UIC’s Initiative
Legal Mandate
On April 24, 2024, the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division (DOJ) issued a final rule revising Title II of the ADA. The rule requires state and local governments to make their websites, mobile applications, and all other information and communication technology fully accessible for people with disabilities. The agency is adopting the technical standards of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA.
UIC has a deadline of April 24, 2026, to meet this compliance requirement. All UIC online content, including online courses, websites, mobile apps, electronic documents, communications, and multimedia content, must be accessible and compliant with the WCAG 2.1 Level AA.
Digital Accessibility Steering Committee Heading link
UIC is committed to ensuring the full inclusion of students, faculty, staff, patients, and the community in all of our programs, services, and activities. This commitment aligns with our mission to provide the broadest access to the highest levels of educational, research, and clinical excellence. Additionally, recent changes to Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) will significantly enhance inclusivity at UIC. We are fortunate to have subject matter experts in digital accessibility, along with dedicated faculty and staff, who are all committed to promoting access and success for our students.
To advance this effort, Chancellor Marie Lynn Miranda, PhD, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Karen Colley, PhD, and Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs Robert Barish, MD, MBA, have established the campuswide UIC Digital Accessibility Steering Committee(DASC) as of September 5, 2024.
The Digital Accessibility Steering Committee will be co-chaired by Caryn Bills, Associate Chancellor in the Office for Access and Equity, and Jemma Ku, PhD, UIC’s Director of Digital Accessibility in Technology Solutions. This committee will provide leadership, guidance, and support to ensure the successful implementation of this initiative.
Digital Accessibility Implementation Working Groups Heading link
1. Course Materials Accessibility (CMA) and Multimedia
- Chair: Sophia Hamilton, Director of Disability Resources Center
- Focus: Ensuring accessibility of course materials for all students, with special attention to those with disabilities.
2. Websites, Administrative Applications, Mobile Apps, and Electronic Documents (WAME)
- Chair: JaEun Jemma Ku, Director of Digital Accessibility
- Focus: Enhancing accessibility across websites, administrative applications, mobile apps, and electronic documents.
3. Compliance, Outreach, and Education (COE)
- Chair: Peter Berg, ADA Coordinator
- Focus: Managing compliance with ADA standards, conducting outreach initiatives, and providing educational resources on ADA Title II.