Learning from each other

These case studies showcase how departments and individuals across the University of Arizona have improved accessibility. Each story includes the challenge faced, solutions implemented, measurable results, and lessons learned.

Have a success story to share? Email accessibility@arizona.edu — we'd love to feature your work!

University Libraries Website Redesign

📍 UA Libraries 📅 2025 🏷️ Web

The Challenge

The UA Libraries website served over 50,000 unique visitors monthly but had accumulated accessibility debt over 15 years of incremental updates. An automated scan revealed 2,400+ accessibility errors, and user feedback indicated screen reader users struggled to find resources.

Before & After

❌ Before
  • No skip links or landmarks
  • Images without alt text
  • Forms without labels
  • Color contrast failures on headers
  • Nested tables for layout
  • 10+ minute time to find catalog (screen reader)
✅ After
  • Skip links + ARIA landmarks on every page
  • Descriptive alt text for all images
  • Proper form labels + instructions
  • UA brand colors with compliant contrast
  • CSS Grid layout, semantic HTML
  • Under 2 minutes to catalog (screen reader)

Results

97%
Error reduction
5x
Faster screen reader navigation
↑23%
Mobile usage increase
Zero
Accessibility complaints

Timeline

Month 1-2

Comprehensive audit with axe, manual keyboard testing, and screen reader evaluation with NVDA and VoiceOver.

Month 3-4

Prioritized fixes by severity and user impact. Fixed critical keyboard traps and form issues first.

Month 5-6

Redesigned navigation structure and implemented skip links. User testing with DRC students.

Month 7

Final testing, documentation, and team training on maintaining accessibility.

"The accessibility improvements didn't just help users with disabilities—our analytics showed everyone benefited from the clearer navigation and faster page loads." — Sarah Chen, Web Services Manager, UA Libraries
💡 Key Lessons
  • Automated testing catches ~30% of issues; manual testing is essential
  • User testing with actual assistive technology users revealed issues tools missed
  • Accessibility improvements often improve SEO and mobile experience
  • Building accessibility into the CMS template prevented future regressions

Chemistry Department Course Materials Overhaul

📍 Chemistry & Biochemistry 📅 2024-2025 🏷️ Courses

The Challenge

The Chemistry department discovered that many course PDFs were scanned images without OCR, lecture slides had no alt text for complex molecular diagrams, and videos lacked captions. A student accommodation request highlighted the scope of the problem.

❌ Before
  • 500+ PDFs without text layer
  • Molecular diagrams as images only
  • 100+ hours of uncaptioned video
  • 2-week accommodation turnaround
✅ After
  • All PDFs OCR'd and tagged
  • Extended descriptions for diagrams
  • 98% caption accuracy on videos
  • Same-day material availability

Approach

The department partnered with IT and the DRC to develop a sustainable workflow:

  • Prioritization: Started with highest-enrollment courses (CHEM 151, 152)
  • Templates: Created accessible PowerPoint templates with placeholder for diagram descriptions
  • Training: Faculty workshop on alt text for scientific content
  • Process: Built captioning into Panopto recording workflow
100%
Core courses accessible
↓85%
Accommodation request time
↑15%
Student satisfaction scores
"Writing descriptions for molecular structures actually made me think more carefully about what I wanted students to understand. It improved my teaching." — Dr. Michael Torres, Associate Professor of Chemistry
💡 Key Lessons
  • Start with high-impact courses; don't try to fix everything at once
  • Student workers can be trained to help with PDF remediation
  • Building accessibility into creation is faster than remediation
  • Faculty champions make adoption much easier

Student Information System Accessibility Requirements

📍 Office of the Registrar 📅 2024 🏷️ Procurement

The Challenge

During procurement of a new student information system module, the initial vendor VPAT claimed "Supports" for most criteria but testing revealed significant issues with keyboard navigation and screen reader compatibility in critical enrollment workflows.

Our Approach

  • Due diligence: Requested live demo instead of relying on VPAT alone
  • Testing: Conducted independent testing with JAWS and keyboard-only
  • Documentation: Created detailed accessibility requirements as RFP criteria
  • Contract: Added accessibility conformance clause with remediation timeline

Results

Working with the vendor, we achieved:

17
Issues identified pre-launch
15
Fixed before go-live
90 days
Remediation timeline for remaining
"The accessibility testing we did during procurement saved us from a much bigger problem after launch. Students would have been locked out of enrollment." — Jennifer Walsh, Associate Registrar
💡 Key Lessons
  • Never rely solely on vendor VPATs—conduct your own testing
  • Include accessibility requirements in RFPs from the start
  • Contract language gives you leverage for fixes
  • Early engagement with vendors is usually well-received

HR Forms Accessibility Initiative

📍 Human Resources 📅 2025 🏷️ Documents

The Challenge

HR managed over 200 PDF forms that employees needed for benefits, leave, and employment processes. Most were created years ago as flat PDFs without form fields or proper tagging, making them unusable for employees with disabilities.

❌ Before
  • Static PDFs requiring print-and-scan
  • No tagged structure
  • Tables announced incorrectly
  • 3-5 day turnaround for assistance
✅ After
  • Interactive fillable PDFs
  • Proper tagging and reading order
  • Form fields with labels
  • Self-service completion

Process

Phase 1

Audited all forms; identified 50 high-priority forms used by 80% of employees.

Phase 2

Recreated forms in Word with proper structure, then exported to tagged fillable PDFs.

Phase 3

Tested all forms with Adobe Acrobat's accessibility checker and manual screen reader testing.

Phase 4

Trained HR staff on maintaining accessible forms and established QA process.

200+
Forms made accessible
↓90%
Form assistance requests
↑40%
Online form submissions
💡 Key Lessons
  • Recreating in Word is often faster than remediating bad PDFs
  • Keep source files (Word/InDesign) for future updates
  • Interactive PDFs benefit everyone, not just AT users
  • Clear form instructions reduce errors for all users

Share your story

Has your department made accessibility improvements you're proud of? We want to hear about it! Success stories help inspire and guide others across campus.

Submit a story

Share your accessibility wins, challenges overcome, and lessons learned.

Share your story

Get featured

We can help you document your work and share it with the campus community.

Request assistance