Technical Guidelines

The “Technical Guidelines” are U-M’s internal standard for digital accessibility. They are currently aligned with WCAG 2.1 AA.

Learn more about digital accessibility standards.

Full Text of Technical Guidelines

  1. Status

    Standard number: Accessibility Standard 01 (AS-01)
    Date issued: June 20, 2022
    Date last reviewed: June 20, 2022
    Version: 1.0
    Responsible office: Equity, Civil Rights, and Title IX Office (ECRT)

    ECRT, along with other knowledgeable and relevant stakeholders, will review and update these Technical Accessibility Guidelines periodically to maintain their currency, clarity, and utility. ECRT will communicate widely about substantive revisions made to the Technical Accessibility Guidelines. Units are responsible for prioritizing Information Technology and digital content to make accessible.

  2. Scope

    This Standard applies to the Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint campuses, as well as all schools, colleges, institutes, and Michigan Medicine.

  3. Standard

    The university is committed to providing Information Technology resources and digital content in an accessible manner for persons with disabilities. The university has adopted a Technical Standard (“Technical Accessibility Guidelines”): the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1), AA. The university IT and digital resources should strive to meet these standards. In order to conform to this Technical Standard, the university encourages using Universal Design to build systems and processes which can be broadly accessed by everyone.

    Note: whereas the standard adopted references “Web” it is understood that the guidelines apply for all Electronic and Information Technology that is used at the university.

    The University recognizes that some individuals with disabilities may use Assistive/Adaptive Technology. Information Technology should be designed to be used by a wide range of Assistive Technology, and content and system developers should be responsive to the needs of individuals with disabilities (whether those persons are students, staff, faculty, University guests, or members of the public). The goal of this Technical Standard is to provide a baseline for Universal Design of systems and content. University employees should strive to meet or exceed this Standard in the development, maintenance, procurement, and lifecycle of Information Technology and digital content. The Technical Accessibility Guidelines are set by the Equity, Civil Rights, and Title IX Office (ECRT), and in partnership with Information Technology Services. Contact the accessibility team for questions related to the Technical Accessibility Guidelines. This Technical Standard is the Technical Standard referenced in the Electronic and Information Technology (EIT) Accessibility SPG.

  4. Resources on Accessibility