Digital accessibility at UCF is a shared responsibility supported by the Digital Accessibility Lab. The Digital Accessibility Liaisons Program helps connect units and build awareness across campus. Together, we work to ensure inclusive, accessible digital experiences for everyone.
Program Overview
What is digital accessibility?
Digital accessibility means designing, developing, procuring, and maintaining digital content and technologies so they are usable by people with disabilities in an equitable, effective, and independent manner.
At the University of Central Florida, this includes websites, instructional materials, documents, videos, email, social media, and digital tools used in teaching, learning, work, and campus life. Accessible digital experiences enable individuals to independently access information and fully participate in the university community.
What is the Digital Accessibility Liaison Program?
The UCF Digital Accessibility Liaisons Program is a community of practice that brings together students, faculty, and staff who are interested in learning about, discussing, and supporting digital accessibility across the university.
Why the Liaisons Exists
The program exists to foster shared understanding, collaboration, and practical connection around accessible digital content, tools, and practices in a supportive, non-punitive environment.
Taking Action Toward Accessibility
ADA Title II
ADA Title II requires public universities to ensure that their programs, services, and activities are accessible to individuals with disabilities.
At UCF, this includes providing accessible digital content and technologies so members of the university community can access information and participate fully.
Distributed Responsibility Model
Digital accessibility at UCF is a shared responsibility.
Content creators, instructors, departments, and units are responsible for ensuring the digital content and tools they create or manage are accessible, with guidance, training, and support provided by the UCF Digital Accessibility Lab and campus partners.
How it Works
- Volunteer or unit-designated liaisons
- Orientation and foundational resources
- Ongoing connection to the Digital Accessibility Lab
About
Digital Accessibility at UCF
Digital accessibility at UCF is supported through a combination of shared responsibility, centralized guidance, and campus-wide collaboration. The university provides resources, training, and consultation to support accessible digital content and technologies used across teaching, learning, work, and campus life.
Program Goals
Goal #1: Build shared understanding of digital accessibility across roles and units
Goal #2: Increase early awareness and proactive accessibility practices
Goal #3: Strengthen connections between departments and accessibility support resources
Goal #4: Foster a sustainable community of practice focused on learning and improvement
Who Should Participate?
- Faculty
- Staff
- Communicators
- IT professionals
- Student-facing Roles
Expectations and Engagement
Participation in the Digital Accessibility Liaisons Program is designed to be flexible, supportive, and meaningful. Engagement is grounded in curiosity, shared learning, and practical connection—not expertise or enforcement. Liaisons contribute in ways that align with their roles, interests, and capacity, while helping strengthen accessibility awareness across the university.
Liaisons are
- Points of connection for digital accessibility conversations within their department or unit
- Participants in a campus-wide community of practice focused on learning and collaboration
- Messengers who help share accessibility-related information, resources, or opportunities
- Contributors of questions, examples, or scenarios that support shared learning
- Partners with the Digital Accessibility Lab and other campus resources
Liaisons are not
- Compliance officers or accessibility auditors
- Solely responsible for fixing accessibility issues within their unit
- Expected to be subject-matter experts or technical specialists
- Gatekeepers or approvers of digital content
- Replacements for centralized accessibility services or support teams
Program Commitment
The Digital Accessibility Liaisons Program recognizes that participants balance this role alongside their primary responsibilities. Engagement expectations are intentionally modest and focus on sustained connection rather than volume of activity. Individuals may participate informally in the community or choose to take on a more formal, time-limited service role as a Digital Accessibility Champion.
Training Opportunitiets
Training is a key support mechanism for the Liaisons community. Participants are encouraged to engage in learning opportunities that build awareness and practical skills related to accessible digital content and tools. Trainings may be led by the Digital Accessibility Lab, offered through campus partners, or provided by approved external organizations.
View our full list of trainings in the Digital Accessibility Lab Training section and additional guides on the Accessibility at UCF website.
Liaisons Community
The Liaisons Program is a community of practice that values shared learning, lived experience, and open discussion. Community meetings and spaces are designed to encourage questions, reflection, and peer connection across roles and units. Participation is open to anyone at UCF with interest or curiosity around digital accessibility, regardless of formal designation.
Events
Global Accessibility Awareness Day at UCF
Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) at UCF marks the Digital Accessibility Lab’s first celebration of this global initiative, bringing the campus community together to recognize the importance of inclusive digital experiences.
Through a featured webinar and related activities, GAAD highlights practical strategies, tools, and real-world examples that support the creation of accessible content across teaching, learning, and digital communications. Sessions explore topics such as captioning, accessibility in Webcourses, AI-supported design, and evaluating web content, encouraging participants to build awareness and take actionable steps toward a more inclusive digital environment for all.
Beyond Barriers: Experience Accessibility in Action
Beyond Barriers invites the UCF community to step into everyday campus tasks and discover where accessibility barriers appear, and how small changes can remove them. The event focuses on the environmental, technological, and communication barriers built into the content and practices we use every day.
Through hands-on stations, participants compare inaccessible and accessible versions of common materials and services, all while exploring a variety of accessibility topics. The experience closes with a short reflection where each participant names one barrier they noticed and commits to one action they will take within their role, turning awareness into practical change.
