Last updated February 15, 2021
In support of UW–Madison providing accessible user experiences to people with disabilities, the Center for User Experience Digital Accessibility Program provides accessibility evaluation services of campus digital resources and digital technologies.
For free digital accessibility assistance, consulting, or training go to the Get help with accessibility guide.
Services we provide
Campus technologies should be evaluated for accessibility to identify barriers for people with disabilities, support accommodation planning, and provide communications guidance. If you have procured a technology and realize an accessibility evaluation was never completed, request an evaluation today.
The Center for User Experience Digital Accessibility Program can assist with the following:
Why conduct an evaluation?
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the institution is required to accommodate employees with disabilities (in partnership with campus disability services offices) if the product’s accessibility poses a barrier to the performance of primary job functions.
Accessibility evaluations identify the barriers a user may encounter. This information is key to preparing the project team and disability services offices at each campus to provide accommodations. If we are unable to or unprepared to provide an accommodation to users when needed, that is grounds for legal action in accordance with the Office of Civil Rights by the employee affected by the product.
What is needed to evaluate?
Request vendor documentation
We request the following documentation from the vendors:
- Response to questions included in the accessibility RFP requirements
- A Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT)
These materials report how accessible the vendor reports the product to be. This is collected prior to accessibility evaluating the product directly to identify how accessible the product actually is. The vendor information and the accessibility evaluation is compared to understand the vendor’s capacity to be accessible. Often the vendor documentation and the accessibility evaluation results do not match and extensive accessibility barriers are located during the university accessibility evaluation.
Provide access to test the product
The vendor provides test instance access of the product to the Center for User Experience. The Center evaluates the product to know what accessibility barriers may exist in detail.
To start working with the Center on evaluating the product, complete the accessibility evaluation form (the Center will make contact with you and provide a list of testers that need access).
Evaluation process
Testing methods
For all technologies, we conduct digital accessibility testing. Our testing methods include:
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Magnification accessibility
Magnification testing supports accessibility for people with low vision. Magnification testing looks to make sure that pages reflow, that all content is accessible, that elements are not overlapping, and that items are not pixelated when magnified.
Color contrast accessibility
Color contrast and color dependency accessibility testing support people who are colorblind or have low vision. Color contrast testing looks for high color contrast and readable font sizes.
Keyboard accessibility
Keyboard accessibility testing supports people with motor disabilities (who are navigating via keyboard other assistive technologies). Keyboard testing ensures that all items and links on the page are reachable via keyboard, that forms are navigable, and that there is high contrast focus styling.
Screen reader accessibility
Screen reader accessibility testing supports people who are blind or have low vision (and are navigating via screen reader or other assistive technologies). Screen reader testing ensures that all content is navigable and readable, and that anything that is visually apparent is represented in the auditory user experience.
Evaluation report
The Center generates an Accessibility Evaluation Report which is provided to the RFP team. If purchased, the report will also be provided to the UW–Madison Office of Compliance, ADA Coordinator.
The evaluation report we create includes:
- The accessibility barriers and users impacted
- Recommendations for accommodation, campus communications, and vendor relations used to support users, the project team, and institutional risk management
Accommodation planning
We facilitate accommodation planning with the project team and campus disability services offices to ensure users with disabilities have a means of using or getting access to assistance using the product.
Campus accessibility communication planning
We provide an accessibility & usability information KB document for communications to link to as well as an accessibility blurb to make communicating accessibility information to campus easier for the project team.
Institutional risk management
Copy of the contract
The Center for User Experience will require a copy of the signed contract which resulted from procurement for reference to append to the accessibility evaluation.
Equally Effective Alternate Access Plan
The ADA Coordinator may also require an Equally Effective Alternate Access Plan (EEAAP) in addition to this report, which the Center for User Experience will assist with developing. The EEAAP, the Accessibility Evaluation Report with the copy of the contract appended will be supplied to the Office of Compliance, ADA Coordinator.
Complaints & violations (post-launch)
In the event of an Office of Civil Rights violation or user complaint, the Center for User Experience Digital Accessibility Program and the Office of Compliance will provide consultation to the university offices impacted by the complaint or violation to support user needs. The Accessibility Evaluation Report and the EEAAP will be used to show due diligence in identifying barriers for users with disabilities, providing a means of equitable access and communications planning.