Overview
In April 2024, the Department of Justice released significant and stringent new regulatory requirements on digital accessibility that will affect all units and functions of the University, including academic, administrative, patient care, research, services, and programs. The University has two years to ensure that its web and mobile application content, including academic course content, is accessible. The work required is immense and will require collaboration to assess, plan, and implement work priorities needed to reach this goal.
The Office of the ADA Coordinator established the ADA Digital Accessibility Task Force. The Task Force is charged with approving and providing high-level oversight to ensure compliance with the Department of Justice regulations by April 2026 and maintain accessible content thereafter. Action Teams will support the work of the Task Force, including providing subject matter expertise and recommendations. The chair(s) of each Action Team will participate on a Coordination Team to support the work of the Action Teams and facilitate regular communication with the Task Force.
Responsibilities & Membership
ADA Digital Accessibility Task Force
The ADA Digital Accessibility Task Force is charged with approving and providing high-level oversight of an overall implementation plan, elevating critical needs to University and Executive leadership, and recommending actions to ensure institution-wide compliance with standards.
Co-Chairs
Bree Callahan, ADA/Section 504 Coordinator, Compliance and Risk Services
Mary Mulvihill, Director of Digital Accessibility, UW-Information Technology
Members
Jessica Bertram, Vice President, University Business Services
Andreas Bohman, Vice President and Chief Information Officer, UW-Information Technology
Jack Martin, Vice President for Marketing and Communications, University Advancement
Kristal Mauritz-Miller, Chief Administrative Officer, UW Medicine
Simon Neame, Vice Provost for Digital Initiatives & Dean of University Libraries
Patrick Pow, Vice Chancellor for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer, UW Tacoma
Phil Reid, Vice Provost, Academic & Student Affairs
Amy Stutesman, Interim Assistant Vice Chancellor and Chief Information Officer, UW Bothell
Jane Yung, Vice President and Chief Compliance and Risk Officer
Coordination Team
The Coordination Team is charged with coordinating efforts to keep Action Teams supported and on track, including insuring recommendations are consistent, prioritized, and shared with the Task Force.
The Coordination Team’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Ensure recommendations are consistent and prioritized across Action Teams
- Share recommendations with the ADA Digital Accessibility Task Force
- Draft Implementation Plan based on finalized action items
- Track and report on needs assessment and Implementation Plan development progress
Co-Chairs
Beth Somerfield, Deputy ADA Coordinator, Compliance & Risk Services
Terrill Thompson, IT Accessibility Team Manager, UW-IT Accessible Technology Services
Members
Bree Callahan, ADA Coordinator, Compliance & Risk Services
Marcus Hirsch, Director, Academic & Student Affairs Information Services
Ray Hsu, Executive Director, Procurement Services
Jennifer Mankoff, Director, Center for Research and Education on Accessible Technology and Experiences
Mary Mulvihill, Director Digital Accessibility, UW-IT Data & Applications
Jon Payne, Director of Healthcare Nondiscrimination and Regulatory Affairs, UW Medicine
Thomas Thorpe, Director Web Strategy, University Marketing & Communications
Academic Course Content Action Team
The Action Team is charged with developing and executing action items related to academic course content including course materials such as textbooks and assigned text, course applications, and digital tools.
The Academic Course Content Action Team’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Conducting a needs assessment to identify risks and resource gaps across the enterprise related to academic course content including process, policy, technology, and training.
- Identifying and reporting actions to be taken relating to academic course content to address the risks and resource gaps.
- Making recommendations to the ADA Digital Accessibility Task Force for any institutional resources and support necessary to accomplish the actions needed to meet accessibility requirements.
- Supporting the Task Force by providing regular reports and information regarding ongoing work toward institutional process and practice changes.
Chair
Marcus Hirsch, Director, Academic & Student Affairs Information Services
Membership
- Academic & Student Affairs
- Center for Teaching and Learning
- Compliance & Risk Services
- Strategy & Academic Initiatives
- Student Life
- UW-IT, Teaching & Learning Systems
Innovation & Research Action Team
The Action Team is charged with developing and executing action items related to innovation and research, including: connecting Task Force activities with UW research, knowledge, and expertise, as well as identifying opportunities for future research and innovation.
The Innovation and Research Action Team’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Identifying and reporting opportunities to use UW research, knowledge, and expertise to address identified risks and resource gaps, including reviewing and providing feedback on needs assessments conducted by other Action Teams.
- Supporting the ADA Digital Accessibility Task Force and/or the actions teams by providing regular reports and information regarding ongoing opportunities for future research and innovation.
Co-Chairs
Jennifer Mankoff, Director, Center for Research and Education on Accessible Technology and Experiences
Beth Somerfield, Deputy ADA Coordinator, Compliance & Risk Services
Membership
- UW Computer Science & Engineering
- UW Continuum College
- UW Disability Studies Program
- UW iSchool
- UW-IT, Accessible Technology Services
- UW Libraries
- UW Bothell Academic & Collaborative Technologies
- UW Tacoma Office of Digital Learning
Procurement Action Team
The Action Team is charged with developing and executing action items related to procurement, including current contracts and in-progress and future contracts.
The Procurement Action Team’s responsibilities include, but not limited to:
- Conducting a needs assessment to identify risks and resource gaps across the enterprise related to procurement including processes, policies, technology, and training.
- Identifying and reporting actions to be taken by and relating to procurement to address the risks and resource gaps.
- Making recommendations to the ADA Digital Accessibility Task Force for any institutional resources and support necessary to accomplish the actions needed to meet accessibility requirements.
- Supporting the Task Force by providing regular reports and information regarding ongoing work toward institutional process and practice changes.
Co-Chairs
Ray Hsu, Executive Director, Procurement Services
Beth Somerfield, Deputy ADA Coordinator, Compliance & Risk Services
Members
- Housing & Food-Services
- Procurement Services
- UW Libraries
- UW Purchasing
- UW-IT, Accessible Technology Services
UW Medicine Action Team
The Action Team is charged with developing and executing action items related to UW Medicine websites, web applications, and mobile apps.
The UW Medicine Action Team’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Conducting a needs assessment to identify risks and resource gaps across the enterprise related to UW Medicine including process, policy, technology, and training.
- Identifying and reporting actions to be taken by and relating to UW Medicine to address the risks and resource gaps.
- Making recommendations to the ADA Digital Accessibility Task Force for any institutional resources and support necessary to accomplish the actions needed to meet accessibility requirements.
- Supporting the Task Force by providing regular reports and information regarding ongoing work toward institutional process and practice changes.
Chair
Jon Payne, Director of Healthcare Nondiscrimination and Regulatory Affairs, UW Medicine
Members
- Compliance & Risk Services
- UW-IT, Accessible Technology Services
- Information Technology, UW Medicine
- Digital Strategy & Operations, UW Medicine
- Digital Engagement Solutions, UW Medicine
Web Content and Mobile Apps Action Team
The Action Team is charged with developing and executing action items related to non-medicine websites, web applications and mobile apps.
The Web and Mobile App Action Team’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Conducting a needs assessment to identify risks and resource gaps across the enterprise related to web content and mobile apps including process, policy, technology, and training.
- Identifying and reporting actions to be taken relating to web content and mobile apps to address the risks and resource gaps.
- Making recommendations to the ADA Digital Accessibility Task Force for any institutional resources and support necessary to accomplish the actions needed to meet accessibility requirements.
- Supporting the Task Force by providing regular reports and information regarding ongoing work toward institutional process and practice changes.
Chairs
Terrill Thompson, IT Accessibility Team Manager, UW-IT Accessible Technology Services
Thomas Thorpe, Director Web Strategy, University Marketing & Communications
Members
- College of Engineering
- College of the Environment
- Compliance & Risk Services
- Human Resources
- School of Public Health
- University Marketing and Communications
- UW Bothell Advancement
- UW Medicine
- UW-IT