Benefits & Roles of the Digital Accessibility Liaisons Network

To join the DAL Network, contact the Accessibility Team.

By joining, your unit will create a more equitable digital environment for everyone at U-M.

Benefits

By participating in the Digital Accessibility Liaison Network, your U-M unit will be supported to make significant, measurable progress in the following areas:

  • Complying with digital accessibility policy and legal obligations
  • Enabling equitable access for faculty, students, and staff with disabilities
  • Inventorying and assessment of EIT to take prioritized action and make the greatest impact over time

Roles and Expectations

Every U-M Unit participating in the DAL Network has individuals assigned to two roles:

  • Liaison, who actively engages in the work
  • Sponsor, who nominates the Liaison and receives periodic updates

Liaisons

The Digital Accessibility Liaison contributes 3-5 hours per month to advancing and coordinating digital accessibility work in their unit, with the support and resources of the network and its facilitators.

Requirements

  • Ability to influence, lead, and communicate within the unit
  • Interest in digital accessibility and willingness to learn

Responsibilities

  • Serve as contact point for the unit
  • Attend monthly DAL Network working meetings
  • Disseminate communications to the unit and communicate emerging issues to the DAL Network
  • Coordinate digital accessibility processes (inventory, prioritize, and assess IT; manage vendors; monitor change over time)

Benefits

  • Get access to subject matter experts in digital accessibility
  • Receive guided support in carrying out digital accessibility processes (inventory, prioritization, and assessment of IT; management of vendors; monitoring of change over time)
  • Connect to communication channels for emerging issues or questions
  • Benefit from a shared repository of resources in the form of tools, processes, and information workflows
  • Receive training for responsibilities and professional development in digital accessibility

Sponsors

The Digital Accessibility Sponsor appoints the Liaison, receives periodic updates, and may be contacted to clear barriers in the unit.

Requirements

  • Executive or leadership role in the unit
  • Commitment to Accessibility or DEI work

Responsibilities

  • Appoint the Liaison and annually assess their work by answering a short survey
  • Receive periodic updates

Benefits

  • Become a leader in digital accessibility compliance
  • Gain access to the latest information on digital accessibility progress and requirements
  • Get recognition for enabling change towards greater equity and inclusion