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Accessibility at the UW

Category: Leadership

Connecting With UW Supervisors To Prepare for April 24 and Beyond

Post categories: GAAD Leadership Training

On January 20, 2026, the UW Digital Accessibility Initiative team shared an update with all UW supervisors outlining the April 24, 2026 deadline for digital accessibility requirements and the tools, training, and events available to support this work. This post provides a summary of that message for the UW community; the message is also available online.

Ongoing updates to supervisors will continue through spring 2026 to help make digital accessibility part of everyday practice across the University.

How Supervisors Can Support This Work

Supervisors play an important role in helping teams plan for the deadline and for a more accessible and inclusive UW. In our January 20 message, supervisors were invited to:

  • Share accessibility resources and updates with their teams
  • Encourage participation in training and community events
  • Reinforce accessibility as part of everyday digital work
  • Help teams prioritize accessibility for websites, documents, videos, forms, and course materials

Tools: Accessibility Checkers

Accessibility checkers can help identify common issues such as missing alternative text, low color contrast, and structural problems. UW-supported options include:

  • Built-in checkers, such as those in Microsoft Office applications
  • Course accessibility tools such as Ally and TidyUP
  • DubBot, UW’s web accessibility checker (available by request), along with other tools and extensions

Accessibility checkers are most effective when paired with manual review and informed judgment. Additional accessibility checkers and extensions are listed on Accessible Technology’s Tools web page.

Learn and Connect: Events

Community learning is an important part of UW’s accessibility efforts. UW hosts regular events that offer practical guidance and opportunities to connect with colleagues.
Recurring and upcoming events include:

Visit the Digital Accessibility calendar for full details.

Guidance and Training

UW offers free digital accessibility training and practical guidance for all roles, from beginners to advanced practitioners. The Digital Accessibility Training page brings together recommended learning paths, role-based courses, and how-to resources to help teams get started and build skills over time.

Together, we will make accessibility a shared, sustainable practice for creating and delivering digital content, for the April 24 deadline and beyond.

Connecting with UW Leadership on Digital Accessibility 

Post categories: Leadership

The co-sponsors of the Digital Accessibility Initiative reached out to University of Washington leaders on December 8 to share a message about the role we all play in supporting digital accessibility across the UW.

UW leaders were encouraged to help their teams build accessibility into everyday work flows by taking advantage of training opportunities, following guidance from the Digital Accessibility Initiative (DAI) teams, and staying connected to digital accessibility news, tools, and events. The message also highlighted the importance of creating a culture where digital accessibility is encouraged, supported, and embedded into how we work at UW.

Read the December 8 message to UW leaders for more details about the expectations, resources, and ways to get involved. The Digital Accessibility Initiative team will continue to connect with University leaders, supervisors, and managers through spring 2026 as we prepare for the April 2026 deadline and a more inclusive, accessible UW.

As we head into the new year, there are opportunities for everyone to get involved and stay connected to this work, starting with the Digital Accessibility Liaisons Community of Practice.

Save the Date: Digital Accessibility Liaisons Meeting

Wednesday, January 21 | 10:00–11:00 a.m. (online)

Want to connect with others working on digital accessibility at UW? Join the Digital Accessibility Liaisons Community of Practice — a space for UW staff and faculty to share knowledge, ask questions, and learn practical ways to make digital content more accessible.

You don’t need to be an official liaison to participate—anyone with an interest in digital accessibility is welcome.

Learn more about the Community of Practice on the Digital Accessibility Liaisons page.

Register for the January 21 meeting on the Digital Accessibility calendar.

We hope you’ll join us and stay connected as we continue this work together.