UNMC and Nebraska Medicine users may notice small changes in Microsoft 365, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams and SharePoint, as the organization makes its digital content more accessible to meet federal standards.
UNMC is improving the accessibility of its digital content to meet the federal standard set under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The accessibility standards apply to everyday tools like documents, meetings and online content — not just public websites. Along with other state and local government institutions, UNMC must comply with this new rule by April 24. Nebraska Medicine users will experience changes on the med center’s common IT systems.
The changes help ensure that all staff, students and patients can read documents, participate in meetings and access shared content without additional barriers.
Some changes include:
Microsoft Office documents (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
- The Accessibility Checker will run automatically while the user is working.
- Recommendations may be offered for headings, alt text for images, table structure and link descriptions.
These are helpful prompts, not errors. Users can choose how to address recommendations, but the checker will no longer be optional.
Microsoft Teams meetings and calls
- Live captions will be available for meetings and calls.
- Transcription may be enabled depending on the meeting type.
- Meeting recordings will include captions by default.
Users don’t need to do anything differently. These options are simply easier to use and more consistently available.
SharePoint and shared content
- Modern SharePoint pages and built‑in layouts will be emphasized.
- Users may be encouraged to use built‑in styles and tools rather than custom formatting.
This ensures content works well with screen readers, mobile devices and different browsers.
Some helpful habits to follow include:
- Using built‑in heading styles instead of bold text.
- Adding alt text for images when prompted.
- Turning on captions when hosting meetings.
- Following Accessibility Checker suggestions when sharing documents externally.
UNMC and Nebraska Medicine Information Technology is committed to making sure these changes support everyone effectively. With questions, concerns or assistance with accommodations, contact the IT ServiceDesk at 402-559-7700.