Digital Accessibility and Excellence Steering Committee
May 16, 2024 9:01 AM

Dear faculty and staff,

As a public institution, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has an obligation to ensure that people with and without disabilities can fully engage in our academic programs, access resources and participate in university activities. This commitment is particularly important as the Department of Justice recently made changes to ADA Title II, the requirements for governmental entities to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. These updates clarify our obligation to make all digital content, including online course content and mobile applications, accessible. The university has a deep history of leadership in accessibility, and we now have an opportunity to set the standard for inclusive practices. 

It is imperative that we proactively and collaboratively address these changes. To guide this work, we are announcing the formation of the Digital Accessibility and Excellence Steering Committee. 

The committee’s responsibilities will include:

• Conducting a comprehensive review of our current digital assets to identify areas of opportunity with ADA Title II requirements.
• Collaborating with key stakeholders to develop a strategic plan for addressing accessibility gaps.
• Implementing a timeline and action plan for compliance with upcoming changes.
• Establishing evaluation mechanisms to ensure sustained adherence to accessibility standards.
• Developing an institutional infrastructure that embraces digital accessibility principles benefiting all members of our community.
• Overseeing implementation teams focused on electronic documents and multimedia; web content; training and education; software and delivery platforms; and communications.

We will keep you informed on the progress of the work. Your engagement with the committee is welcome, and there will be opportunities throughout the process for you to connect and collaborate. If you have any questions, please contact digitalaccess@illinois.edu. 

This effort is going to require everyone’s participation, and we thank you in advance for your attention as we take significant steps to ensure our programs, resources and activities reflect the values that define our university. 

Sincerely,

Robert J. Jones
Chancellor

John Coleman
Provost