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Digital Accessibility Training for All Staff - July 23, 2025

Dear UM-Dearborn Staff, 

Digital accessibility — making sure digital information can be used and understood by all — is a foundational part of creating an inclusive environment. It benefits everyone by making digital content easier and more flexible for a wide variety of needs. 

This commitment to an inclusive environment is reflected in a university policy enacted in 2022, requiring that “all electronic and information technology at U-M must be as effective, available, and usable for people with disabilities as it is for people without disabilities.”

In addition, recent federal guidelines require that all public universities bring their digital content and technologies into compliance with accessibility standards by April 2026. This means all websites, documents (such as PDFs), communications (emails), and digital tools must be usable by individuals with disabilities.

To meet this compliance deadline and champion true access for everyone, U-M has launched digital accessibility training for all staff. This training will provide practical guidance for creating and maintaining accessible digital content. 

The course is divided into ten different modules. In consultation with their supervisors, staff should complete the modules that are relevant to their job responsibilities. Each module could be completed in 30 minutes, though if you take the time to practice each skill, it could take up to an hour.

The modules include: 

  • Document accessibility
  • Form and survey accessibility
  • Web Content accessibility
  • Presentation and slide accessibility
  • Spreadsheet accessibility
  • PDF accessibility
  • Email accessibility
  • Event and meeting accessibility
  • Multimedia accessibility
  • Social media accessibility

What you need to know: 

By participating in this training, you help ensure that every member of our university community can fully participate in campus life, learning, and work. Meeting accessibility standards is not only a matter of compliance, but a reflection of our shared values.

Faculty members are asked to complete a different training course that also includes information on updating Canvas courses for students. 

Thank you for your attention and partnership in this important initiative.

If you have any questions about the training or digital accessibility, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the ITS Service Desk at 313-593-4357 or [email protected]. 

Sincerely, 

Gabriella Scarlatta
Interim Chancellor 

Carrie Shumaker 
Vice Chancellor for Information Technology 
Chief Strategy Officer