is helping faculty approach that work in ways that are manageable and realistic.

I will not pretend this is a light lift. Our instructors are extremely busy. They built their courses over many years. Revisiting documents, videos, and course materials takes time and intention. I know that. I feel it, too. But what I have witnessed from our faculty has genuinely moved me.

They show up. They ask hard questions. They stay engaged until something makes sense. Faculty who once felt uncertain are now helping colleagues rethink how course materials are designed and delivered. Instructors who came into their first consultation overwhelmed have left with a plan and the confidence to move forward. These are not people doing the minimum. These are professionals rising to meet a genuine challenge with the same determination that has always defined our faculty and our institution.

Our CTL accessibility resources in Canvas continue to grow as new topics and materials are added. Individual consultations remain available at all campuses and virtually throughout the upcoming year, and support continues across the coming academic year. Federal law may have established the deadline, but as always EMCC faculty have embraced something bigger than compliance.

In this together,

Scott

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Whether you are a faculty member, a colleague at another institution, or someone who simply believes every student deserves access to learning, I would love to hear from you. Contact me and the Center for Teaching and Learning at ctl@eastms.edu.

Americans with Disabilities Act:  ada.gov/law-and-regs/ada

World Wide Web Consortium: w3.org

Scott Baine | Center for Teaching and Learning | East Mississippi Community College