Accessibility Governance Charter
Establishing the organizational structure, responsibilities, and processes for managing digital accessibility at the University of Arizona.
Purpose and Scope
Purpose
This charter establishes the governance framework for ensuring digital accessibility across all University of Arizona websites, applications, documents, and digital content.
Goals
- Ensure compliance with ADA Title II and WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards
- Create consistent accessibility practices across all units
- Establish clear accountability and decision-making authority
- Provide resources and support for accessibility implementation
- Foster a culture of inclusive design
Scope
This charter applies to:
- All university-owned websites and web applications
- Mobile applications published by the university
- Digital documents and multimedia
- Third-party platforms used for university services
- Learning management system content
- Communications and marketing materials
Governance Structure
Organizational Model
The accessibility governance structure operates at three levels:
- Executive Sponsor:Senior leadership providing strategic direction and resources
- Accessibility Steering Committee:Cross-functional leadership setting priorities and policies
- Working Groups:Functional teams implementing accessibility in their areas
Executive Sponsor
- Role:Chief Information Officer (CIO) or designee
- Responsibilities:
- Champions accessibility at executive level
- Approves policies and major initiatives
- Allocates resources
- Reports to university leadership
Accessibility Steering Committee
| Role | Represented By |
|---|---|
| Chair | Digital Accessibility Director |
| IT Representative | Enterprise Application Services |
| Web Services | University Communications |
| Academic Technology | Teaching & Learning Technologies |
| Disability Resource Center | DRC Director or designee |
| Procurement | Procurement Services |
| Legal | Office of General Counsel |
| Human Resources | HR Representative |
| Faculty | Faculty Senate Representative |
| Students | Student Government Representative |
Working Groups
- Web Accessibility Working Group:Web standards, testing, remediation
- Document Accessibility Working Group:Documents, presentations, PDFs
- Procurement Accessibility Working Group:Vendor evaluation, contracts
- Training & Awareness Working Group:Education, outreach, resources
- Assistive Technology Working Group:AT support, compatibility testing
Roles and Responsibilities
Digital Accessibility Director
- Leads the accessibility program
- Chairs the Steering Committee
- Develops and maintains accessibility standards
- Provides consultation and support
- Monitors compliance and reports metrics
- Manages accessibility testing and remediation
- Coordinates training initiatives
Unit Accessibility Liaisons
Each college and major administrative unit designates an Accessibility Liaison who:
- Serves as the accessibility point of contact for their unit
- Coordinates accessibility efforts within their unit
- Participates in the Accessibility Champions network
- Attends quarterly liaison meetings
- Tracks unit-level accessibility metrics
- Escalates issues to the Digital Accessibility Director
Content Creators
- Create accessible content (web, documents, media)
- Complete required accessibility training
- Use accessibility checkers before publishing
- Respond to accessibility feedback
Developers
- Build accessible websites and applications
- Follow WCAG 2.1 AA standards
- Conduct accessibility testing during development
- Remediate accessibility defects
Managers and Supervisors
- Ensure staff complete accessibility training
- Include accessibility in job responsibilities
- Allocate time for accessibility work
- Support accessibility initiatives
Key Processes
Policy Development
- Working Group or member proposes policy change
- Digital Accessibility Director drafts policy
- Steering Committee reviews and provides feedback
- Legal and stakeholder review
- Executive Sponsor approval
- Communication and implementation
Accessibility Issue Escalation
| Level | Responsible Party | Timeframe |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Content owner/developer | 5 business days |
| Level 2 | Unit Accessibility Liaison | 10 business days |
| Level 3 | Digital Accessibility Director | 15 business days |
| Level 4 | Steering Committee | Next meeting |
| Level 5 | Executive Sponsor | As needed |
New Project Review
All new web and application projects must:
- Include accessibility requirements in project scope
- Notify Digital Accessibility Director at project initiation
- Include accessibility testing in QA plan
- Complete accessibility review before launch
- Document accessibility status
Procurement Review
Technology purchases must:
- Include accessibility requirements in RFP/RFQ
- Request VPAT/ACR from vendors
- Have VPAT reviewed by Digital Accessibility team
- Include accessibility terms in contracts
- Document any exceptions with remediation plan
Complaint Handling
- Complaint received via accessibility feedback form
- Acknowledged within 2 business days
- Assigned to appropriate owner
- Resolution or accommodation within timeframe based on severity
- Documentation in tracking system
- Follow-up with complainant
Accountability and Reporting
Metrics and KPIs
The accessibility program tracks and reports on:
- Percentage of websites meeting WCAG 2.1 AA
- Number and severity of accessibility issues
- Time to resolve accessibility complaints
- Training completion rates
- Vendor accessibility compliance
- Document remediation volume
Reporting Schedule
| Report | Audience | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Compliance Dashboard | Steering Committee | Monthly |
| Unit Status Report | Unit Liaisons | Quarterly |
| Executive Summary | Executive Sponsor/Leadership | Quarterly |
| Annual Report | University Leadership | Annually |
Meeting Cadence
- Steering Committee:Monthly
- Working Groups:Bi-weekly or as needed
- Liaison Network:Quarterly
- Executive Sponsor:Quarterly or as needed
Charter Review
Review Cycle
This charter will be reviewed and updated:
- Annually by the Steering Committee
- When significant regulatory changes occur
- When organizational structure changes
- Upon request of Executive Sponsor
Amendment Process
- Proposed changes submitted to Steering Committee
- Committee review and discussion
- Stakeholder input as needed
- Executive Sponsor approval for significant changes
- Communication of updates
Version History
| Version | Date | Changes |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | January 2025 | Initial charter |
| 1.1 | January 2026 | Updated for Title II compliance |