|
Field |
Details |
|
Standard Owner |
Accessible Technology Services (ATS), UW-IT |
|
Approval Authority |
I&TG Digital Accessibility Board |
|
Date of Issue |
11/12/2025 |
|
Last Reviewed |
11/12/2025 |
|
Next Review Date |
11/11/2026 |
|
Document Number |
APS-9.0.STN-02.01 |
|
Related Policies |
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This technical standard establishes the minimum accessibility requirements for digital content and applications to meet the University’s commitment to equal access to University services, programs, and activities, and ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
This standard applies to all digital content and applications acquired, developed, distributed, used, purchased, or implemented by or for the University and used to provide University services, programs, or activities regardless of the source of funding.
(Technical or unit / role definitions referred to in the standard document.)
Academic or Administrative Units are divisions, campuses, or colleges headed by an executive who reports directly to the President or the Provost.
Applications means software-based tools and systems, regardless of platform or channel, designed to collect, process, store, and communicate information, enabling users from diverse backgrounds, abilities, and environments to perform tasks, solve problems, and enhance productivity across personal, educational, social, and professional contexts.
Conventional electronic documents mean web content or content in mobile apps that are in the following electronic file formats: portable document formats (“PDF”), word processor file formats, presentation file formats, and spreadsheet file formats.
Digital accessibility means a person with a disability is afforded the opportunity to acquire the same information, engage in the same interactions, and enjoy the same services within the same time frame as a person without a disability in an equally effective and equally integrated manner, with substantially equivalent ease of use. A person with a disability must be able to obtain information as fully, equally, and independently as a person without a disability.
Digital content refers to all digital information and materials made available through University of Washington websites, web applications, or mobile applications. This includes, but is not limited to, webpages, documents (such as PDFs, Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files), multimedia (such as videos, audio recordings, and images), online course materials, electronic forms, mobile applications, and interactive tools or dashboards.
A fundamental alteration is something that would change the essential nature of a University service, program, or activity.
A procedure owner is the Unit responsible for publishing a procedure, ensuring it is regularly reviewed and updated to reflect evolving processes and technologies, and overseeing its implementation.
Social media platforms mean websites or mobile apps of third parties whose primary purpose is to enable users to create and share content in order to participate in social networking ( i.e., the creation and maintenance of personal and business relationships online through websites and mobile apps like Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn).
Temporary alternative access means a provisional solution to ensure continued access to a product while remediation is underway. Alternative access does not exempt products from compliance. Alternative formats must communicate the same information as quickly as the original. For interactive applications, alternative formats must allow users to accomplish tasks in a comparable time and with comparable effort.
Undue financial or administrative burden means something would be excessively costly, extensive, substantial, or disruptive, or result in a fundamental alteration of the nature or operation of the institution, program, service, activity, or course.
A unit leader is an executive head reporting directly to the President or the Provost. [Future Link: Delegation of Authority currently in review by Rules Office.]
University programs, services, or activities include all operations of the university including but not limited to teaching, learning, advising, research, outreach, employment, advancement, entertainment, medical services, and other official functions of the university.
The University of Washington adopts an internationally recognized accessibility standard for web access, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 at conformance Level A/AA as the Minimum Technical Standard for Digital Accessibility.
(Clearly assign responsibility for implementation, monitoring, and enforcement.)
| Role | Responsibility |
|---|---|
|
Chief Information Officer (CIO)/Vice President of Information Technology |
|
| Unit Leaders |
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| Procedure Owners |
|
In the following limited situations, digital content is not required to meet the Minimum Digital Accessibility Standard.
Units who have digital content or applications that cannot meet the Minimum Digital Accessibility Technical Standard due to technical or legal limitations—and that do not fall under one or more of the 5 listed exceptions—may pursue a conforming alternative version in accordance with published procedures.
Other exceptions to the Minimum Digital Accessibility Technical Standard are permitted only under the following conditions:
In these cases, the requesting individual or unit must document the justification and obtain the necessary approvals outlined in the Exception Procedure.
When an exception is granted, Units are responsible for ensuring that individuals with disabilities still receive the benefits or services to the maximum extent possible.
Failure to adhere to this standard in good faith may lead to required remediation plans, escalation to University leadership, and, if unaddressed, disciplinary or corrective action.
Achieving comprehensive compliance with the Minimum Technical Standard for Digital Accessibility requires cultural, technical, and operational change. To support this effort, the University will use a phased implementation approach that allows units to build capacity while making consistent progress. Defined milestones will guide implementation, gradually increasing compliance expectations and supporting effective planning and prioritization.
If a unit’s web or mobile applications digital content does not fully meet the Minimum Technical Standard for Digital Accessibility, it may still be considered compliant if the issue has only a minimal effect on accessibility. In such cases, the issue must not prevent students, faculty, staff, patients, or visitors with disabilities from accessing the same information, completing the same tasks, or using University services, programs, or activities with equivalent timeliness, privacy, independence, and ease of use as others.
(Additional guidelines and contact information that may support compliance with the standard.)
| Owner | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Compliance and Risk Services, Civil Rights Compliance |
|
| Finance, Planning, and Budget |
|
| Information Technology, Accessible Technology Services (IT-ATS) |
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| Office of the Provost |
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| University Advancement, Marketing and\ Communications |
|
| Date | Description | Author/Editor |
|---|---|---|