The change is effective immediately for new projects. For existing publications, we recommend transitioning to an accessible format when you next need to update the content.
Digital Document Accessibility Compliance
Effective immediately, Creative Services will no longer create PDF newsletters and reports intended for web posting or ISSUU flipbooks.
Questions? Contact webstrategy@niu.edu to discuss the best accessible format for your communication goals.
Why This Change?
The 2024 ADA update mandates that public schools and universities must meet specific digital content standards by April 2026, with potential fines and legal challenges for noncompliance. PDFs require remediation to be accessible and provide a subpar experience for online users. Documents on ISSUU cannot be read by assistive technology and therefore are not accessible
Your Accessible Options
You may submit a web update request including one of the following, which provide a better online user experience:
- Accessible Microsoft O365 documents that have been reviewed by the NIU Clearinghouse
- Content for the web team to convert to HTML for your website
Learn more about these options.
What We Cannot Provide
We are unable to create:
- PDF newsletters and reports for web posting (print distribution PDFs available upon request)
- ISSUU flipbooks or similar nonaccessible platforms
- Email newsletter design or distribution
Why This Benefits You
PDFs create barriers to engagement:
- Poor mobile experience: PDFs are difficult to read and navigate on smartphones, where most users consume content.
- Lower engagement rates: Users are three times more likely to abandon PDF content than webpages.
- No analytics insights: You can't track how users interact with PDF content or which sections are most effective.
- Search invisibility: PDF content is harder for search engines to index and rank.
- Sharing limitations: PDFs can't be easily shared on social media or linked to specific sections.
Accessible alternatives deliver better results:
- Timely web posting: No delays or compliance barriers.
- Mobile-optimized display: Content adapts perfectly to any screen size.
- Detailed analytics: Track engagement, time spent and user behavior.
- SEO benefits: Content can be found through search engines.
- Social sharing: Easy to share and link to specific content sections.
Frequently Asked Questions
Guidelines and Timeline
No. This change applies only to content posted on NIU websites and public-facing communications. Individual email communications, document sharing between colleagues and students and internal work processes remain unchanged. You can continue using PDFs for personal email attachments, sharing documents with coworkers and students or any other internal purposes.
The focus is specifically on ensuring that content accessible to the public through our website meets accessibility standards and provides the best user experience for all visitors.
Existing PDFs can remain on your site for now. However, when you need to update that content or create new content, you’ll need to transition to one of our recommended accessible formats.
Alternatives and Options
If you have a legitimate need for a PDF (such as sending it to a vendor to be printed), Creative Services will create one for you. However, if you want to post content online, you will need to do so in an accessible format. This applies to all publications including newsletters, annual reports, program brochures and other marketing materials.
It's a common misconception that PDFs prevent document modification. While PDFs may appear secure, users can still download and edit them with various software tools. For better accessibility and functionality, we recommend creating documents in Microsoft Word using proper heading styles and accessibility features. Our Web Team can then post the Word document as read only and configure it to open directly in the browser, providing the user experience you want while maintaining better accessibility.
Specific Content Types
When submitting a request to post a new or updated faculty CV to an NIU website, the CV must be provided as a Word document using proper heading styles and accessibility features. Our Web Team can post the Word document and configure it to open directly in the browser, rather than downloading.
This approach aligns with the accessibility standards faculty use for syllabi and other academic documents, ensuring consistency across all faculty digital content.
For guidance on creating accessible academic documents while maintaining professional formatting, refer to CITL's accessible syllabus resources.
Yes, PDF maps are acceptable in specific situations. When posting a printable map, the Web Team can include a link to our interactive campus map alongside any PDF maps to provide users with accessible alternatives.
No. NIU is closing our ISSUU account at the end of the calendar year. ISSUU is no longer an option for university publications because documents on that platform do not meet accessibility requirements. If you have content on ISSUU that you want to preserve, we recommend downloading and converting it to an accessible format.
Services and Support
No. Creative Services does not provide PDF remediation services. While PDF remediation may achieve technical compliance, it often fails to provide the equivalent user experience required by ADA standards. Our accessible alternatives provide better usability and meet legal requirements more effectively.
- Graphic design and marketing materials: creativeservices@niu.edu
- Web content and HTML conversion: webstrategy@niu.edu
- Accessible teaching materials: CITL@niu.edu
Contact Us
Advertising
Robin Boyko
Director of University Marketing and Brand Management
rboyko@niu.edu