Not sure how to participate in the Strategic Initiative? Start here to learn about roles, expectations, and next steps for all units at U-M.
Identify Key Roles in Your Unit
Every unit at U-M has key people who help coordinate digital accessibility efforts at scale and communicate across our large decentralized structure.
Identify key roles in your unit to build your team. Contact these roles to connect with your team’s work.
- Digital Accessibility Liaisons (DALs)
- Designated staff in each unit who contribute effort to advancing and coordinating digital accessibility work, with the support and resources of the DAL Network
- Find your DAL on our Liaison membership page
- IT Leads
- IT Leadership in each unit who set direction and assign resources to digital accessibility in their area
- Find your IT Leads on our list of DAL Network Sponsors
- Communicators
- Marketing and communications leaders and professionals at U-M who share messages, raise awareness, and prepare for change with the units and the Strategic Initiative team.
- Connect with communicators in your unit
Plug Into Work in Progress
To support U-M’s decentralized structure, the Strategic Initiative has identified shared objectives to advance over an intensive timeline. Details are provided below and in our timeline and objectives.
While this initiative provides shared resources and support for digital accessibility at U-M, individual units will need to independently take action and make progress in their own areas of responsibility or expertise.
- Web Accessibility Scanning Service Relaunch
- Relaunching the U-M ITS Accessibility Scanning service to better support unit control over scanning their web properties for accessibility, and managing strategic actions toward improved compliance
- Canvas Accessibility Service Launch
- Launching improved tools to support the development and delivery of accessible course content in Canvas
- Google Workspace Accessibility Tools Launch
- Preparing to launch improved tooling to support the development and delivery of accessible content in Google Workspace, including Docs, Slides, and Sheets
- Accessible Procurement Process
- Launching improved processes, resources, and training to support the selection and implementation of accessible IT products during procurement activities
Use the Communications Toolkit to Spread the Word
Communicators, DALs, and leaders, help us spread the message in your unit about digital accessibility and emerging work.
Use or adapt our communications materials, including talking points, presentation materials, newsletter messages, and more.
- Communications Toolkit (coming soon)
Understand Structure for Action
Progress in this initiative depends on both centralized support and decentralized action, using a hub and spoke model.
- Central Support
- Provides shared tools, support, and training for the university to collectively make the biggest impact on digital accessibility
- ITS
- ECRT
- OGC
- Strategic Initiative Team
- Individual Units
- Manage progress in their area by relying on centralized support, planning and taking action locally, and addressing unique needs relevant to their areas of responsibility or expertise
- Communicators
- Digital Accessibility Liaisons (DAL)
- IT Leads (DAL Sponsor)
- Specialized staff and faculty roles
Explore More Resources
We will deliver additional resources, supporting materials, and guides for action as the initiative advances.
In the meantime, explore the basics of digital accessibility or how-to topics that are relevant to you.