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Accessibility at the UW

Category: Accessibility

Digital Accessibility Meet-Ups

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Join UW’s Monthly Accessibility Meetups: Web Usability & Instructional Accessibility

Accessibility is a key part of creating inclusive digital experiences, whether you’re designing websites or developing accessible courses. To support these efforts, UW-IT’s Accessible Technology Services hosts two monthly meetups: one focused on Web Accessibility and Usability and another devoted to Instructional Accessibility for faculty and course designers.

These informal gatherings provide opportunities to discuss accessibility challenges, get feedback, and learn best practices from experts and peers. Whether you’re a web developer, designer, faculty member, or instructional designer, these meetups offer valuable insights to enhance accessibility in your work.

About the Web Accessibility/Usability Meetup

The Monthly Web Accessibility/Usability meet-up is a place for accessibility-minded colleagues to casually review and discuss projects, including hands-on testing and code review. You will be encouraged to bring questions and troubleshoot issues from your own website, as it is a great learning experience for everyone.

These sessions are led by Hadi Rangin, a web accessibility specialist with UW-IT Accessible Technology Services. Hadi, who holds a master’s degree in computer science and is a screen reader user himself, offers a unique perspective on how websites and web applications can be made more usable including users with disabilities. If you’re working on a project and would like to get accessibility feedback from your peers, email Hadi (hadir@uw.edu) to be added to the agenda. Visit the Accessible Technology Services events page for more details on how to join.

Instructional Accessibility Meetup for Faculty & Course Designers

Faculty and course designers interested in making their online courses more accessible can join the Instructional Accessibility Meetup for a casual yet insightful discussion on best practices and Universal Design for Learning (UDL).

These meetups are hosted by Mary-Colleen Jenkins, an instructional accessibility specialist with UW’s Accessible Technology Services (ATS) and a former UW instructor and will feature guest speakers from the UW community. Mary-Colleen understands the challenges faculty face in improving course accessibility and provides practical strategies for prioritizing accessibility without feeling overwhelmed.

The upcoming session in March, “The Basics of Building Accessible Tables” with Gaby de Jongh, will cover essential techniques for making tables more accessible for students with disabilities.

Why join?

Both meetups provide a collaborative space to learn, share ideas, and ask questions about accessibility. Whether you’re troubleshooting web accessibility issues or figuring out how to make your course materials more inclusive, these gatherings connect you with a supportive community.

Why now?

By April 2026, digital resources are expected to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA standard under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). To support the University community in this effort, several UW offices, including the ADA Office, UW-IT Accessible Technology Services, and Teaching@UW, are partnering to share accessibility tools, events, and training opportunities. As we work together to meet requirements, we will also create better online experiences for the entire UW community.

Find more details and links to register on the Accessible Technology Services events page.

Coffee and Compliance

Post categories: Accessibility Digital Accessibility

Begin 2025 with a spirit of collaboration and join the ADA Office and UW-IT Accessible Technology for a “Coffee & Compliance” conversation on February 11, 3:00-4:00, in observance of Compliance & Ethics Week.

UW’s Records Management Office is hosting the Coffee & Compliance series in partnership with offices across UW campuses to provide training to help members of the UW community meet state, federal, and UW laws, regulations, and policies.

If you would like to learn more about the new ADA Rule on Digital Accessibility and some practical steps for meeting it, visit the Compliance & Ethics Week page to register.

Bring your digital accessibility and compliance questions; we’ll share information and learn together as we create a more inclusive community.

Update: the recording for this event can be found on UW Records Management’s Compliance & Ethics Week page.

DubBot Accessibility Checker

Post categories: Accessibility Digital Accessibility

We want to share some exciting news about a no-charge tool that will help the UW community build a digitally accessible future. 

UW-IT is now offering an automated website accessibility checker, DubBot, for UW websites. 

 A website accessibility checker is an essential tool that helps ensure your website is usable by everyone. It scans your site for accessibility barriers—such as poor color contrast, missing alt text, and keyboard navigation issues—helping you identify problems that could exclude people with disabilities. 

 

With an accessibility checker, you can quickly identify problems to help bring your website in line with new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements that take effect on April 2026.  

Request access to DubBot and find out about training opportunities on the Accessible Technology DubBot website. 

Power of the Pack

Post categories: Accessible Technology ADA Office Digital Accessibility

Digital Accessibility at UW

At the University of Washington, we all play a vital role to play in advancing digital accessibility. Whether you’re a faculty member creating course materials, an IT professional designing systems, or an administrator managing web content, your contributions help build an inclusive, welcoming digital environment. Together, we can create a campus culture that reflects our shared values and ensures the success of every member of our community.

Digital accessibility is not just the right thing to do—it’s also required by law. As a public institution, UW must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA standard by April 2026.

To support this mission, this blog will serve as a hub for resources, compliance updates and training opportunities. Our goal is to empower you with the tools and knowledge to ensure our websites, learning management systems, and digital tools meet these standards and build a culture of learning, accessibility, and inclusion.

You can get started today! Here are some ways to join the pack:

Join us in leading the charge toward a digitally accessible future for the University of Washington. Together, we can make a difference!

Get started with digital accessibility

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The new Title II Rule on digital accessibility is about transforming how we create, share, and interact with digital content. Embracing this change means undergoing a University wide effort to foster an inclusive digital environment where everyone can access and benefit from our digital presence. Here are some steps that faculty and staff can take now to prepare for this important transformation:  

  • Build a strong understanding of digital accessibility
  • Review and inventory current content
  • Clean up old files
  • Delete duplicate content

Learn how to get started on these steps with the ADA Office’s guidance: What You Can Do Now