Higher Education

We're excited to share highlights from our recent Q4 Community Conversations on accessibility. We know universities are preparing for the DOJ's ADA compliance deadline, and we're here to help you get there. If you missed this session, please see the recording and the presentation linked.

Here's a quick roundup of the latest product enhancements, a look ahead at what's coming, and important updates on accessibility laws and best practices.

Product Updates

• Media Library Folders: Organize your media assets more efficiently with new folder capabilities.
• Custom Financial Reports: Build and save financial reports that fit your institution's unique needs.
• Saved Sections: Reuse content sections across events for faster setup.
• Event App Navigation Configuration: Enjoy more flexibility in customizing your event app's navigation.

Product Roadmap

Looking ahead, here are some exciting features in development:

• OnArrival Badge Designer: Support for pre-printed badges is coming soon.
• Group Packages: Streamline group registrations and management.
• Event Theming: Enhanced options to align event visuals with your institution's brand.
• New Certificate Designer: Easily create and distribute certificates for event participants.

Accessibility Law Updates

Staying compliant is more important than ever. Here's what you need to know:

• Existing Laws:

  • Section 508: Focuses on procurement; ensures technology purchased by federal agencies is accessible.
  • ADA: An anti-discrimination law that, until now, hasn't applied to digital content-only to services provided to the public.

• Upcoming Changes:

  • ADA Title II Update: Starting April 24, 2026 (for organizations with 50,000+ people) and April 24, 2027 (for those under 50,000), websites and mobile apps must meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards. Audio descriptions will also be required.

Actionable Tips for Accessible Websites

While Cvent handles much of the technical heavy lifting, there are key steps you should take to ensure your content is accessible:

• Heading Structure

  • Use one H1 per page, followed by H2, then H3-never skip levels (e.g., don't go from H1 to H4).
  • Headings must be in numerical order and use proper semantic markup so assistive technology can identify them.
  • Will screen readers recognize custom-themed headers?
    Yes-the HTML heading tag (e.g., H1) remains unchanged, so screen readers will identify it correctly, regardless of theming.

• Color Contrast

  • Aim for a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 (Cvent's best practice), except for large text (18pt+ or 14pt bold+), which can be 3:1.

• Image Alt Text

  • All non-text content must have concise alt text (no more than 2–3 short sentences).
  • Focus on the intent of the image, not a literal description, to help screen readers interpret content effectively.

• VPATs: For detailed accessibility documentation, reach out to your account team.

Resources

• Big Book of Event Accessibility
• Cvent Accessibility Learning Center (available in the Community)

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Kylie Ott
Lead Customer Success Advisor
Richmond, VA
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