Office of Accessibility Services

Website Remediation Requests

As part of ensuring that UVM meets its federally mandated digital accessibility standards, the Office of Accessibility Services regularly examines all UVM webpages. Here's how it works if OAS identifies an accessibility issue in your area -- and how you can get started remediating your website ahead of time.
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Accessibility matters.

Website accessibility barriers prevent students, employees, and members of the public with disabilities from accessing University information, services, and programs. They're a civil rights issue, and they prevent UVM from reaching its full potential as a place that welcomes and includes everyone.

Accessibility matters.

Website accessibility barriers prevent students, employees, and members of the public with disabilities from accessing University information, services, and programs. They're a civil rights issue, and they prevent UVM from reaching its full potential as a place that welcomes and includes everyone.

What is website remediation?

The University of Vermont is committed to ensuring that websites and web-based content are accessible to people with disabilities. When websites or pages present accessibility barriers, the Office of Accessibility Services works with the responsible department or unit to support dismantling those barriers and improving the content through a clear, transparent, and accountable process.

This page explains what happens when an issue is identified, what departments are expected to do, what support is available, and how unresolved issues will be escalated.

What does this process apply to?

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This process applies to:

  • University-managed websites (Drupal, Wordpress, and other applications) on UVM servers
  • University-managed websites on non-UVM servers
  • Third-party web-based platforms used to provide University services or information
  • Web applications
  • Online forms
  • Digital content published to University-managed web pages (such as embedded content

And it applies equally to administrative and academic units.

How do you know if your website is accessible?

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All web content is expected to conform to WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards, as well as applicable requirements under ADA Title II, and HHS Section 504. 

A good place to start when evaluating your website's accessibility is with these core web accessibility standards:

  1. Headings: Do all your webpages have headings? Is there only one <H1> on each page? And do headings follow a logical progression? This means that H1 comes before H2, which comes before H3, which comes before H4. Think of headings as marking out sections, then sub-sections, then sub-sub-sections.
  2. Alt-Text: Do all meaningful images on all your pages have alternate-text? Alternate-text, or "alt-text" is text that displays when the image does not. Alt-text is also read out by screen readers, usually used by people who are blind or low vision. Alt-text should be 1-2 concise, active sentences that describe the main action of an image.
  3. Closed Captions: If you're displaying video content, are there closed captions available? Closed captions are captions that can be turned on or off by the viewer. For videos to be accessible, the closed captions must be fully accurate; automated captions are not sufficient. Contact OAS if you need captioning services; OAS provides human-edited captions for free to all UVM departments, students, staff, and faculty.
  4. Check Color Contrast: Make sure that the color of any text, icon, or graphic has enough color contrast against its background to meet WCAG AA-level requiremenbts. OAS recommends using the TPGi Colour Contrast Analyser, a free downloadable tool for Windows or Mac that automatically calculates whether the color contrast is sufficient. And make sure you're not using color as the only way to distinguish meaning on your page.
  5. Create Meaningful Links: Avoid "click here", and describe the destination of all your links. If you're linking to something other than a webpage, describe the file type: video, audio, .pdf, .docx, .xlsx.
  6. No Accessibility Overlays: Accessibility overlays, or pieces of code that live on the front end of websites and allow users to change the fonts, colors, or other settings of a website, tend to create more accessibility issues than they solve. They have also been found to be legally liable in multiple cases, and for this reason, they are not allowed on UVM websites or UVM-managed web content.

If you have specific questions about web accessibility, reach out to the Office of Accessibility Services for support.

Why does this process exist?

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Website accessibility is required under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and HHS Section 504. Public entities such as UVM need to meet or exceed all Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA. As the University continues strengthening its digital accessibility practices, this process provides a consistent framework for addressing barriers on University-managed websites and related web content.

How do you get help with website accessibility?

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For questions about this process, or for support with website accessibility remediation, please contact the Office of Accessibility Services. We can be reached by email at access@uvm.edu, or via our online contact form. We can also be reached via phone at (802) 656-7753.

Support available from the Office of Accessibility Services

We approach remediation as a collaborative process and can provide support by:

  • Helping identify accessibility issues
  • Clarifying any accessibility issues we've previously identified
  • Explaining the applicable accessibility standard
  • Consulting on remediation approaches
  • Helping departments determine appropriate next steps
  • Sharing resources, training, or referrals where appropriate

Departments are encouraged to contact us when you have questions, need clarification, or anticipate having difficulty meeting a deadline requested as part of the remediation process.

OAS also provides free website accessibility audits to support departments and units at the University. Please reach out to OAS at access@uvm.edu or through the online contact form to start that process.

The Website Accessibility Remediation Process

What to expect if OAS contacts your department
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Website accessibility is an ongoing process, not a one-time procedure. As part of its commitment to providing UVM with accurate data about the state of campus digital accessibility, the Office of Accessibility Services is constantly reviewing websites and web-based content to ensure it meets all applicable standards. And we understand that web content is constantly evolving.

When OAS becomes aware of a website accessibility issue, we will contact the department or unit responsible for the affected content.

Our outreach will typically:

  • Describe the accessibility barrier
  • Explain how the issue may affect users with disabilities
  • Identify the requested corrective action
  • Provide deadlines for response and remediation
  • Offer OAS support and consultation

Departments should ensure that the outreach is directed to the person best positioned to coordinate remediation.

Department responsibilities in the remediation process
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If your department receives a website accessibility remediation request, you are expected to:

  1. Review the issue description carefully
  2. Reply by the stated deadline
  3. Identify the person responsible for remediation
  4. Submit a remediation plan within the required timeframe, or confirm the issue has been resolved per OAS' request
  5. Complete the remediation by the assigned completion deadline
  6. Stay in communication with OAS if support is needed or delays arise

Units are expected to acknowledge receipt, submit a remediation plan (or confirmation of belief that the issue has been resolved), and complete remediation within the defined timelines.

Working with third-party vendors

Please note: departments are responsible for the accessibility of third-party platforms, tools, and vendor-developed websites used to deliver University services or information. If a department is working with a third-party webhost, web developer, or web service, OAS is happy to work directly with your vendor. 

Departments are expected to engage OAS early when working with third-party vendors, including prior to procurement, development, or renewal. OAS will clarify all UVM accessibility requirements, and support the vendor directly with meeting WCAG 2.1 AA-level accessibility standards.

Timelines and deadlines for remediation
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Required timelines

Each remediation case includes two required deadlines: the remediation plan deadline, and the remediation completion deadline.

Remediation Plan Deadline

Within 10-15 business days, the department or unit must:

  • Acknowledge receipt of the notice
  • Confirm the responsible contact person in the unit
  • Submit a remediation plan outlining the proposed approach, who will complete the work, and the anticipated remediation timeline. For minor issues that can be corrected immediately, departments may resolve the issue and confirm completion with OAS instead of submitting a formal remediation plan.

Failure to submit a remediation plan or confirm completion by the presented deadline can trigger escalation, even if the final remediation deadline has not passed.

Remediation Completion Deadline

The deadline for full remediation depends on the severity and impact of the issue.

Accessibility severity issue and required timeline for full remediation
SeverityCompletion Timeline
High15-30 days
Moderate30-60 days
Low60-120 days

OAS will communicate the assigned timeline when the issue is reported. Please note: timelines may be adjusted based on risk, impact, or regulatory considerations.

Escalation process
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If a department does not respond or does not complete remediation within the established timeframe, the matter may move through the following escalation steps. 

Tier 1: Initial Notification and Support

OAS notified the responsible unit, outlines the issue and deadlines, and offers support. Every remediation issue begins at Tier 1.

Tier 2: Department-Level Escalation

At this stage, OAS may notify departmental leadership and request an updated remediation plan and timeline.

This step may occur when the remediation plan deadline is missed, or the remediation completion deadline is missed without sufficient progress.

Tier 3: Compliance Escalation

If the issue remains unresolved after Tier 2, the matter may be referred to the UVM Office of Compliance for further review and potential enforcement action.

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A note on initial implementation of this process:

As we roll out this process, OAS may provide units with renewed outreach and a reasonable opportunity to respond within the new framework. Going forward, remediation requests will follow the timelines and escalation structure described above.

Contact OAS with any questions

A note on initial implementation of this process:

As we roll out this process, OAS may provide units with renewed outreach and a reasonable opportunity to respond within the new framework. Going forward, remediation requests will follow the timelines and escalation structure described above.

Contact OAS with any questions

Report an Accessibility Barrier

Use our online form to report physical accessibility issues on the UVM campus.

Report a Barrier