Our Commitment
UC Merced is committed to providing an inclusive digital environment so that students, faculty, staff, and visitors can access information and services with equal independence. We have a legal and moral obligation to ensure digital content works with assistive technologies like screen readers, magnifiers, keyboard-only controls, captions, and transcripts. Accessibility is integral to equity and inclusion.
Inclusive, usable, and compliant digital experiences are our goal. The OIT Digital Accessibility Team helps the campus create websites, course materials, documents, and software that everyone can access.
- Start Creating Accessible Digital Content
- Convert Existing Documents Into New Formats Via SensusAccess
Who We Are
The Digital Accessibility Team resides within the Office of Information Technology (OIT). We lead efforts to make UC Merced’s digital landscape usable and inclusive.
- Provide guidance and consultations on accessible design, development, and procurement
- Conduct accessibility evaluations for web, apps, and software
- Support accessible course materials and instruction
- Offer training, tools, and resources for accessible content creation
Our work spans course content, public and internal websites, digital documents, media, and software systems. We partner across campus to identify barriers and foster accessibility awareness. Everyone can become an accessibility advocate.
Become an Accessibility Advocate
Accessibility is everyone’s responsibility. We each have a part to play depending on our role. Fortunately, we can utilize resourses created by others to help grow our community.
Remember to review your content, adopt best practices, and request assistance when needed.
- UC Berkeley Digital Accessibility
- UC Irvine Accessibility
- UC System Electronic Accessibility
- W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI)
Policy & Compliance
The University of California is updating its Electronic Accessibility Policy (IMT-1300) to align with WCAG 2.1 AA and federal regulations (ADA Title II, Section 504). All UC locations will implement an IT Accessibility Program comprising procurement, course content, web/software development, exception/complaint processes, training, prioritization, and reporting.
The Digital Accessibility Team supports the Electronic Accessibility Policy through the following ongoing programs:
Preparation – awareness, assessment, procedure development
- Procurement, creation and consumption of digital content
- Review current practices and baseline accessibility
- Define roles, procedures, and training plans
Program Management – intake, roles, exceptions, complaints
- Oversee IT accessibility assessments
- Aid in creating complaint workflows
Compliance & Continuous Improvement
- Apply WCAG 2.1 AA to new or altered content
- Provide ongoing training and annual reporting
- Continue remediation, testing, and procurement controls
Popular Resources
Contact the Digital Accessibility Team
To request help, consultation, or report an accessibility issue, please use our form: Report a Technology Barrier