April 14, 2026
Dear colleagues,
Over the past year, thousands of individuals across our community have contributed to strengthening digital accessibility at the University of Michigan.
This commitment includes our public-facing efforts to promote accessibility through websites, events, videos, and social content. It is equally reflected in the meaningful work happening across our units every day. In the past 12 months, that collective effort includes:
- Using provided tools, our community scanned millions of U-M web pages for remediation with over 4,000 dedicated staff working to make our web presence more accessible.
- Over 60,000 people visited the digital accessibility website, more than 230,000 times, to learn best practices, seek guidance, and access tools and support.
- Our growing network of Digital Accessibility Liaisons and Sponsors has over 150 active partners in U-M units, coordinating and communicating this work.
- U-M staff and faculty have attended over 80 synchronous training and support sessions offered by digital accessibility experts at U-M.
In response to community input, we are expanding the resources available to you, including:
- Rapidly hiring and deploying a dedicated team of 13 digital accessibility specialists and assistants within the Disability Equity Office, available for course accessibility consultations, training clinics for units and departments, and research of complex digital accessibility considerations.
- Expanded training offerings for Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Google Slides, and PowerPoint (including self-paced, recorded trainings), along with monthly sessions on key topics such as document and STEM accessibility.
- Ongoing training and support for all ITS services, including Web Accessibility Scanning with Siteimprove, Canvas Accessibility with Panorama, and more.
- Summer skill-building opportunities through the course accessibility and 10-week accessibility challenges.
Existing resources will also continue to be available, including accessibility best practices, checklists, and tools on the “How to Make Content Accessible” webpage, along with guidance on compliance requirements.
As we approach April 24, when updated federal regulations are scheduled to take effect, we want to reassure you that this work continues to be a shared, supported effort. Our teams remain committed to providing guidance, resources, and support as we move forward.
If you have questions or would like additional support, please reach out to our teams for assistance with tools and services (ITS Digital Accessibility) or compliance (Disability Equity Office).
Thank you for the care, time, and commitment you bring to this work. Digital accessibility will remain a sustained priority for our university. In the months ahead, we look forward to offering additional solutions for PDF accessibility, more trainings in more formats, and increased support for our community.
With gratitude,
Ravi Pendse
Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer
Tami Strickman
Executive Director and Special Advisor to the President
Equity, Civil Rights and Title IX Office