Accessibility is part of UCSF's mission

As the leading institution dedicated exclusively to the health sciences, we are committed to providing web content in accessible formats to ensure that online content and tools are accessible to everyone. This commitment is supported by the UCSF Digital Accessibility Advisory Committee.

Enhance UCSF's competitive advantage

At the heart of the UC information technology accessibility policy and UCSF Web Standards for accessibility is the concept that accessible websites benefit every site visitor with well-designed, easy-to-navigate sites.

As an educational institution, health care provider and employer, we operate in competition for the attention of professors, potential students, patients, new hires, and others. If one of them (for example, a talented School of Medicine master’s program applicant or their parent) cannot read our application page, we run the risk of losing that applicant to another university that delivers fully accessible content.

Services

• Digital Accessibility Awareness and Outreach
• Digital Accessibility Consultations for Online Content
• Software Purchasing Reviews and Guidance for Accessibility

Policy and Standards

From policy to digital accessibility

The University of California policy (UC) references federal laws that require our web delivered services and content be accessible by people with disabilities.

As a public institution, UCSF is also legally bound to comply with related digital accessibility California state laws and regulations.

UC policy from the Office of the President

The following is from the University of California – Policy IMT-1300 Information Technology Accessibility Policy Document (PDF):

“The University of California is committed to supporting an information technology (IT) environment that is accessible to all, and in particular to individuals with disabilities. To this end, the University seeks to deploy information technology that has been designed, developed, or procured to be accessible to people with disabilities, including those who use assistive technologies. An accessible IT environment generally enhances usability for everyone. By supporting IT accessibility, the University helps ensure that as broad a population as possible is able to access, benefit from, and contribute to its electronic programs and services.” - UC Information Technology Accessibility Policy

The policy also references the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) in Section B.1:

Web Standard Electronic information must meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 at level AA Success Criteria. More information about the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) standards for accessibility can be found at the W3C website.

More details at the University of California Office of the President Electronic Accessibility website.

The Laws ADA, 504, 508 and how they relate to WCAG

Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 require that public universities provide qualified individuals with disabilities equal access to their programs, services, and activities unless doing so would fundamentally alter them or impose an undue burden.

A recent trend is lawsuits filed under Title III of the ADA on the theory that websites are public accommodations.

In addition, Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requires federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities and the 508 Refresh refers to WCAG 2.0. Thus, public universities must provide equally effective access to information to people with disabilities, independent of the format.

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)

WCAG is a series of web accessibility guidelines published by the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). The W3C is the main international standards organization for the Internet. WCAG 2.0 is a stable technical standard. It has 12 guidelines organized under 4 principles: (POUR):

• perceivable
• operable
• understandable
• robust.

For each guideline, there are testable success criteria, which are at three levels: A, AA, and AAA. The current UC policy references conformance at level A and AA. The level AAA is the most stringent and most difficult level to achieve.

Meeting WCAG 2.0 also fulfills the web requirements of section 508. Generally, web developers and lawsuits refer to WCAG 2.0 as the gold standard.

Digital Accessibility Advisory Committee

IT (Information Technology) created a team to help all at UCSF meet our digital accessibility policy. The team includes Advisors, Core members and Specialists to create guidelines and resources.

The policy is that our digital communications and services be just as accessible to persons with disabilities as our facilities and programs are. UCSF is inclusive from the core. The technology of the internet, once a revolution of inclusivity, with all its innovations now inadvertently can exclude users with disabilities.

To help meet our policy and values, while innovating to meet UCSFs mission, we offer Digital Accessibility:

• Guidelines – how to meet the criteria 
• Training – classes, videos, online training, events and tailored to your department presentations and training
• Advice – how to plan, use the resources of UCSF and work with vendors

The “digital” of digital accessibility, refers to communication that is digitally transmitted, for example, web, apps, emails, PDFs, etcetera. It does not include physical accessibility like alternatives to stairs and automatic door openers. Information about physical access can be found at Disability Resources.

Committee Members

• Ed Chen, DOM
• Kelsey Couzzo, IT Enterprise Information & Analytics
• Clay Littrell, Student Disability Services
• Michele Mizejewski, Library
• Mike Mullen, Office of Career and Professional Development
• Jonathan Prugh, SOM Tech
• Susan Riddle, Supply Chain
• Judy Rosen, Disability and Leave Administration
• Erik Rotman, Student Academic Affairs
• Sara Shaffer, Office of Communications
• Andrew Sinclair, Risk Management
• Wendy Tobias, Office of Diversity
• Kyle Van Auker, ETS
• Susan Walker, Audit and Advisory Services
• Erik Wieland, Content Management & Communication, UCSF IT
• Jill Wolters, IT Web Services

Planning Committee

• Erik Wieland, Content Management & Communication, UCSF IT
• Clay Littrell, Student Disability Services
• Jill Wolters, IT Web Services
• rotating members 

Sponsors

• Joe Bengfort, CIO
• Garima Srivastava, VP and Associate CIO, Enterprise Systems, IT