UC San Diego Digital Accessibility Standards
Introduction
UC San Diego is committed to fostering an inclusive digital environment that complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits discrimination based on disability by public entities, including universities. As a state-funded institution, UC San Diego ensures equal access to all programs, services, and activities by adhering to the Department of Justice’s ADA Title II Guidelines.
This commitment is further reinforced by the UC Accessibility Policy (currently under revision), emphasizing equitable access to digital resources. We strive to meet or exceed the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA standards, making our digital content accessible to individuals with diverse disabilities, including visual, auditory, physical, speech, cognitive, learning, and neurological impairments.
Scope of the Standards
By April 24, 2026, the Department of Justice (DOJ) will enforce digital accessibility rules and requirements under Title II. These standards apply to all digital content managed by UC San Diego, including:
- Media and Communication Content:
- Videos and audio content (e.g., lectures, podcasts) must include captions, transcripts, and audio descriptions. This includes both live and recorded media.
- Social media content (e.g. Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn) must include alternative text for images and captioning for videos.
- HTML email communications must be designed with accessibility best practices to ensure content is perceivable and understandable.
- Web and Digital Platforms:
- Websites and digital platforms must be designed and maintained according to WCAG 2.1 AA standards, with ongoing monitoring and updates to ensure compliance. This includes but is not limited to:
- Websites, portals, and digital resources publicly accessible or behind a login
- Learning Management System (LMS) content
- Mobile applications
- Online forms and surveys
- Websites and digital platforms must be designed and maintained according to WCAG 2.1 AA standards, with ongoing monitoring and updates to ensure compliance. This includes but is not limited to:
- Documents and Navigational Tools:
- Digital documents (e.g., PDFs, MS Word, Google Docs, presentations) must adhere to accessibility standards, including proper tagging, headings, and readability to meet WCAG 2.1 AA compliance.
- Campus maps and navigational tools must be accessible, providing clear and usable information for all users, including those using assistive technology.
Roles and Responsibilities
Ensuring digital accessibility is a shared responsibility across the university. Each role is crucial for maintaining accessibility, and all staff members must prioritize accessibility in their daily tasks. Cross-departmental collaboration is essential to ensure consistent compliance, highlighting the importance of each role in the broader initiative. Specific roles include:
- Digital Content Creators: Ensure all created content (websites, documents, social media, etc.) complies with WCAG 2.1 AA standards and the requirements of ADA Title II.
- Web Developers and Designers: Incorporate accessibility from the outset in all websites, web applications, and HTML emails, ensuring compliance with WCAG standards.
- Videographers: Produce video content that includes accurate captions, transcripts, and audio descriptions as mandated by ADA Title II.
- Social Media Specialists: Use accessible practices, such as adding alt text for images and captions for videos, to ensure compliance with accessibility standards.
- Educators: Ensure all course content, including videos and learning materials, is accessible.
- Procurement Officers: Ensure that purchased digital tools meet accessibility standards per the UC Accessibility Policy and ADA Title II requirements.
- Event Coordinators: Ensure digital aspects of events, including online registration and streaming, are accessible to all participants.
- Leadership: Provide oversight to ensure accessibility standards are met and allocate resources for training, ensuring departments are fully compliant.
Compliance and Remediation
A domain discovery and accessibility scanning tool ensures Title II compliance for electronic properties. IT Services provide technical support and consultations to address accessibility issues and guide remediation efforts.
IT Services offers accessibility conformant website solutions for the following situations:
- Campus CMS for academic Departments, Programs, or ORUs.
- Simple Sites to support labs, faculty sites, or events.
To ensure compliance and maintain an accessible digital environment, UC San Diego will take proactive steps to address any instances of non-compliance:
- First Notice: A warning will be issued to the responsible entity, detailing the identified issues. The recipient will have 30 days to address the issues.
- Second Notice: If no action is taken within 30 days, a second notice will be issued, providing an additional 15 days to remediate the issues.
- Final Notice and Escalation: Failure to comply after the second notice will result in escalation, which may include suspension of the non-compliant website.
Training and Resources
Digital accessibility training is strongly recommended for all individuals responsible for creating or managing digital content. Training resources are available through Digital Accessibility Training and Resources. Departments must establish internal processes to ensure all staff are informed and compliant, as required by Title II.
Exceptions
The Department of Justice allows specific exceptions to compliance under certain circumstances:
- Archived Web Content: Content not actively used or updated is exempt unless it becomes actively used again. Content must be kept in a special area specifically for archived content.
- Preexisting Documents: Documents created before April 2026, unless used in ongoing services or activities, are exempt.
- Third-Party Content: Content posted by external parties is exempt unless under a formal contract with UC San Diego.
- Secured Individual-Specific Documents: Personal documents shared with specific individuals that are password-protected are exempt.
- Preexisting Social Media Posts: Content posted before the compliance date is exempt.
If you are notified that your content may be out of compliance but believe it qualifies for an exemption, respond to the sender and clearly reference the specific exemption that applies.
Change Log
This document will be reviewed and updated periodically to reflect changes in accessibility standards, legal requirements, and university policies. Please refer to the change log section for a history of updates.