Digital Accessibility: It's everyone's responsibility

UWM is working to ensure all its digital resources — from documents and webpages to videos and apps — are accessible to every reader, viewer and listener. Our campus, like all other UW campuses and state and local governments across the nation, must meet a spring 2026 deadline.

Digital accessibility creates an inclusive learning and working environment that advances student success, closes equity gaps and promotes employee well-being. 

As a member of the UWM community, you share the responsibility to make that happen.

Regardless of your role — faculty, staff, student worker, content creator, researcher, communicator or administrator — your digital contributions matter. They are part of UWM’s compliance with federal accessibility rules.

By April 2026, a new federal regulation on digital accessibility requires that all state and local governments’ digital content, documents, media, communications, applications and websites be accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities. By April 1, 2026, the Universities of Wisconsin (UWs) policy on accessibility of web content and mobile applications goes into effect for all UW campuses.  

When digital resources are designed to be accessible, this means that people with various disabilities – such as visual, auditory, or motor or cognitive impairments – can more fully interact with content on UWM’s websites, apps and digital platforms, including Canvas course sites. This promotes timely and equal access to information and services for everyone. 

You are accountable if you create or share any of these below:

You are responsible for ensuring that your content is accessible.

When we embrace accessibility in education, we unlock the full potential of every student and enrich our entire learning community. Accessible content is also important to faculty and staff who share information with each other across various platforms. Each accessible document, presentation or resource we create strengthens the educational experience for everyone.

Learn more at this Universities of Wisconsin resources page: 

Take stock of what you create, use, manage or share: 

Whether creating new materials or using tools to remediate older material, start with these foundational steps (find checklists and resources below): 

UWM has training, checklists and tools to help you. Find a full list of Digital Accessibility Resources that spell out how to make sure your materials in Canvas courses, web content and documents are accessible. 

Town Hall: UWM aims to share information about digital accessibility in different ways, including through discussion as a group. Stay tuned for more information on a digital accessibility town hall this fall. 

Explore: Check out several How-To Guides prepared by UWM. 

Training: UWM is offering training and workshops on digital accessibility for Canvas and web content. Find a training session that fits your schedule. 

UWM and UWs offer information on tools, workshops and self-paced learning: 

UWM Digital Accessibility  

UWM Digital Training and Resources webpage  

UDOIT: Learn more about one of several tools to help you check Canvas courses for accessibility, identify issues and correct them, all in one place.

Thank you in advance for your work to help ensure UWM's digital resources are accessible to all users.

Scott Genung
Associate Vice Chancellor for IT and Chief Information Officer   

UWM Digital Accessibility Task Force 

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
2310 E. Hartford Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53211