Digital Accessibility

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Policy Number:
UW-519
Responsible Office:
Division of Information Technology (DoIT)

University Policy

Rationale/​Purpose:

In support of its mission, UW–Madison is committed to diversity and fostering a culture of full inclusion of people with disabilities by providing digital resources and information technology that people with disabilities can fully, equally, and independently use.

This policy establishes shared definitions and practices, digital accessibility requirements and standards, and reporting requirements to ensure compliance with the university’s obligations to nondiscrimination under applicable state and federal regulations.

Compliance with this policy ensures UW-Madison provides an inclusive digital experience and can provide timely, reasonable accommodations as required under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, avoiding loss of federal funding or monetary damages to the University.

Definitions:
Accessible
Affording a person with a disability the opportunity to independently acquire the same information, to engage in the same interactions, and to enjoy the same services as a person without a disability in an effective and integrated manner, with substantially equivalent ease of use. Although this might not result in identical ease of use compared to that of people without disabilities, it still ensures equal opportunity to the benefits afforded by the technology.
Digital resources and information technology
Information, content, and services used and delivered through the use of information and communications technology. Examples include websites, electronic documents, audio, video, web applications, mobile applications, software, in addition to related, university provided IT hardware and other IT devices that are a part of the user experience.
Scope:

This policy includes, but is not limited to:
All schools, colleges, divisions, or units that design, create, develop, purchase, manage, administer, host and/or support digital resources and information technology intended for human interaction or engagement for the purposes of teaching, learning, research, service, employment, administration or other university functions at UW-Madison. This includes digital resources and information technology hosted or provided by third-parties.

Policy:
  1. UW-Madison shall provide digital resources and information technology that are accessible to all, to the fullest extent technically feasible given an assessment of available resources, and subject to the Digital Accessibility Standards.
  2. The Center for User Experience, under the authority and direction of the UW-Madison Chief Information Officer and Vice Provost of Information Technology and the campus ADA Coordinator, working with key stakeholders and representatives across campus, is responsible for the collaborative development and maintenance of the standards, guidelines and implementation in support of this policy.
    1. The Center for User Experience is responsible for providing training, guidance, resources, and consultation services to UW-Madison partners through the creation and management of the Digital Accessibility Liaisons Network to support policy implementation.
    2. Changes to the policy, standards, implementation plan, or procedures are maintained by the Center for User Experience Digital Accessibility Program in partnership with Digital Accessibility Governance as detailed in the standards. Changes are done in accordance with UW-510 IT Policy Review and Revision procedures, Appendix F.
    3. Changes impacting university schools, colleges, and divisions will be communicated through the Digital Accessibility Liaison Network.
  3. Each UW-Madison school, college, or division will designate Digital Accessibility Liaison(s), to serve as primary contact(s) as a part of the Digital Accessibility Liaisons Network, and will notify the campus ADA Coordinator and the Center for User Experience of the appointment or any changes to the designee(s).
    1. Digital Accessibility Liaison(s) will partner with the Center for User Experience Digital Accessibility Program and be the primary point of contact for procurement, technical consultation and policy compliance for that local unit.
    2. Digital Accessibility Liaison(s) working in partnership with the Center for User Experience will provide consultation on implementation guidance for their local units.
  4. Digital resources and information technology are subject to the applicable university accessibility policies in effect at the time of development or procurement. Digital resources and information technology developed or procured prior to the effective date of this, and other applicable university accessibility policies, shall be made compliant with current policy, to the fullest extent technically feasible given an assessment of available resources, when changes or upgrades occur within the university’s control, or if a request for accessibility or reasonable accommodation is submitted following the policy effective date.
  5. Compliance with this policy is designed, in part, to ensure the University complies with legal and regulatory requirements.
    1. When compliance with this policy is not possible or would require extraordinary measures to meet the policy standards, this may require consultation with the Center for User Experience and the campus ADA Coordinator to determine equally effective alternative access.
    2. While timely accommodation(s) must be provided when an accessibility barrier cannot readily be addressed, solely providing accommodations does not meet the requirements of this policy subject to the Digital Accessibility Standards.
    3. Complaints regarding accessibility of university digital resources and information technology that are not in compliance with this policy must be directed to the campus ADA Coordinator through the UW-Madison Office of Compliance. Timely response and ongoing communication with the complainant is essential, including offering reasonable accommodations while the barrier is worked on.
    4. Digital resources and information technology in noncompliance of this policy will be referred to the UW-Madison Chief Information Officer and Vice-Provost of Information Technology to develop a plan for remediation in cooperation with campus divisional leadership.
Related UW-Madison Policies:
Related UW–Madison Documents, Web Pages, or Other Resources:
External References:

Policy Administration

Approval Authority:
Chief Information Officer & Vice Provost for Information Technology
Policy Manager:
Assistant Director, Cybersecurity Program and Business Services
Contact:
IT Policy Writer and Analyst -- Heather Johnston, HEATHER.JOHNSTON@WISC.EDU
Effective Date:
12-06-2000
Revised Dates:

09-23-2013, 08-25-2016, 07-01-2023

Reviewed Dates:

08/01/2018

Retrieved:
07-08-2025 00:37:05