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Accessibility at the UW

Category: Partners

Join the Digital Accessibility Liaisons Fall Meeting

Post categories: Digital Accessibility Liaisons

The Digital Accessibility Liaisons Community of Practice (CoP) invites you to our fall meeting. Registration is available on the Digital Accessibility Calendar.

The community welcomes UW students, faculty and staff who are interested in digital accessibility, regardless of role or experience level. Members include educators, communicators, content creators, web and application teams, and others who want to help make UW’s digital experiences more accessible. Participation is flexible and designed to fit alongside your existing responsibilities.

Whether you’re looking for practical guidance, a place to ask questions, or a way to stay informed about accessibility efforts across the University, there’s a place for you in this community.

Learn more about joining the group on the Digital Accessibility Liaisons page.

Digital Accessibility Liaisons Fall Agenda

Date: Thursday, October 29, 2026
Time: 10:00 –11:30 a.m.
Location: Zoom
Registration: Digital Accessibility Liaisons Fall Meeting – October 2026

10:00–1:10 — Opening and welcome
10:10–10:15 — Digital Accessibility Initiative Workstream: Training Team Overview
10:15–10:25— Digital Accessibility Product Review Process with Beth Somerfield and Erik Steen
10:25–10:30 — Break
10:30–11:00 — Little Forest discussion and demo with Gaby de Jongh
11:00–11:15 — Community partners: Working together to build digital accessibility with Aiden Sizemore (College of Education)
11:15–11:25 — Open Q&A to our members: Your input for building our community
11:25–11:30 — Updates & what’s next

Visit the Digital Accessibility Calendar to register for this meeting as well as the Accessible Technology Services Events page for fall quarter workshops.

We hope you’ll join the conversation and be part of advancing digital accessibility at UW.

Building the Digital Accessibility Community Across UW

Post categories: Partners

Across the University of Washington, Compliance Partners and Digital Accessibility Liaisons are helping advance accessibility in UW’s digital environments. Compliance Partners coordinate accessibility efforts at a strategic level, while the Digital Accessibility Liaisons Community of Practice offers faculty, staff, and students a voluntary opportunity to build their knowledge and promote accessible digital content within their units. 

Compliance Partners 

Assigned by unit heads, Compliance Partners serve as points of contact who work closely with the Civil Rights Compliance Office to help communicate accessibility requirements, identify emerging issues or risks, and connect faculty and staff with tools, training, and resources. 

Partners also help identify barriers and challenges within their units. To support this work, the Deputy ADA Coordinator for Digital Accessibility provides onboarding, ongoing guidance, quarterly check-ins, progress-tracking dashboards, and access to UW-IT Accessible Technology training and resources. 

The program is already seeing strong participation. All 22 units in the initial rollout have confirmed at least one Compliance Partner, with 33 partners confirmed and 28 kickoff meetings completed. 

Digital Accessibility Liaisons 

Faculty, staff, and students are welcome in the Digital Accessibility Liaisons community of practice. Liaisons connect with colleagues across UW, participate in three quarterly sessions throughout the year, and learn practical strategies for making websites, documents, course materials, videos, social media, and other digital content more accessible. They share what they learn with their colleagues and help build awareness of digital accessibility within their departments, units, and organizations. 

Anyone interested in joining can learn more on the Digital Accessibility Liaisons web page. Those who join this month will have an opportunity to participate in the group’s upcoming quarterly meeting on Thursday, October 29.  

By connecting people, resources, and expertise, these roles help strengthen accessibility practices across the university. 

Digital Accessibility Procedures for Procurement

Post categories: Procurement

The University of Washington is continuing to build a growing collection of procedures that support the Digital Accessibility Policy (APS 9.0) and the Minimum Digital Accessibility Technical Standard. Together, these procedures help turn UW’s accessibility commitments into practical, day-to-day actions across the University. In this third post in our procedures series, we’re exploring how UW incorporates accessibility into the purchase and renewal of digital products and services.

Digital accessibility requirements apply to a wide range of purchases, including software, web applications, cloud services, mobile apps, digital documents, and audio or video content. The goal is to help UW acquire products that meet the University’s Minimum Digital Accessibility Technical Standard, which adopts the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 Level AA.
Before purchasing or renewing a web application, mobile app, or other digital product, departments are required to complete a Digital Product Accessibility Review. This review helps identify barriers, assess a product’s conformance with UW requirements, and determine whether further evaluation or remediation is needed.

The review process is supported by the Procedure for Exceptions to the Minimum Digital Accessibility Technical Standard for Web Apps and Mobile Apps. This procedure provides a structured process for evaluating situations where a product cannot fully meet accessibility requirements. It establishes review, documentation, accountability, and approval measures while ensuring alternative access and supporting ongoing improvements over time.

Finally, accessibility requirements are incorporated into agreements and contracts through the University’s Digital Accessibility Rider and related contract language. This helps set clear expectations and reinforces the shared responsibility of creating accessible digital experiences.

By incorporating accessibility into procurement and renewal processes, UW can identify and address barriers earlier, make more informed purchasing decisions, reduce future remediation efforts, and help ensure that the digital tools used across the UW are accessible to everyone. As the University’s digital accessibility framework continues to evolve, a complementary procedure, Acquisition Procedure for Accessible Low-Cost IT, is also planned.

September Updates for UW Supervisors

Post categories: Leadership Training

As the new academic year begins, UW is encouraging supervisors to help teams build accessibility into their work from the start. September’s Digital Accessibility Initiative newsletter highlighted practical ways UW employees can strengthen accessibility efforts, including participating in Fix Your Content Day on September 17, a free virtual event focused on improving the accessibility of websites, documents, PDFs, presentations and Canvas courses.

The newsletter also shared resources to help teams create more accessible websites, onboard new employees with accessibility in mind, remediate PDFs, support video captioning efforts and navigate the University’s web accessibility procedures. Readers can also explore the new UW Resources for Digital Accessibility Quick Card, which brings key accessibility resources together in one place.

Upcoming training opportunities and community events, such as the Digital Accessibility Liaisons’ fall meeting offer additional ways for faculty, staff and students to build accessibility skills throughout the year. Read the full newsletter for details, resources and event information.

June Updates to UW Supervisors 

Post categories: Leadership

On June 9, 2026, UW’s Digital Accessibility Initiative shared a newsletter with all UW supervisors to support accessible digital practices across teams. Supervisors were encouraged to share updates and connect staff with available tools, training, and resources.

The following are key highlights from the June issue.

Planning Accessible Course Materials for Fall

Faculty are encouraged to prepare fall quarter materials early, especially PDFs that may not yet be accessible. The newsletter highlights the Little Forest PDF Remediation Tool, which can:

  • Add structure tags
  • Suggest alternative text
  • Improve usability for assistive technologies

Because processing can take time, early submission is recommended, especially for materials that will be reused. Faculty are also advised to evaluate whether older documents should be archived rather than remediated.

Use Video Captioning Services by September

The newsletter emphasizes the importance of ensuring that videos are accessible, including accurate captions and audio descriptions when needed. UW’s partnership with 3Play Media provides these services, but the current contract expires in September 2026. Content creators are encouraged to:

  • Submit un-captioned videos as soon as possible
  • Prioritize high-impact content
  • Use available support for platforms like YouTube, Panopto, Vimeo, and Canvas

Early action ensures materials are ready for future use before service changes occur. Visit the Making UW Videos Accessible page on the ATS website for more information about this service.

Embedding Accessibility in Employee On-boarding

Supervisors play a crucial role in establishing accessibility expectations from day one. The newsletter recommends incorporating digital accessibility into new employee orientation, including:

Integrating accessibility early helps reduce future remediation work and supports a more inclusive environment for students, staff, and the broader UW community.

Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) 2026 Recap

UW’s GAAD 2026 event was highlighted as a strong example of campus-wide collaboration. Key takeaways included:

  • Cross-unit partnerships driving accessibility improvements
  • Progress in accessible websites, learning environments, and student services
  • Ongoing discussions around challenges such as accessible math

The event underscored a shared commitment to embedding accessibility into everyday work, with leadership reinforcing its alignment with UW’s mission and values.

Training, Events, and Ongoing Learning Opportunities

Supervisors are encouraged to promote summer learning opportunities:

Looking Ahead

This June issue marks the last newsletter before a summer pause. Updates to supervisors will resume on a quarterly schedule in the fall, with ongoing news and resources available through this Digital Accessibility News & Events blog.

February Updates for UW Supervisors

Post categories: Leadership

As part of the University of Washington’s ongoing Digital Accessibility Initiative, we recently shared important February updates in an email to all UW supervisors to help units prepare for the upcoming ADA Title II compliance deadline on April 24, 2026.

This month’s guidance highlights several priority areas that will support more accessible and inclusive digital experiences across the UW:

Digital Product Accessibility Reviews: Supervisors are encouraged to ensure teams follow the UW review process before purchasing or renewing software or web applications, confirming products meet the UW Minimum Digital Accessibility Technical Standard.

Accessible Videos: With all video and audio content required to meet accessibility standards by April 2026, UW teams should consult Accessible Technology’s Videos webpage for guidance on captioning, audio descriptions, transcripts, and the use of accessible media players.

Social Media Accessibility: A new Interim Social Media Accessibility Procedure outlines requirements for alternative text, captions, and color contrast across all UW‑affiliated accounts.

All in the UW community are encouraged to attend upcoming accessibility events and to explore UW’s free online training. These resources support every role in building more accessible and inclusive digital environments.

As a community, we can embed digital accessibility into our everyday work, prepare for the April deadline, and build sustainable practices for an accessible future.

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.

Happy (More Accessible) New Year

Post categories: Partners Training

As we move toward the April 24, 2026 ADA Title II deadline, digital accessibility will be a shared focus for the University community. Meaningful progress depends on embedding accessibility into everyday workflows for creating, publishing, and sharing digital content. Together, we can ensure accessibility is not an add-on but is a standard feature of the UW experience.

2025: Expanding Tools, Training, and Community

UW’s Digital Accessibility Initiative (DAI) exists to support this effort, and throughout 2025, teams devoted to the DAI focused on connecting people with tools, training, resources, and each other. This work reflects a growing, coordinated effort across all three campuses to build sustainable digital accessibility practices. Highlights from the past year include:

Support for Faculty and Instructors

Coordination Across UW Campuses and Services

  • Expansion of the Digital Accessibility Liaisons community, which has grown to over 200 members, supported by a Microsoft Teams site and regular meetings.
  • Development of a Digital Accessibility portal, news and events blog, and central calendar to make it easier to find resources, events, and perspectives from across UW campuses.
  • Ongoing updates to UW leaders to reinforce digital accessibility as an institutional priority and to advocate for sustained support.
  • Publication of an interim Minimum Digital Accessibility Standard to establish UW requirements for digital content and applications to ensure equal access to University services, programs, and activities, and support compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
  • Establishment of a Tri-Campus Libraries ADA Title II Task Force by UW Libraries to help clarify compliance priorities, coordinate information sharing, and encourage digital accessibility improvements across the libraries. Additionally, a dedicated local resource page was created to support centralized access to information. UW Libraries’ Accessibility Working Group offers information sessions with guest speakers to share best practices for ADA Title II compliance.

Campus-Specific Digital Accessibility Efforts

  • Enhancement of UW Tacoma’s digital accessibility efforts through consolidation of accessibility resources on a central campus webpage, the launch of the Faculty Council on Digital Accessibility (FCDA), and ongoing professional development via Accessibility Insights workshops to support a proactive, community-driven accessibility culture.
  • Expansion of UW Bothell shared resources — from guidelines to workshops and webpages — through the campus monthly faculty/staff newsletter, open office hours, and one-to-one conversations. Additionally, the development of a UW Bothell accessibility news SharePoint site and revision of the UW Bothell Accessibility website helped UW Bothell share new information and tools.

2026: Looking Ahead

We look forward to connecting with you and continuing to build a more accessible UW together. Happy 2026!

 

Join us for the Digital Accessibility Liaisons Winter Meeting

Post categories: Digital Accessibility Liaisons

Members of the UW community are invited to the Digital Accessibility Liaisons Community of Practice (CoP) quarterly meeting on Wednesday, January 21, 10:00-11:30 am. This online gathering is open to anyone interested in advancing digital accessibility at the University of Washington.

As we work towards the April 2026 deadline and beyond, community participation across our units, departments, and campuses is essential to ensuring that accessibility becomes an everyday part of how the UW creates and shares digital content.

This meeting is also a chance to connect with others working to make our digital spaces accessible to all. Whether you’re just getting started, supporting accessibility as part of your role, or leading efforts within your unit, the Digital Liaisons CoP offers a space to learn from colleagues, share challenges and successes, and build relationships that make this work more sustainable and effective over time.

Event info

Date: Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Time: 10:00–11:30 a.m.

Location: Zoom


Registration link: Digital Accessibility Liaisons Meeting – January 2026

Agenda

10:00–10:10 — Opening and Welcome

10:10–10:40 — Learn about UW’s proposed Digital Accessibility Administrative Policy Statement (APS)

10:40–10:45 — Break

10:45–11:10 — Community Partners: Working together to build digital accessibility

Featuring:

  • UW School of Public Health
  • UWIT Accessibility Initiative

11:10–11:20 — Updates: news, resources, and ongoing efforts from across UW campuses

11:20–11:30 — What’s next & closing message

Visit the Digital Accessibility Calendar to register for this and other events.

We look forward to connecting with you and continuing to build a more inclusive and accessible UW!

Resources

Digital accessibility training options
Build accessible course materials
Tools: web and course accessibility checkers
Accessibility basics: techniques, guides, and checklists
Digital accessibility policies, standards, and guidelines
UW digital accessibility offices and services

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.