Advancing Digital Accessibility with New Tools and Training
The University of Washington is taking significant steps toward a more inclusive digital future, calling on faculty, staff, and administrators to prioritize accessibility in their digital spaces. With new federal regulations impacting web and course content, UW is taking proactive steps to ensure compliance and foster a culture of digital accessibility across our campuses
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Digital accessibility is both an ethical responsibility and a legal requirement. By April 2026, digital resources are expected to meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA standard under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). To support this transition, the ADA Office, UW-IT Accessible Technology Services, and Teaching@UW are partnering with others across the UW campuses to provide accessibility tools, events, and training opportunities.
ADA Digital Accessibility Initiative & “Power of the Pack”
UW has launched the ADA Digital Accessibility Initiative, a collaborative effort between Compliance Services, the Provost’s Office, and UW-IT to establish university-wide governance and sustainable accessibility practices. A key part of this initiative is the “Power of the Pack” campaign, which emphasizes shared responsibility—when everyone contributes, the entire community benefits, making you an integral part of this collective effort.
Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) Is May 15
In celebration of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) on May 15, the UW is offering a series of free in-person and online presentations and workshops. Participating in these events provides an excellent opportunity for collaboration, information sharing, and enhancing your understanding of digital accessibility. A detailed agenda will be announced soon.
New Accessibility Checker Available
One of the latest resources is DubBot, an automated website accessibility checker now offered through UW-IT. This tool scans UW websites for common barriers—including poor color contrast, missing alt text, and keyboard navigation issues— allowing web administrators to find issues and make their websites more accessible for people with disabilities.
“UW-IT provides this tool to help all UW website owners, including faculty, researchers, and staff, identify accessibility barriers, just as Ally can be used to highlight issues in Canvas,” says Mary Mulvihill, Executive Director of UW-IT’s Accessible Technology Services.
Faculty and staff can request access to DubBot and find more information at the Accessible Technology DubBot website.
Stay Informed and Take Action
With the April 2026 deadline approaching, UW is actively ensuring that its digital presence reflects its values of accessibility, inclusion, and innovation. Through the “Power of the Pack” campaign, the University encourages all faculty, staff, and administrators to participate in training and collaboration opportunities to help create more accessible and inclusive digital environments.
To stay informed of digital accessibility tools, resources, and training, visit and bookmark the Digital Accessibility website and this news blog.