Accessible Technology at the UW
Programs, services, resources, and opportunities to carry out the University of Washington's Vision Statement are increasingly provided using information technology (IT). Therefore, the need becomes especially critical that UW's IT be accessible to all users, including individuals with disabilities.
This web site provides resources and tips related to IT accessibility, as well as opportunities for community involvement. Together we can ensure that the UW is, and continues to be, a place where everyone can learn, grow, and participate.
President Young Featured in Video on IT Accessibility
A new video, produced by the AccessComputing project at the University of Washington, features university presidents, chief information officers, and other IT leaders discussing the importance of IT accessibility on college campuses. UW President Michael K. Young was featured among the participants. The video, titled, IT Access: What Campus Leaders Have To Say, is embedded below in a YouTube player, but is available in a variety of other formats, with and without audio description, at uw.edu/doit/video/itaccess.
Some Accessibility Facts
In 2007-08, over 700 UW students registered with our Disability Resources for Students office. It is estimated that these students represent about 30-40% of students with disabilities enrolled on our campus. These students:
- Include those who are blind or have visual impairments, are deaf or hard of hearing, have physical disabilities, have learning disabilities such as dyslexia and dysgraphia, or have psychiatric, cognitive, or other disabilities.
- Interact with IT in a wide variety of ways, sometimes requiring custom configurations or access through alternative input or output devices.
- Join a growing body of non-disabled students who similarly challenge the boundaries of traditional technology by accessing dynamic Web, multimedia, and software applications using handheld and other mobile devices.