Communications

Below is a curated list of communications sent to the University Community:

Our Shared Commitment to Digital Accessibility and Compliance with Federal and State Law (May 22, 2025)

Dear Faculty and Staff Colleagues,      
      
We are writing to share an important update regarding the University’s ongoing commitment to accessibility and information about steps that faculty and staff members will need to take to ensure that the University is compliant with federal and state regulations.       
 

Background 

In April 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a final rule under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), establishing new requirements for digital accessibility across public entities, including public colleges and universities such as UVA. The deadline for adherence to these requirements is April 24, 2026. Virginia’s General Assembly approved parallel legislation this spring that will go into effect in April 2026.      
      
The DOJ’s ruling and state legislation underscore the critical importance of ensuring that our digital content, services, and technologies are accessible to all members of our community, including individuals with disabilities. At UVA, we fully support these efforts to eliminate barriers in the digital environment and embrace this as an opportunity to strengthen our culture of inclusion. A pan-University Digital Accessibility Working Group is leading this effort at UVA.      
      
Over the coming months, the working group will identify necessary revisions to the University’s  digital accessibility policies and procedures to ensure alignment with the new standards. This includes bringing our websites, documents, software, and course materials up to required standards, and updating procedures to include accessibility assessment in our procurement and deployment of new technologies. The working group will also provide training and resources to faculty, staff, and students to support the creation of accessible digital content. 


What You Should Begin to Do Now 

Faculty and instructors should begin updating their course documents and materials to meet accessibility requirements by the start of the Spring 2026 semester. A timeline and training resources are available on the Digital Accessibility website.      
      
All faculty and staff members should review their digital content including but not limited to websites, reports and documents distributed electronically, and social media to evaluate whether these materials meet accessibility requirements. Information on digital accessibility training, available tools, and resources about remediation of existing materials and best practices for new materials can be found on the Digital Accessibility website.     
 

Closing

We recognize that achieving full digital accessibility requires commitment from all of us, and we are grateful for your partnership in this important work. Please visit the Digital Accessibility website for more information. If you have questions or need support, you may reach out to[email protected].      
      
Thank you for helping us foster an environment that is respectful and accessible to all.      

Digital Accessibility at UVA: 5 Ways to Make Accessible Content.

UVA is committed to ensuring all digital content is accessible to everyone, and meets the new digital accessibility standards that take effect in April 2026 under the Americans with Disabilities Act, Virginia Code, and UVA policy. You are responsible for making all digital content you produce completely accessible. Here are some steps to clarify what that means. Over the next three months, you’ll receive a series of emails from the UVA Digital Accessibility Working Group (DAWG)—each one breaking down a different aspect of digital accessibility with practical tips and helpful resources. 

This month, we’re starting with five simple ways to format content so it’s accessible to all. 

Together, we can create an online experience that works for every student, faculty member, and staff member at UVA. 

Thank you for your attention to this matter. 

Kelly Doney     
Vice President & Chief Information Officer 

Christian McMillen     
Interim Vice Provost for Academic Affairs 

Emily Springston     
AVP, Office of Equal Opportunity & Civil Rights 

David Strite     
AVP, Support Services & Learning Technologies 

Barb Zunder     
Chief Accessibility Officer 

 

Headings     
 

Headings are like signposts for your content—they tell readers what’s coming next and make it simple to find what they need. Think of them as a digital table of contents that helps everyone scan and navigate quickly. Using headings in order (Heading 1, Heading 2, and so on) keeps things organized and also makes life easier for people using screen readers. 

 

A list of the following: Heading 1, Heading 2, Heading 3, and paragraph 

Learn Structured Heading Best Practices 

 

Lists 

Lists are a great way to group related information so it’s easy to read and understand. They help everyone scan content quickly and make navigation smoother for people using screen readers.

 When you use built-in list styles—like numbered or bulleted lists—you’re creating structure that’s clear, logical, and accessible for all. 

A sample list, with List Item 1, List Item 2, and Sub-item 1 and Sub-item 2.

Learn Accessible Lists Best Practices 

 

Descriptive Links 

Descriptive links make it clear where you’ll go or what you’ll find—no guessing required! Instead of vague phrases like ‘click here’ or ‘read more,’ use meaningful words that explain the destination.

 This helps everyone navigate with confidence, especially people using screen readers or quickly scanning through content. Don’t forget to make links easy to spot and keyboard-friendly for full accessibility. 

Click here is not a descriptive link as it is too generic, whereas View Add Drop and Deadlines are all good descriptive links.

Learn How to Create Descriptive Links 

Color and Flashing 

Color choices matter! High-contrast colors make text easier to read for everyone—whether you have a visual impairment or you’re just dealing with glare on your screen. Always pair color with text so meaning isn’t lost. 

Avoid flashing or blinking content more than three times per second to keep things safe for people who experience certain seizures. 

Four lines of text of the words Go Hoos Go with various combinations of color contrast. The first two are on white background, and the orange text does not pass, but the blue text does. The second two are on blue backgrounds, and the grey text does not pass, but the white text does.

 Learn Color Accessibility Best Practices 

 

Alt Text 

Alt text is a short description that explains what’s in an image, chart, or graphic. It’s essential for people using screen readers, but it also helps anyone who needs a quick summary of the visual.

 Adding alt text is simple and makes your content more inclusive—because everyone deserves to understand the full picture. 

A box to enter Alt Text, with text entered that describes a bar graph illustrating an upward trend from 2010-2025.

Learn How to Make Visuals Accessible 

 

Resources 

 

Tools 

 

Looking Ahead 

Next month we will share information on captioning & transcripts. We will also provide planning models for immediate and long-term accessibility access and improvements. More Information and Resources on Accessibility

Digital Accessibility at UVA: Accessible Audio and Video Content

Last month, we shared 5 Ways to Make Accessible Content. This month, we’re sharing how to create accessible audio and video content. Every faculty and staff member at UVA is responsible for creating accessible content. Content can include course materials, presentations, videos, digital and print graphics, podcasts, newsletters, and more.  Associate Academic Deans and Digital Accessibility Liaisons are also responsible for distributing the resources and information DAWG provides to your respective departments and areas. While we encourage you to identify a distribution strategy that works best for your area, you can find guidelines and ideas in the email with the subject line “Action Needed” sent on Jan. 30, 2026. Together, we can create an online experience that works for every student, faculty member, and staff member at UVA.   Thank you for your attention to this matter. David Strite AVP, Support Services & Learning Technologies Barb Zunder Chief Accessibility Officer

 Quick Tips for Accessible Audio & Video Content 

Captions and transcripts make your audio and video content accessible to all—helping viewers who are D/deaf or hard of hearing, screen reader users, second language learners, and anyone who simply needs clarity or flexibility. 

Opt for Captioned Materials 

Choose videos and audio files that already include captions and accessible transcripts, whenever possible. If using 3rd party videos in your materials, your library liaison may be able to help, or you can contact the vendor/author directly. 

Provide Transcripts 

Link to accurate transcripts for all pre-recorded audio and video. The transcript can be on the same page, via a link to another page, or downloadable as an accessible document.  

Turn on Captions 

Click the CC button to enable them. If it’s missing or grayed out, captions aren't available. Human-generated captions are best.  

Review and Edit for Accuracy 

Make sure captions and transcripts include correct spelling, speaker names, non-speech sounds, and are synced properly.  

Ask for help when needed

If automated tools aren’t enough, request professional captioning through the UVA Captioning Project. 

Enable Live Captions for Events 

Enable captions in Zoom or Teams and edit recordings before sharing.  

More Quick Tips 

  • Build accessibility into your workflow from the start.
  • Use platforms that support captions and transcripts. 
  • Keep a simple multimedia checklist handy. 

Make an Impact in Five Minutes 

  1. Does your video have captions? Click “CC” to confirm.  
  2. Are they accurate? 
  3. Is the transcript available for download? 

If you need support, the Captioning Project team is here to help. 

Thanks for helping create accessible content for our UVA community!

 Additional Resources and Tools 

 

Learn More About Transcripts and Captions  

Compliance Deadline Extended for DOJ Digital Accessibility Ruling

Dear Colleagues,

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has extended the federal digital accessibility compliance deadline for public institutions by one year, to April 26, 2027. Because Virginia’s Information Technology Access Act aligns with the DOJ’s federal accessibility requirement, both Virginia law and University policy IRM-008 are interpreted as following the federal timeline. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has also initiated review of its rule and appears to be moving toward a similar revision. 

While UVA’s compliance date has been extended, our expectations and commitments remain the same. We have an ongoing obligation to ensure that our services, programs, and activities offered through web content and mobile apps are accessible to individuals with disabilities in accordance with our existing obligations under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). We will continue to pursue progress and advance best practices in this space.

Thank you for your efforts and for the significant progress made so far in improving digital accessibility. We must use this additional time wisely and build on the strong momentum we have established to meet our obligations more thoroughly and sustainably. Specifically:

• School and unit leaders should continue to support their faculty, staff, and digital accessibility liaisons in this effort and to map out a strategy for compliance.

• Departments and units should continue using accessibility checkers, such as DubBot and UDOIT, along with tools such as Equidox that are already in place.

• Faculty and instructors should use this time to continue making their courses accessible.

• Anyone developing new content should incorporate accessibility from the start.

• All of us should evaluate accessibility when acquiring software and mobile apps.

Additional resources and guidance are available from our UVA Digital Accessibility Office.

If you have any questions, please email us at [email protected]. Thank you for your continued commitment to working toward an accessible digital environment for everyone.

With our sincere thanks,

Barbara Zunder, Chief Accessibility Officer, EOCR 
Dave Strite, AVP, Support Services and Learning Technologies, ITS 
Digital Accessibility Working Group Co-chairs
University of Virginia