Assess your current digital content and technologies to identify which ones are still relevant and need prioritization. While there are several ways to initiate an audit and determine the final project scope, we strongly suggest starting with an inventory of all digital content owned by your unit. See our resources for sample inventories. This inventory should include, but is not limited to:
- All websites using a top level domain such as “DepartmentName.unc.edu”
- Siteimprove can help with website inventory
- Online course content in Cavas or supplemental websites
- Documents
- Videos
- Images
- Podcasts
- Digital documents
- Video and audio
- Social media
- Periodical communication like newsletters
- Digital materials purchased for use by the department
Priority considerations
Prioritizing your digital content will best ensure timely compliance. In doing so, the most critical content is identified, and the tools and resources for compliance are specifically directed to that content. Start by identifying high-impact content, such as key public-facing web pages, essential course materials, and widely used digital documents. For example, website homepages and 100-level courses should be prioritized due to their broad reach and frequent access.
Factors to consider when prioritizing content:
- Audience: Who is the audience of this content? Public-facing content and content with a wide internal audience must be accessible.
- Frequency of Use: How often is the content accessed? Frequently used content should be prioritized.
- Occurrence of Accessibility Issues: Does the content frequently have accessibility issues? If yes, it should be considered critical.
- Number Affected: How many people are affected by the content? Content that impacts a larger audience should be prioritized.
- Age of Content: Is the content outdated? Old content should be deleted or archived.
These prioritization factors are rooted in accessibility best practices, considering departments with varying resource levels, applicability to both small and large-scale inventories, and unforeseen constraints. Your department’s priorities may be influenced by contract terms, grant deadlines, or other factors requiring the use of different prioritization frameworks. The key to effective prioritization is directing resources to the most frequently accessed content first. This ensures an accurate project scope, adequate resource allocation, and compliance by April 2026.