As part of the University of California’s systemwide commitment to equity and inclusion, all UC locations are required to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA by April 2026. This means that every digital product – from websites and PDFs to presentations, forms, videos and emails – must be usable by people of all abilities.
Digital accessibility ensures that everyone – including people who use assistive technologies such as screen readers, captions or voice navigation – can access and engage with UC’s content and services. It reflects our values of inclusion, accountability and public service, and it fulfills our obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 508.
Meeting this April 2026 milestone will take more than technical fixes – it will require stepping up for change in knowledge, habits and work culture. Digital accessibility is everyone’s responsibility, and success depends on how we create, share and think about content from this point forward.
We are asking all units to begin reviewing and improving digital content and workflows. The following steps will make the biggest impact:
- Create accessible materials from the start.
Favor Word or HTML over PDF whenever possible – these formats are easier to make accessible and to update. PDFs should be used only when necessary and must include correct tagging, reading order and alternative text. - Stop producing inaccessible materials.
Before publishing new flyers, presentations or online forms, use built-in accessibility checkers such as WAVE, AXE, Grackle Docs, or Siteimprove. Move older, non-compliant documents behind login or archive them if they are no longer needed. - Learn and adapt your skills.
Accessibility is not a one-time task – it’s a new professional competency. We encourage everyone to start strengthening their digital skills using the resources below this email, which include UC accessibility terms, training options and guidance from recent UC-wide working sessions. - Foster an inclusive work culture.
Building an accessible UC means building a more collaborative and informed culture. Identify a local accessibility focal point or “champion” on your team who can participate in workshops and share what they learn. Across the UC system, campuses are taking a phased approach – completing content inventories this fall, remediating high-priority items through early 2026, and adopting “accessible-by-default” creation practices thereafter.
By working together and stepping up for this change, we can ensure UC meets its legal obligations – and more importantly, that we uphold our shared responsibility to make knowledge, research and public service accessible to all Californians.
Thank you for your leadership, learning mindset and partnership as we move UC toward full digital inclusion.
With appreciation,
Kathy Eftekhari
Interim Associate Vice President for Administrative Services and Chief of Staff to the Vice President
Resources:
UCOP Electronic Accessibility / Standards and Practices
UC Systemwide Human Resources - Accessibility
UCOP Online Accessibility Courses
Examples of Tools
Screen readers like NVDA + VoiceOver
Example of courses available through LinkedIn Learning
Microsoft Office Accessibility for Beginners
Designing with the WCAG 2.2 Guidelines
Creating Accessible and Inclusive Video
Canva: Designing Engaging, Accessible Presentations