In support of the University of Washington’s commitment to accessibility and inclusion, we want to inform you of the University’s outreach to technology vendors, suppliers, and contractors regarding digital accessibility requirements and our institutional compliance plans.
Recent regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services require that all public institutions, including universities, achieve compliance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA standards by April 24, 2026. While these new regulations apply directly to the University, they also include the digital tools and services we use through third-party vendors. This means that the University is only able to continue using products from vendors who align with these accessibility standards.
On February 18, 2025, Andreas Bohman, Vice President & CIO of UW Information Technology, sent an email to all UW vendors, suppliers, and contractors, thanking them for their ongoing partnership in ensuring the UW is compliant with federal digital accessibility requirements. The full text of the ADA Digital Accessibility letter is available on the Procurement Services website, as is an FAQ on Digital Accessibility.
To meet these expectations, UW has asked all vendors to prepare an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) for each product or service by July 1, 2025. If a product has accessibility gaps, vendors are also expected to provide an accessibility roadmap.
Why this matters to you
If your department uses any third-party tools, platforms, or services in teaching, research, administration, or student support, please ensure that these vendors are aware of UW’s accessibility requirements. This will help avoid potential disruptions in service as we align with federal mandates.
Updates to Resources
Procurement Services, UW-IT Accessible Technology Services, and UW Office of the ADA Coordinator have collaborated to update three key resources related to accessibility in procurement so they all reflect the new ADA requirements:
- Digital Accessibility Rider – This Rider is included in contracts for digital products or services. It’s part of the UW Terms and Conditions.
- Policy/Procedure 7.2.15 – This policy and procedure explains how accessibility is included in the procurement process of digital products and services at the UW.
- Accessible Technology Procurement – This web page provides additional information for anyone at the UW who is responsible for making procurement or licensing decisions.