UMich unveils digital accessibility initiative to expand online access

On Jan. 13, the University of Michigan announced the creation of the Digital Accessibility Strategic Initiative, a program which aims to promote equitable access to digital services at the University and Michigan Medicine.

The initiative comes after the U.S. Department of Justice updated regulations stipulated in Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act in April 2024. Public universities have until April 2026 to comply with new digital accessibility standards, which include making websites and apps compatible with screen readers and providing alternative text.

In an email to The Michigan Daily, University spokesperson Kay Jarvis said the University codified its approach to digital accessibility in 2022 and has continued to work on it since.

“Units across the University have digital accessibility projects and initiatives that are ongoing,” Jarvis wrote. “The Digital Accessibility Strategic Initiative bolsters this work, bringing in new partners to provide better, more accessible experiences to community members collectively.”

The initiative will impact all digital platforms, including webpages, software and online course technology. In a statement to The University Record, Ravi Pendse, University vice president for information technology and chief information officer, said the initiative fits into broader plans for the University’s future. 

“Digital accessibility is central to the goals outlined in U-M’s Vision 2034 and Campus Plan 2050, reinforcing our commitment to an inclusive and innovative environment for all, particularly in the digital landscape,” Pendse said. “We are dedicated to making technology accessible to everyone in our community, and this initiative embodies our pledge of compliance, innovation and inclusivity.”

The changes in the initiative will involve input from units at all three University campuses in an effort to meet a broader variety of needs. 

“Together, we will continue to build tools and provide training that educates our campus community about compliance and best practices,” Jarvis wrote. “A number of the new tools will support content creators working in applications such as Canvas, websites and social media.”

Jarvis said the University plans to integrate feedback throughout the initiative. 

“We want to make sure the needs of students, faculty and broader U-M community members are being met, and we plan to consistently and proactively engage with these groups over the next year and a half,” Jarvis wrote. “Additional feedback mechanisms beyond the current reporting channel are still being determined.”

In an interview with The Daily, LSA senior Lauren Burnside, who has a visual disability and is a member of Students for Disability Rights Inclusivity Visibility and Equity, said digital accessibility is crucial for her learning.

“Every disability is going to be different, but for me personally, I have to have things online in order to fully participate in a classroom setting because I have such limited vision,” Burnside said. “Having PDFs and Word docs that are accessible is really, really important to me being able to participate in the classroom. I think just generally, it’s important for all students to have more access. So making sure things are accessible, both in person and online, (is) big for everyone.”

Burnside said while she is hopeful about the initiative’s impact, she feels the University could do more to clarify the specifics of their plan.

“I’m excited that they’re trying, but I do think there should be further efforts,” Burnside said. “When I was going over their website talking about digital accessibility, it sounds like such a great goal, but it also feels very limited. They don’t seem to have a huge plan for actually implementing a lot of stuff.”

Jarvis said digital accessibility has long been a priority at the University, and the administration views it as a collective responsibility that it will continue to promote.

“The university continuously strives to increase digital access and respond to barriers in our technologies, and this work will continue beyond the 2026 deadline,” Jarvis wrote.

Daily News Reporter Nadia Taeckens can be reached at taeckens@umich.edu. 

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