--- title: "Navigating College Course Catalogs as a Blind Student: Barriers and Fixes" description: A first-person look at course catalog barriers for blind students, with practical WCAG fixes and Title II compliance dates—plus how Assistive can help. image: https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Coding%20person%20-%20600%20(1).png --- - [skip to menu](https://blog.usablenet.com/navigating-college-course-catalogs-as-a-blind-student-barriers-and-fixes#nav) - [skip to content](https://blog.usablenet.com/navigating-college-course-catalogs-as-a-blind-student-barriers-and-fixes#main-content) - [skip to footer](https://blog.usablenet.com/navigating-college-course-catalogs-as-a-blind-student-barriers-and-fixes#footer) Test the accessibility of your website for free! Try UsableNet AQA. 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[Get Help with EN 301 549 Compliance](https://info.usablenet.com/eaa-en-301-549-compliance?__hstc=181257784.2243d86205d8f41e204908d6f6578263.1725908600455.1736198093211.1736205902814.174&__hssc=181257784.1.1736205902814&__hsfp=3011104808) - Who We Serve ## Industry [E-commerce and Consumer Goods](https://info.usablenet.com/industries-e-commerce-consumer-goods) [Food Service and Hospitality](https://info.usablenet.com/-industries-food-service-hospitality) [Banking and Financial Services](https://info.usablenet.com/industries-financial-services) [Healthcare](https://info.usablenet.com/industries-healthcare) [Technology and Business Services](https://info.usablenet.com/-industries-technology-and-business-services) [Public Sector and Education](https://info.usablenet.com/industries-public-sector-and-education) ## Compliance [Canadian Accessibility Laws](https://info.usablenet.com/compliance-canada) [European Accessibility Laws](https://info.usablenet.com/compliance-europe) [Other International Accessibility](https://info.usablenet.com/compliance-international) [United States Accessibility Laws](https://info.usablenet.com/compliance-united-states) 2026 Midyear report on digital accessibility lawsuits in the US [Download Now](https://info.usablenet.com/2026-midyear-report) - [Pricing](https://usablenet.com/pricing) - [Blog](https://blog.usablenet.com/) - [About Us](https://usablenet.com/about-us) [Get a Demo](https://info.usablenet.com/contact) # Navigating College Course Catalogs as a Blind Student: Barriers and Fixes **By** [Michael Taylor](https://blog.usablenet.com/author/michael-taylor) on Sep 16, 2025 **Topics:** [Web Accessibility](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/web-accessibility), [User Experience](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/user-experience), [Higher Ed](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/higher-ed) 0 Comments - - - ![Person working on accessibility improvements](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Coding%20person%20-%20600%20(1).png) Every student relies on the course catalog to select classes, explore majors, and plan a path. For blind students using screen readers, the basic task often becomes difficult due to how the content is built behind the scenes. I am Michael Taylor, a blind,  screen reader user. Browsing course catalogs, degree requirements, and program bulletins is a common step when comparing schools. In practice, this experience is frequently flawed for screen reader users. ## Where Course Catalogs Break for Screen Reader Users Accessibility problems usually come from structure and labeling—not the subject matter. - **Headings are missing or out of order.** Without a logical heading structure, I am unable to jump between departments or sections using screen reader shortcuts. - **Filter and sort controls are unlabeled or vague.** Buttons with text like “Click here” provide no context. - **Expandable sections do not announce the state.** Accordions or disclosure widgets open visually but do not indicate whether they are “expanded” or “collapsed,” so navigation stalls. ## Image-Only Catalogs and Untagged PDFs A significant issue is **improper digitization**. Some institutions publish program bulletins and requirements as images or image-based PDFs. A screen reader cannot interpret text that is only present in a graphic. **What works:** - Publish degree and program information as **true HTML** or **properly tagged PDFs**. - Do not embed critical information only in images. - Make links and file names descriptive. ## When Tables Hide Information Comparison tables (credits, required/elective courses, options for double majors or minors) can be long and complex. Without proper structure, navigation becomes unpredictable. **Typical failures** - Focus moves in an illogical sequence (for example, down a column instead of across a row). - Row and column headers are missing or incorrect, so positioning and context are unclear. **What works** - Use semantic **table markup** with `` for both row and column headers. - Ensure a **logical reading order** and reliable keyboard navigation. - Expose position context so the screen reader can announce the proper headers with each cell. ## Expand and Collapse Without Getting Stuck Program menus often use expand/collapse to reduce visual clutter. If the control does not expose the state to assistive technology, newly revealed items may not be reachable. **What works** - Use accessible disclosure patterns and expose state  - Ensure all revealed items are **keyboard reachable** - Provide an announcement or focus management so users are aware of what has changed. ## What Good Looks Like When catalogs follow best practices, screen reader users can search, filter, and read course descriptions without needing to leave the keyboard. - **Clear, semantic headings** for departments, years, and course types - **Well-labeled controls** for filter, sort, and search - **Keyboard-friendly filtering** with visible, text feedback on changes - **Accessible expanders** that announce open/closed state - **Readable content** as HTML or tagged PDFs **Related guide:** See **Course Catalogs** in the [*ADA Title II Compliance Guide for Higher Education*](https://info.usablenet.com/ada-title-ii-compliance-guide-for-higher-education-real-barriers-and-practical-solutions-usablenet) for patterns and governance. ## Why This Matters for Compliance and Inclusion Under ADA Title II, public colleges and universities are required to ensure that their digital platforms are accessible. Course catalogs are part of that obligation. Accessibility is not a bonus feature; it is a requirement and a key factor in student success. Compliance note: Public universities are subject to ADA Title II. Under the DOJ’s 2024 rule, large entities (population ≥ 50,000) must comply by April 24, 2026, and smaller entities by April 26, 2027, aligning catalogs and related pages to WCAG 2.1 Level AA. Building accessible catalogs now reduces risk and improves student success. ## Fastest Way to Find Real Issues Automated checks often miss dynamic filters, tables, and expand/collapse behavior. A combination of user testing and targeted fixes is needed. **Want expert help identifying catalog barriers?** [Run a test with **UsableNet AQA** to find issues that impact real students.](https://usablenet.com/automated-accessibility-testing-tool) ## Closing the Gap With Help As a blind screen reader user, what actually helps is getting fixes into the product—not another report. The teams I see make real progress do a few simple things and repeat them: - Ship code that adds labels, structure, and keyboard paths - Check changes with assistive-technology users before release - Line up work with WCAG and Title II requirements - Keep testing as catalogs, filters, and vendors change That is the model behind [**UsableNet Assistive**](https://usablenet.com/technology/assistive-technology-services)—UsableNet's managed service for digital accessibility, which includes validation from people who use assistive technology, is mapped to WCAG and Title II, and is supported to ensure you stay compliant.  ## Related Resources - [**ADA Title II Compliance Guide for Higher Education**](https://info.usablenet.com/ada-title-ii-compliance-guide-for-higher-education-real-barriers-and-practical-solutions-usablenet)— Patterns, governance, and checklists across the student journey. - [**Public Sector & Education Accessibility**](https://info.usablenet.com/industries-public-sector-and-education) — Services for Title II readiness, WCAG-aligned testing, remediation, and training. [![Illustration of people improving web accessibility and button to watch a demo ](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3280432/b09930d2-18e9-4a5e-be9c-74e854e489a1.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3280432/b09930d2-18e9-4a5e-be9c-74e854e489a1) ![Michael Taylor](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Michael%20Taylor-4.jpg) ### [Michael Taylor](https://blog.usablenet.com/author/michael-taylor) I am a regular contributor to the UsableNet blog on digital accessibility. I develop, write, and edit content for the company blog related to my experiences with digital accessibility. I explore various areas of the digital world and combine my unique perspective as a screen reader user with my fun and creative writing style to deliver an informative and engaging final product. My goal is to advance the company's marketing initiatives while also raising awareness about digital accessibility and how it affects the lives of real-world assistive technology users. My work covers everything from common accessibility challenges to robust and accessible design to tutorial-like content for specific web elements. - - - - ### Related posts ![Hotel Website Accessibility: Check-in, Messaging, and In-Stay Barriers for Blind Guests](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Beachside-min.jpg) [Hotel Website Accessibility: Check-in, Messaging, and In-Stay Barriers for Blind Guests](https://blog.usablenet.com/hotel-website-accessibility-check-in-and-in-stay-barriers-for-blind-guests) Jul 15, 2026 ![Hotel Website Accessibility: Browsing Room Options](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Beachside-min.jpg) [Hotel Website Accessibility: Browsing Room Options](https://blog.usablenet.com/hotel-website-accessibility-browsing-room-options) Jul 14, 2026 ![Inside the 2026 Midyear Numbers: The ADA continues to be the ONLY true enforcement around](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Registration%20-%20Midyear%20Report.png) [Inside the 2026 Midyear Numbers: The ADA continues to be the ONLY true enforcement around](https://blog.usablenet.com/inside-the-2026-midyear-numbers-where-digital-accessibility-litigation-is-going) Jul 8, 2026 ![Real Estate Website Accessibility: Property Listing Pages and Screen Readers](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Real%20Estate%20Website%20Accessibility%20-%20Property%20Listing%20Pages%20and%20Screen%20Readers%201200%20x%20630.png) [Real Estate Website Accessibility: Property Listing Pages and Screen Readers](https://blog.usablenet.com/real-estate-website-accessibility-property-listing-pages-and-screen-readers) Jul 7, 2026 ### Sign Up for the UsableNet Blog ### Recent Posts ![feature image](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Beachside-min.jpg) [Hotel Website Accessibility: Check-in, Messaging, and In-Stay Barriers for Blind Guests](https://blog.usablenet.com/hotel-website-accessibility-check-in-and-in-stay-barriers-for-blind-guests) Jul 15, 2026 ![feature image](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Beachside-min.jpg) [Hotel Website Accessibility: Browsing Room Options](https://blog.usablenet.com/hotel-website-accessibility-browsing-room-options) Jul 14, 2026 ![feature image](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Registration%20-%20Midyear%20Report.png) [Inside the 2026 Midyear Numbers: The ADA continues to be the ONLY true enforcement around](https://blog.usablenet.com/inside-the-2026-midyear-numbers-where-digital-accessibility-litigation-is-going) Jul 8, 2026 ### Posts by Topic - [Web Accessibility (311)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/web-accessibility) - [User Experience (113)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/user-experience) - [ADA Lawsuits (45)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/ada-lawsuits) - [ADA Website Compliance (38)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/ada-website-compliance) - [European Accessibility Act (34)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/european-accessibility-act) - [Mobile Web (30)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/mobile-web) - [Mobile Apps (27)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/mobile-apps) - [Retail (27)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/retail) ![](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Consultation%20Icon.svg) Need to improve digital usability, accessibility or performance? 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Stay up-to-date on our insights, the latest tech news and digital trends. ![International Association of Accessibility Professionals logo](https://blog.usablenet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SaaS%20Theme/2023%20Header%20and%20Footer/IAAP-logo.png?width=150&height=81&name=IAAP-logo.png) © 2026 UsableNet Inc. ![International Association of Accessibility Professionals logo](https://blog.usablenet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SaaS%20Theme/2023%20Header%20and%20Footer/IAAP-logo.png?width=150&height=81&name=IAAP-logo.png) © 2026 UsableNet Inc. ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Michael Taylor", "url" : "https://blog.usablenet.com/author/michael-taylor" }, "dateModified" : "2025-09-30T13:50:57.463Z", "datePublished" : "2025-09-16T14:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "Navigating College Course Catalogs as a Blind Student: Barriers and Fixes", "image" : [ "https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Coding%20person%20-%20600%20(1).png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.usablenet.com/navigating-college-course-catalogs-as-a-blind-student-barriers-and-fixes", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/UsableNet%20Logo_Black.png" }, "name" : "UsableNet Inc." } } ```