Accessibility isn’t always visible—but its impact is everywhere.
From captions that make a lecture usable in any environment to clear, intuitive design that supports different ways of learning, accessible digital experiences benefit everyone. At a university the size and scale of UT Austin, that impact extends across classrooms, research, and daily digital interactions, creating a more inclusive campus for all.
Building Access Into the Digital Experience
At the University of Texas at Austin, accessibility is more than a requirement, it’s a shared responsibility. Digital accessibility ensures that websites, documents, videos, and applications can be used effectively by all members of the community, including people with disabilities.
This approach becomes even more important when you consider the broader landscape of higher education. Approximately 19% of undergraduate students in the U.S. report having a disability, and many more may not disclose or formally request accommodations.
Designing with accessibility in mind from the start helps remove barriers before they affect learning, engagement, or participation.
Recognizing Global Accessibility Awareness Day
Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) is a moment to reflect on the role each of us plays in creating a more inclusive digital environment. It’s also a reminder that accessibility is not just about compliance; it’s about opportunity.
When we remove barriers, we open doors:
to learning and participation
to innovation and creativity
to a stronger, more inclusive University community
At UT Austin, that work is ongoing, and it starts with designing access into everything we create.
The Role of the Digital Accessibility Center
The Digital Accessibility Center (DAC) plays a central role in supporting this work across campus. As part of Enterprise Technology, the DAC helps ensure that UT’s digital environment is accessible, usable, and inclusive from the outset.
The center provides a wide range of services and support, including:
Captioning and transcription for audio and video content
Document accessibility reviews and remediation
Web accessibility scanning and guidance
Training, workshops, and best practice resources for faculty and staff
Through these services, the DAC partners with teams across campus to help create accessible content and meet institutional accessibility standards.
Just as important, the DAC helps build long-term capacity, equipping content creators, developers, and communicators with the tools and knowledge they need to design access into their work from the beginning.
Accessibility By Design Event
To mark Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), the Digital Accessibility Center hosted “Accessible by Design,” a three-day event held May 19–21. This event brought faculty and staff together for twelve sessions covering inclusive course design, Canvas accessibility tools, multimedia captioning, and document remediation. The event concluded on Global Accessibility Awareness Day with a hybrid open lab where participants applied what they learned directly to their own courses, supported by the DAC team. Those who completed at least five sessions and the hands-on lab earned a UT Digital Badge, a formal recognition of their investment in accessible teaching.
Creating a Culture of Access
Accessibility is most effective when it becomes part of the culture, not an afterthought.
Across higher education, there is growing recognition that proactive accessibility leads to better outcomes for everyone. Research shows that accessible design not only supports individuals with disabilities but also improves clarity, usability, and overall experience for a wide range of users.
At UT Austin, this mindset is reflected in continued investments in accessibility tools, training, and collaboration across academic and administrative units. Efforts that began with improving course materials have expanded into a broader, campus-wide focus on digital access, from websites and applications to multimedia content and beyond.