Digital Accessibility Milestones

The University of Washington has a long history of working to address accessibility issues related to technology. The milestones listed below are centered on work that UW-IT Accessible Technology Services (ATS) either led or actively participated in. This work dates back to 1984, six years before passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

In addition to the work of ATS, the University of Washington is home to multiple nationally recognized centers focused on research, scholarship and teaching in the areas of disability and accessibility. For additional information about the centers, see the Centers & Research page of the UW Accessibility website.

2025

In March 2025, published a new Digital Accessibility Rider (PDF), replacing the IT Accessibility Rider that is inserted into all agreements and contracts for the procurement of relevant digital assets.

2024

In August 2024, an ADA Digital Accessibility Task Force was established and charged with approving and providing high-level oversight to ensure compliance with the new ADA regulations. Task Force work revealed that meeting ADA compliance, and building a sustainable model for ensuring digital accessibility, requires a University-wide, collaborative effort with robust governance and support. This led to the launching of the ADA Digital Accessibility Initiative, a partnership between Compliance Services, the Provost’s Office, UW Medicine, and UW-IT to lead the UW’s work to comply with Department of Justice regulations and set up the mechanisms needed to ensure ongoing accessible content.

In May 2024, the Office of the ADA Coordinator launched a new website to serve as a central resource related to the ADA Rule on Digital Accessibility. This was in response to new regulatory requirements for implementing Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, published by the U.S. Department of Justice.
In February 2024, welcomed Mary Mulvihill as the new Director of Digital Accessibility in UW-IT.

2023

In December 2023, celebrated the retirements of Sheryl Burgstahler, Director of UW-IT Accessible Technology Services, and Dan Comden, Manager of the Access Technology Center. Sheryl and Dan were pioneers in the field of accessible technology. Combined, they had devoted 75 years to the field, all at the University of Washington.
In September 2023, published IT Accessibility Rider version 1.2, an updated version of the rider that is inserted into all agreements and contracts for the procurement of relevant IT.
In May 2023, launched a new central accessibility website at uw.edu/accessibility to serve as a digital front door to accessibility at the UW. To make room for this new site, the UW Accessible Technology website moved to a new URL at uw.edu/accesstech.
In January 2023, published IT Accessibility Rider version 1.1, an updated version of the rider that is inserted into all agreements and contracts for the procurement of relevant IT.

2022

In December 2022, launched the Training Opportunities web page, an inventory of accessibility-related professional development opportunities for UW employees compiled by the Training Subcommittee of the IT Accessibility Task Force.

2020

In August 2020, an ADA & Accessibility Steering Committee was appointed by President Cauce to provide ongoing leadership and strategic oversight with regard to the University’s efforts to ensure equal opportunity and full participation for all people with disabilities. More information about this group can be found in the Steering Committee Charge Letter and the Steering Committee Charter.
In August 2020, UW Procurement Services, in collaboration with UW-IT Accessible Technology Services and the Chief Information Services Office, published updates to their policies and procedures, including updates related to accessibility of IT.
In February 2020, the UW’s IT Accessibility Guidelines were updated to adopt the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.1 (previously the Guidelines had adopted WCAG 2.0).

2017

In February 2017, hosted the first half-day meeting of the newly formed IT Accessibility Liaisons network. That began an ongoing series of three meetings per year, focused on timely topics and featuring trainings, presentations, and discussion.

2016

In February 2016, the Director of UW-IT Accessible Technology Services was named coordinator of UW efforts to comply with the new Washington State Policy #188.

2015

On May 1, published the University of Washington IT Accessibility Guidelines and accompanying IT Accessibility Checklist.

2012

The IT Accessibility Task Force was established, chartered jointly by Kelli Trosvig (Vice President for UW Information Technology and CIO) and Randy Hodgins (Vice President for External Affairs).

2008

Hosted the first University of Washington IT Accessibility Capacity Building Institute (CBI). The goal of the CBI was to engage web managers and developers, IT administrators and service providers, procurement officers, disability services providers, students with disabilities, and IT vendors in a discussion that would ultimately lead to improved capacity within the three campuses of our university to carry out our educational mission in a way that is accessible to everyone.
Launched the UW Technology Accessibility website.

2006

Hosted a nationwide Capacity-Building Institute (CBI) on Web Accessibility in Seattle, supported by funding from the National Science Foundation. The event included accessibility leaders from major technology companies, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), assistive technology vendors, and accessibility experts from the UW, in a multi-day event to brainstorm solutions to web accessibility challenges.

2002

The AccessibleWeb@U user group was established by Computing & Communications. The group primarily consisted of UW web designers and developers, who supported one another and reviewed each others’ websites for accessibility through an email-based discussion list. Members met monthly to share ideas and resources, and have continued to do so for over 20 years. See the Events page for days and times of the UW Web Accessibility and Usability Meetup.

2001

DO-IT and UW Rehabilitation Medicine received funding to co-direct he National Center on Accessible Information Technology in Education (AccessIT), a project to promote accessible IT nationwide in educational institutions at all academic levels.

1992

DO-IT (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology) was founded with funding from the National Science Foundation and continues to receive funding from multiple sources. DO-IT’s mission is to advance the success of people with disabilities in education, research, & careers. For additional information, see About DO-IT and the DO-IT History web pages.

1990

Combining consulting, lab and showroom functions, the Adaptive Technology Lab emerged as a unit of Desktop Computing Services housed within its general-access Micro Lab in the Husky Union Building. Several years later it was renamed the Access Technology Lab and is now called the Access Technology Center. A Manager of the ATL position was established in 1992.

1984

The Microcomputer Support Group (MSG) began operations originally under the Academic Computer Center, which was renamed Academic Computing Services, and which eventually merged with administrative computing to become Computing & Communications (C&C). The MSG supported the IT needs of faculty, students, and staff and included consulting on adaptive technology as part of its mission statement. In later years this group evolved into Desktop Computing Services. These groups gradually collected an assortment of assistive technology for testing, training and outreach to other campus labs.