USED Resource: 2025 K-12 Digital Infrastructure Brief: Accessibility

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January 22, 2025

Author

Noelle Ellerson-Ng
Noelle Ellerson Ng

Associate Executive Director, Advocacy & Governance, AASA, The School Superintendents Association

USED’s latest resource, 2025 K-12 Digital Infrastructure Brief: Accessibility, is  the fourth installment in a series of resources designed to support educational leaders in creating and sustaining inclusive digital infrastructures. Co-authored by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Educational Technology (OET) and the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), the U.S. Department of Education has released its fourth in the series of briefs addressing critical considerations for building and sustaining digital infrastructure in K-12 education. This brief offers a comprehensive guide to fostering accessible and inclusive digital ecosystems in education. Key Insights include:

  1. Accessibility as a Core Principle: The brief emphasizes embedding accessibility in every facet of digital infrastructure, from procurement to implementation, ensuring equitable access for students with disabilities and multilingual learners.
  2. Assistive Technology and Educational Materials: It highlights the importance of providing assistive technologies (AT) and accessible educational materials (AEM) to support diverse learner needs.
  3. Collaboration Across Sectors: The document outlines strategies for breaking silos among instructional technology, curriculum, and special education departments to promote inclusive practices.
  4. Innovative State Initiatives: Case studies like South Carolina’s Digital Accessibility Courtesy Observations (DACO) Initiative and the EasterSeals Massachusetts AT Mobile Van illustrate successful state-level efforts to improve digital accessibility.
  5. Compliance and Best Practices: It provides actionable guidance on meeting federal standards, including ADA and IDEA requirements, and integrating accessibility features into educational technologies.

This document aims to empower schools, educators, policymakers, and technology providers to foster a future where digital infrastructure supports inclusive, equitable learning environments for all.

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