Charged with ensuring that UW鈥檚 digital content is accessible and leading work to comply with Department of Justice regulations.
Overview
The ADA Digital Accessibility Initiative 听is a partnership between Compliance Services, the Provost鈥檚 Office, and UW-IT charged with ensuring that UW鈥檚 digital content is accessible, providing equal information, interactions, and services to people with disabilities. Additionally, the Initiative is leading UW鈥檚 work to comply with Department of Justice regulations and setting up the mechanisms to ensure accessible content thereafter.
The ADA Rule on Digital Accessibility
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 until April 2026 to ensure that its web and mobile application content, including academic course content, is accessible. Update April 2026: The DOJ extended the compliance date to April 2027.
The work required is immense and will require collaboration to assess, plan, and implement work priorities needed to reach this goal.听听
Governance
Two established UW governance structures provide ADA Digital Accessibility Initiative with decision-making and project support: Enterprise Risk Management and Information and Technology Governance.
Enterprise Risk Management (ERM)
Under the leadership of co-sponsors Andreas Bohman, Sarah Miller, and Phil Reid, Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) integrates accessibility standards into enterprise-wide risk management processes, reducing compliance risk while promoting a more inclusive digital experience for students, faculty, staff, patients, and visitors. The ERM framework reports annually to the UW Board of Regents, reinforcing its alignment with institutional governance and accountability.
ADA Digital Accessibility Board
The ensures that the university鈥檚 digital ecosystem is inclusive and accessible to all users, including individuals with disabilities. Part of the structure, it establishes policies, standards, and processes to align with legal requirements, institutional values, and best practices. This domain supports the university鈥檚 mission to foster an inclusive environment by ensuring equitable access to digital tools and resources for all members of its community.
Project Management
The ADA Digital Accessibility Initiative is managed by centralized project management from UW-IT. The project manager provides overall management and structure, serving as a communication conduit, facilitating timely decision-making, and ensuring accountability.
Teams
Initiative Teams provide subject matter expertise, recommendations, and supporting implementation. Team membership and scope adjust as project phases progress.
- AY 24-25 Teams: Academic Course Content, Innovation & Research, Procurement, Medicine, Web & Mobile App
- AY 25-26 Teams: Sustainability, Remediation, Change Management, Course Content Implementation
- AY 26-27 Team: Coming Summer 2026
Timeline
The听Transformation Timeline shows goals and milestone beginning in April 2024 and extending into operations. Work is broken down in 5 stages: Discover, Initiate, Build, Refine, and Operationalize.