What are some examples of complex visual materials which may be eligible for a deferral?

As part of the Accessible Temple initiative, we recognize that faculty in some disciplines work with complex visual materials (charts, graphs, specialized images, and diagrams) and may require professional accessibility expertise or additional time to remediate materials or provide alternative accommodation strategies according to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. Temple University has created a process that will allow faculty to submit these types of complex visual materials for review to determine if a deferred timeframe (past the April 24, 2026 deadline) is appropriate. The Accessible Technology Compliance Committee (ATCC) has formed the Accessible Temple Complex Materials Sub-Committee (ATCM) to manage the process. It is important to understand that this process does not exempt you from finding a solution for inaccessible complex visual materials, but instead enables a deferred timeline for making materials accessible. Also note that this is not a blanket deferral for all items in your course; you must still meet web content accessibility guidelines for the remainder of materials in your course.

What criteria will the committee use when reviewing my materials and deciding on a deferred timeframe?  

The committee will consider the following criteria: 

• Whether mechanisms currently available to individual faculty for remediating inaccessible digital materials:
  • undermine the ability of students to meet objectives for the course, for example, by inappropriately revealing answers to students
  • prevent students with disabilities access to the same information as those without disabilities 
  • prohibit students with disabilities from meeting course requirements or objectives
  • fail to provide sufficient context to allow students with disabilities to meet a requirement tied to accreditation, licensure, or certification
  • change the nature of a university program, service, or activity so much that it no longer serves its original purpose
• The quantity of inaccessible complex materials that require remediation means that the faculty member needs more time to complete the full remediation process

What are some examples of complex visual materials which may be eligible for a deferral?

Click on the images below.

What is the process for submitting my materials for review?

Step 1

Educate yourself on how to make materials accessible and try to remediate your materials. Do not assume that you are not able to remediate complex materials that are inaccessible, as there are often strategies readily applied by any faculty member to ensure that digital course content is fully accessible. Our guide, Strategies for Making Complex Visual Elements Accessible, describes alternatives to alt text and includes examples from a variety of disciplines. We welcome you to schedule a consultation for one-on-one support and email cat@temple.edu. with any accessibility questions you may have.

Step 2

If you believe that your digital materials meet the criteria for deferral, submit a completed Complex Visual Materials Review Process Questionnaire to the Accessible Temple Complex Materials Committee. You will be asked to submit samples of your complex visual materials as part of the questionnaire. The information you provide in the questionnaire helps guide the committee's decision on whether or not to grant a deferral.

Once the request is submitted, it will be reviewed by the committee. A final decision will be made within 20 business days following receipt of a completed questionnaire, and the requestor will be sent an email with a final decision. 

If the committee agrees that your materials meet the criteria for deferral, your course will be placed on a list of courses that have inaccessible complex visual digital materials that have been granted a deferred timeframe. If a student with a documented disability that requires these complex digital materials to be made accessible enrolls in your course, DRS will reach out to you to assist in finding a solution.

If the committee determines that your materials do not meet the deferral criteria, we recommend that you reach out to us at the Center for the Advancement of Teaching for assistance in making your materials accessible.

Questions or feedback? Contact ATCM@temple.edu.