Accessibility is everyone’s responsibility.

The Digital Accessibility Liaisons Program connects people across campus to share knowledge and improve digital experiences for everyone. 

As Digital Accessibility Liaison, you are part of a community of practice supporting digital accessibility at the University of Iowa and in your own workgroups. Use this fact sheet to learn what the program offers, what liaisons do, and how you can get involved.

What is the purpose of the Digital Accessibility Liaisons Program?

Providing accessible digital content for everyone, including people with disabilities, is a core obligation at the University of Iowa. Accessible content ensures that all individuals can fully participate in university programs and services in ways that work best for them.

The Digital Accessibility Liaisons program strengthens our capacity to provide accessible content by promoting awareness, understanding, and practical skills within local units. Liaisons serve as champions for accessibility in their organizations while collaborating as a community of practice to share knowledge and grow expertise across campus.

At the core of the Liaisons program is localizing accessibility awareness and practice in each Liaison’s sponsoring unit. Digital Accessibility Liaisons are appointed by their unit leadership to take part in the Liaisons program. Your participation in the Liaisons cohort constitutes an assignment from your supervisor or unit leadership.

The Digital Liaisons initiative is offered through the Information Security and Policy Office. Monthly meetings are convened by the Digital Accessibility Coordinator.

Role of the Digital Accessibility Liaison

Digital Accessibility Liaisons act as embedded accessibility advocates who understand their unit’s unique needs. Liaisons receive specialized training in accessibility practices. They bring this expertise back to their home units, helping integrate accessibility in ways that reflect the unit’s unique needs and workflows. 

Depending on the needs of the unit, the Liaison might:

  • Serve as a unit's first point of contact for accessibility issues;
  • Perform basic testing and remediation of unit technologies and tools;
  • Escalate accessibility issues knowledgeably and effectively;
  • Oversee the Siteimprove Accessibility module for unit websites;
  • Coordinate other accessibility efforts depending on the needs of their unit

Liaisons are asked to complete Accessibility 101, a foundational training module in ICON designed to introduce digital accessibility concepts as they apply at the University of Iowa.

Who is responsible for accessibility?

Each individual who provides, assigns, procures, develops, selects, or oversees a digital asset is accountable for the accessibility of that asset. This includes service owners, faculty and staff, content providers, web and application developers, and others who provide digital technology to conduct university business. 

Within their local units, Digital Accessibility Liaisons may be asked to assist in their colleagues’ efforts to provide more accessible content. For complex accessibility issues. Liaisons may also request expedited support through the Digital Accessibility Coordinator.

How does the Liaison support model work?

Under the Liaison support model, a unit identifies one or more individuals to act as a local point of contact for accessibility issues. Liaisons, along with their unit leadership, IT staff, or other stakeholders, determine the scope and scale of a Liaison’s support. 

Through standardized training, monthly meetings, and self-paced learning, Liaisons build skills and knowledge to support accessibility issues within their unit. Colleagues in the Liaison’s unit can contact the Liaison directly with accessibility questions or support needs and the Liaison can address the issue or escalate to the Digital Accessibility Coordinator. This approach removes support bottlenecks by decentralizing Tier 1 accessibility support requests.

Support and Resources