Overview
The Digital Accessibility Steering Committee provides strategic direction, aligns efforts across campus, oversees institutional risk mitigation, and advises UCLA leadership on resource allocation and prioritization in support of digital accessibility.
UCLA's digital accessibility program operates in response to the University of California's systemwide IT Accessibility Policy (IMT-1300) and federal requirements under ADA Title II and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which require campus digital content and services to meet the WCAG 2.1 AA standard.
In alignment with the university’s mission and the campus DTS strategy, the Digital Accessibility Steering Committee:
- Creates and reviews an inventory of UCLA resources for promoting digital accessibility, including training, technology, and tools
- Assesses, clarifies, and prioritizes campus community needs with respect to digital accessibility literacy and compliance support
- Identifies areas of overlap and gaps in resources to advance digital accessibility
- Identifies structural challenges that limit the cost-effectiveness or timeliness of meeting digital accessibility needs
- Inventories, evaluates, classifies, and ranks web assets to determine risk profile, ownership, and accountability
- Oversees a project management structure and monitors UCLA's progress toward digital accessibility goals, including coordinating with Action Risk Teams
Read more about the Steering Committee in the Charge.
Policy Updates
On March 17, 2026, the UC Information Technology Accessibility Policy (UC IMT-1300) became effective. This Policy provides direction to community members as UC prepares for new web accessibility laws that go into effect May 11, 2026 and beyond. The goal, of course, is to create an environment where community members can engage with digital content.
IMT-1300 and the upcoming federal laws use the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA standard, a globally recognized framework. UC and UCLA have a number of resources available to help community members, which can be found below.
Deadline Updates
Federal Accessibility Deadlines Have Been Extended
Two federal deadlines for digital accessibility compliance have been extended. Here's what's changed (and what hasn't) for UCLA.
What changed
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) previously extended the ADA Title II compliance deadline to April 26, 2027. On May 7, 2026, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights issued an Interim Final Rule extending the Section 504 compliance deadline to May 11, 2027 for recipients with 15 or more employees.
What hasn't changed
The substantive standard (WCAG 2.1 AA) has not changed. UCLA's obligation to ensure that people with disabilities can access our digital content remains in effect.
Content exceptions tied to a specific date (including archived web content, preexisting conventional electronic documents, and preexisting social media posts), continue to use April 24, 2026 as the cutoff date. Any new digital content created after April 24, 2026, must meet WCAG 2.1 AA.
IMT-1300, the UC systemwide IT Accessibility Policy, has not been revised. UCLA's ITAPP programs and the work of our Action Response Teams continue as planned.
Governance Structure
UCLA's digital accessibility program is guided by a collaborative, multi-tiered governance model to promote coordination, accountability, and long-term sustainability.
Steering Committee
Provides strategic direction, aligns efforts across campus, and oversees institutional risk mitigation. Co-Chairs: Dr. Ralina Joseph and Lucy Avetisyan
IT Accessibility Policy Program (ITAPP) Role Holders
Five individuals designated under IMT-1300 to carry specific institutional responsibilities: Policy Program Coordination, Exceptions Approval, Exceptions Coordination, Accessibility Consultation, and Course Content Program Coordination. Role holders will be announced via BruinPost.
Digital and Technology Solutions (DTS) Program Team
Leads project management and operational coordination to support campus partners with implementation and change management. Co-Leads: Ilana Intonato and Val Trullinger
Action Risk Teams
Six teams comprised of subject matter experts focused on specific areas: Web Content, Applications, Academic and Course Content, Health, Research, and Procurement. Each team develops practical recommendations to identify and remove accessibility barriers in their respective domains. View Action Risk Team membership.
