CU Denver’s Digital Accessibility Committee (DAC) is gearing up for the upcoming academic year under a new lead, Kady Katona, who previously served as an instructional accessibility specialist at the university for two years. Katona will guide the committee’s efforts to help make all digital content accessible, in support of the university’s mission to make education work for all. “Ensuring everyone has access to the same materials for learning and working has always been a passion of mine,” Katona said.
The DAC was first established in fall 2024 to assist in CU Denver’s compliance with digital accessibility standards mandated by federal and state laws and CU System policy. The DAC and its three subcommittees—which are focused on the areas of training and support, web, and software and procurement—report to Associate Vice Chancellor for Technological Innovation and Chief Information Officer (CIO) Beth Myers and live under the Office of the Provost. “Digital accessibility is an important priority for all of us at CU Denver,” said Provost Karen Marrongelle. “We must make our digital assets more accessible to support universal access to the CU Denver digital experience, promote an inclusive community of belonging, and realize our academic mission, in addition to complying with federal regulations.”
One of the DAC’s priority areas is increasing awareness of the resources available to support CU Denver faculty, staff, and students. Some of those include Anthology Ally in Canvas for faculty, which provides alternative formats for course content, accessibility scores, and more; digital accessibility checklists; and regular trainings.
DAC members coordinate with units across campus on broader accessibility efforts, including the Learning, Educational Technology, Teaching, and Scholarship Committee (LETTS), Disability Resources & Services, and Human Resources. The DAC also collaborates with accessibility teams at CU Anschutz and CU Boulder to share resources and best practices. “We are all working together to help support everyone at the university,” Katona said.
The DAC is looking for more campus community members to contribute to its work. Serving on the committee requires attending meetings and supporting projects, as needed, depending on the goals underway. Faculty and staff who are interested in joining the DAC should email digitalaccessibility@ucdenver.edu. They can also engage with the work by visiting the Digital Accessibility website and checking a calendar of related workshops and events. Students, faculty, and staff can also report a digital accessibility barrier using OIT’s newly launched service portal.