All UVM websites must be accessible, so that the disabled members of our community can access all UVM information. This allows everyone to take equal part in academics, research, service, support and recreation. People with disabilities at UVM are students, staff, faculty, families, and visitors to the campus. It's important to UVM that all people feel welcome and included at this University. 

WCAG 2.2, Level AA

UVM websites must meet the accessibility standards laid out in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), version 2.2, at the AA-level. 

This means that all UVM webpages must meet all guidelines for accessibility spelled out in version 2.2. For each guideline, there are testable success criteria. The success criteria are at three levels: A, AA, and AAA. The success criteria are what determine “conformance” to WCAG. That means in order to meet WCAG, the content needs to meet the success criteria. Details are in the Conformance section of WCAG.

• A level: these are the bare minimum requirements of a functioning webpage.
• AA level: these are the recommended current practices for an accessible webpage according to the WCAG.
• AAA level: these are the best practices for creating a webpage that is accessible to people with disabilities.

All UVM webpages and websites -- for departments, student groups, athletics teams, multimedia productions, classes, social media accounts, and instructions -- must meet at least the AA level of WCAG's 2.2 guidelines.

Section 508

UVM websites must also meet the accessibility standards spelled out in the Section 508 Amendment to the 1979 Rehabilitation Act. These standards are referred to as "Section 508". This amendment was created specifically to make electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities.
 

OAS offers website accessibility audits to UVM departments, institutes, Colleges, units, and student groups. There is no charge for accessibility audits for these groups.

During a website accessibility audit, OAS' Web & Digital Accessibility Specialist, Audrey Clare Homan, will review the group's website to see how well it meets the WCAG 2.2 AA guidelines. 

Specifically, they will test the website with the following tools:

• The WebAIM WAVE tool for automated accessibility testing
• Manual accessibility testing based on knowledge of the WCAG guidelines and expert measurement
• Testing with assistive technology, specifically the NVDA screen reader, VoiceOver for the Mac OS, and keyboard-only navigation. In FY26, we will also be adding switch-based navigation tests.

After completing the accessibility audit, Audrey will provide the group with a written report sharing how well the website meets or exceeds the 2.2 AA guidelines. The report will also contain advice on how to fix any accessibility issues. 

The group can also opt for an in-person or remote consultation to go over the results.

Audrey is also available to fix website accessibility issues as demand allows.

OAS works with the UVM Web Team to monitor accessibility errors on UVM websites. When OAS and the UVM Web Team find an accessibility issue on a UVM website the OAS Web & Digital Accessibility Specialist will reach out to the group who manages the website to come up with a plan to address the website issue(s). 

The Web & Digital Accessibility Specialist can help any UVM website managers fix accessibility errors as they come up, or provide advice and support so that managers can learn to fix their own errors and avoid additional ones in the future.

By creating and managing a website with the UVM name, logo, or affiliation on or in it, groups automatically agree to these terms.