Strategic Initiative Roles & Responsibilities

Everyone at U-M has a role in making digital content accessible.

Individual Faculty, Staff, Students

  • Ensure your web pages, documents, course materials, and apps follow accessibility best practices
  • Use provided tools: Panorama in Canvas, Grackle for Google, Microsoft accessibility checkers, and more
  • Participate in ongoing training and feedback

Departments/Units

  • Maintain accessible websites, services, and licensed software
  • Use Accessibility Scanning to monitor web content
  • Engage with Procurement Accessibility Reviews when acquiring new products
  • Engage with digital accessibility reviews when developing or managing enterprise or high risk products
  • Manage a local strategy for digital accessibility, reporting progress

Central Offices

ITS (Information Technology Services):

  • Delivers solutions and support that empower people at U-M to make digital materials accessible
  • Provides guidance and best practices on digital accessibility standards, best practices, and technical concepts
  • Manages the accessibility of ITS-owned enterprise products and services
  • Supports assistive technology tools at enterprise scale

Disability Equity Office, in ECRT:

  • Coordinates U-M compliance with disability-related laws and regulations
  • Provides guidance on U-M legal and policy obligations for leaders, units, and individuals
  • Serves as contact point for external regulators or other parties with digital accessibility concerns
  • Supports any community member who reports a barrier or needs an accessibility solution
  • Supports U-M Procurement Services to review digital products and vendors for accessibility

Procurement:

  • Includes accessibility checks and requirements in purchasing and contract management

Large Units (LSA, Engineering, Michigan Medicine, Flint, Dearborn):

  • Provide internal support and services for digital accessibility
  • Coordinate with central services