What are we currently working on to advance and support digital accessibility?
Find our current goals for academic year 2025-26 and our past accomplishments here.
Course Content Accessibility
Objective: Mature the Canvas Accessibility Service in collaboration with stakeholders.
Action Plan:
- Partner with high-impact courses and instructional support staff to model accessibility best practices
- Raise awareness and competencies through training, embedded communications, and targeted faculty engagement
Web Accessibility Scanning
Objective: Operationalize web accessibility scanning as a self-service and central data reporting tool.
Action Plan:
- Support unit scan coordinators and scan managers to use scanning tools to improve accessibility of web properties
- Centralize and standardize data reporting for to demonstrate progress and compliance
Data Dashboard
Objective: Deliver a central digital accessibility data dashboard.
Action Plan:
- Deliver a minimum viable Tableau dashboard integrating data from Panorama, Web Scanning, and other sources
- Ensure accessibility of dashboard and contextualize data to support unit actions and leadership decisions
PDF Accessibility
Objective: Develop appropriate and effective strategies for PDF accessibility that address the range of use cases across U-M.
Action Plan:
- Integrate automated and vendor-based PDF remediation solutions
- Develop campus-wide guidance on managing legacy, high-volume, and new PDF content
Expand Capacity
Objective: Multiply capacity for accessibility work by training unit colleagues and partnering with other peer institutions.
Action Plan:
- Launch a train-the-trainer model focused on key digital formats (Docs, Slides, Email)
- Pilot accessibility review training for IT professionals and standardize testing protocols
- Partner with peer institutions to align on managing vendors towards accessibility
Service Management
Objective: Mature service management practices to achieve and maintain accessibility compliance within ITS and beyond.
Action Plan:
- Partner with high-impact ITS service managers to mature accessibility practices
- Provide guidance and templates for non-ITS units to manage accessibility in their services
- Maintain service-level accessibility data and iterate guidance based on feedback and changes to regulations or tool capabilities
Change and Communications
Objective: Deliver a full-year strategic change plan that consolidates program messaging, drives cultural adoption, and promotes understanding of the overall program and successes.
Action Plan:
- Deliver a strategic communication plan highlighting stories, events, and milestones
- Expand participation of Digital Accessibility Liaisons and provide orientation to additional units
Objectives from Academic Year 2024-25 (FY25)
Strategy and Guidance
Objective: Develop and consistently communicate the overall University of Michigan's strategy, with updates aligned with Title II and Section 504.
Action Plan:
- Provide university leadership with essential information to communicate campus expectations. DONE
- Support U-M with interpretation and guidance on policy and regulations. ONGOING
Procurement
Objective: Create and implement a refined procurement process for acquiring, assessing, and maintaining accessible technology.
Action Plan:
- Establish a working group with Central Procurement, ECRT, OGC, and ITS. DONE
- Develop, approve, and implement an updated procurement process, specifications, and contract language. DONE
- Communicate changes and train staff, ensure stakeholders are aware of new resources, roles, and responsibilities. ONGOING
Enterprise Accessibility Tools
Objective: Provide a suite of tools for the entire U-M community to manage U-M courses, websites, and applications towards compliance.
Action Plan:
- Course Content Accessibility. See Course Content Accessibility section
- Relaunch the Accessibility Scanning Service to support unit-level compliance management. ONGOING
- Launch Grackle to check and improve accessibility of Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides. DONE
Course Content Accessibility
Objective: Provide tools, support, and services to enable U-M to deliver equitable access to digital course content.
Action Plan:
- Launch the Canvas Accessibility tool and begin phased rollout to all U-M with support, training, and guidance for units to manage compliance. DONE
- Investigate service models to support course content accessibility. ONGOING
Communications
Objective: Develop and deliver consistent messaging across multiple channels to communicate current strategy, tools, and pathways to support and services.
Action Plan:
- Partner with VP Comm, ITS Communications, ECRT, OGC, and individual units to deliver campaigns that communicate timely guidance and promote general knowledge of digital accessibility. DONE
- Launch the updated accessibility.umich.edu website. DONE
- Mature the Digital Accessibility Liaison (DAL) network into a self-sustaining entity for coordination and communications. ONGOING
- Create Communication Toolkit for DAL network and Unit Communicators. DONE
Training
Objective: Maintain and develop training to support current strategy and for different roles and responsibilities.
Action Plan:
- Develop materials needed for the relaunch of the ITS Accessibility Scanning Service. ONGOING
- Relaunch accessibility.umich.edu to better direct people to existing training resources. DONE
- Assess training gaps and develop or determine appropriate training to meet the strategy and goals. ONGOING
Compliance Leadership
Objective: Provide guidance and support for the entire U-M community to manage U-M websites and U-M applications towards compliance.
Action Plan:
- Mature the use of the accessibility database for appropriate U-M reporting and unit compliance management. REVISED FOR FY26
- Refine and communicate the scope of ITS Accessibility Reviews Service. DONE
Emerging Solutions
Objective: Investigate and implement new digital accessibility tools, services, and solutions where needed.
Action Plan:
- Investigate tools and vendor services to support accessible documents in Google Workspace. DONE
- Investigate tools and vendor services to support accessible PDFs. ONGOING
- Investigate tools and solutions for accessible video, including automatic captioning and professional services. ONGOING