The University of Washington is communicating with our valued Suppliers, Vendors and Contractors regarding the digital accessibility requirements. Learn about the communications on our ADA Digital Accessibility page.
Frequently Asked Questions
General Understanding
What specific products or services does this compliance requirement apply to?
This requirement applies to all technology products and services that the University utilizes to deliver its programs, services, and activities to UW students, community, faculty or staff, including websites, learning management systems, mobile apps and any other related digital content provided under your contract with the university. This rule applies, for example, if you create web content for UW that UW students, community, faculty or staff use to participate in a program, service or activity; web content includes text, images, sounds, videos, controls, animations and conventional electronic documents.
Can you provide examples of how non-compliance might manifest in the current state of our products or services?
Examples include missing or poorly implemented screen reader compatibility, lack of keyboard navigation, color contrast issues, absence of text alternatives for images, text or screens that cannot resize to accommodate different screen sizes or magnification, and inaccessible forms or interactive elements.
Accessibility Standards
Do you expect compliance with WCAG 2.1 AA standards only, or should we anticipate future updates (e.g., WCAG 2.2)?
At this time, compliance with WCAG 2.1 AA standards is required. However, WCAG 2.2 AA also meets the standard currently and provides an equivalent or greater experience. So, we recommend considering WCAG 2.2 in your roadmap to future-proof your solutions.
Reporting and Documentation
Is there a preferred version and/or edition of the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) that should be used for creating an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR)?
The latest version of the VPAT, available at Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT), is the preferred version. Each version of the VPAT includes multiple editions. Since the standard we are required to meet is WCAG 2.1, please use either the WCAG edition or INT edition (which includes WCAG).
Would the university require supporting documentation, such as internal test results, alongside the ACR?
Supporting documentation is not required but is encouraged. This may include internal test results, audit logs, or detailed explanations of testing methodologies.
Evaluation and Testing
Should the accessibility evaluation be performed by a specific third-party organization or do you have approved evaluators?
While we do not require the use of a specific third-party organization, we recommend using established accessibility evaluation providers with expertise in WCAG compliance.
Can you share any guidelines or checklists you use to assess accessibility beyond the WCAG standards?
We rely on WCAG 2.1 AA as the standard, but vendors may find the Big Ten Academic Alliance's Digital Accessibility Vendor Cookbook a helpful supplementary resource. Additionally, UW-IT maintains an IT Accessibility Checklist that supports our accessibility standards.
Remediation and Planning
What level of detail do you expect in the accessibility roadmap (e.g., timelines, budget estimates, milestones)?
The accessibility roadmap should include:
Specific issues identified
The timeline for addressing each issue
Milestones to track progress
Any planned updates to testing methodologies or tools
If some areas cannot be remediated by April 24, 2026, will there be opportunities for extensions or exceptions?
Extensions or exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis, provided you can demonstrate a concrete plan and significant progress toward compliance.
Coordination and Communication
Who at the university should we contact for clarification or support during the remediation process?
You can contact Procurement Services at supplierask@uw.edu for any questions related to compliance or accessibility evaluations.
Will there be periodic check-ins or audits before the April 24, 2026, deadline?
Yes, we plan to conduct periodic reviews and follow-ups, particularly during contract renewals or as remediation deadlines approach.
Contractual and Compliance Considerations
How will non-compliance affect ongoing contracts or renewal negotiations?
Non-compliance may impact contract renewals and result in termination of the agreement. We will work closely with vendors to support remediation efforts before taking any final actions.
What happens if we identify barriers to compliance after the initial ACR submission?
If barriers are identified post-submission, please notify UW and provide an updated remediation plan and timeline for addressing the new findings.
Resources and References
Can the university provide access to any additional accessibility resources or tools to assist with compliance?
We recommend reviewing external resources like the Big Ten Academic Alliance's Digital Accessibility Vendor Cookbook and the W3C Accessibility Standards Overview. Additionally, UW-IT maintains a Tools and Resources page that provides a list of free tools and resources that support accessible web design and development.
Submitting Accessibility Documentation
How do we submit my ACR and roadmap to the university?
In early August, UW will send emails to suppliers providing instructions and a form for submitting documentation to confirm the accessibility status of digital products and services. If you received these emails, please use the submission form to share your documentation.
Why can't we submit an ACR for products without a roadmap?
Each ACR must include a roadmap to show how documented issues will be resolved. For each issue, the roadmap should include: the timeline for addressing the issue, milestone(s) to track progress, and any planned updates to testing methodology and tools.
How do suppliers, vendors and contractors submit an ACR and roadmap if we did not receive an email with instructions and a submission form?
If you supply a digital product that the university uses to deliver programs, services, and activities to UW students, community, faculty or staff, but you did not receive emails with instructions and a submission form, please contact supplierask@uw.edu. Staff will provide guidance on whether your product requires you to submit an ACR and roadmap and provide a submission form if one is needed.
Who at the university should we contact for clarification or support for the documentation submission form?
Contact UW Procurement Services at supplierask@uw.edu for any questions related to using the documentation submission form, including support for submitting documentation for more than 5 products.