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Digital Accessibility Consultation



Request an Accessibility Consultation

How We Can Help

The Digital Accessibility Team provides personalized consultations to help you create inclusive, compliant digital content. Whether you're building a website, developing course materials, procuring software, or remediating existing content, we're here to guide you through the accessibility process.

Our consultations are tailored to your specific needs and can address:

  • Web Design and Development: Guidance on creating accessible websites, web applications, and digital interfaces that meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards
  • Course Content: Strategies for making instructional materials, presentations, videos, and assessments accessible to all learners
  • Document Remediation: Assistance with converting and remediating PDFs, Word documents, PowerPoint presentations, and other file formats
  • Software Procurement: Support in evaluating vendor accessibility claims and ensuring new software purchases meet compliance requirements
  • Accessibility Testing: Help with evaluating your digital content using automated tools, manual testing, and assistive technologies
  • Training Needs: Recommendations for accessibility training and resources specific to your role and projects
  • Compliance Questions: Clarification on UC Policy IMT-1300 and WCAG standards

What to Expect

Consultations typically last 30-60 minutes and can be conducted in-person or virtually. During your session, we will:

  • Discuss your specific accessibility challenges and goals
  • Review your digital content or project scope
  • Identify potential accessibility barriers
  • Provide actionable recommendations and next steps
  • Share relevant resources, tools, and best practices
  • Connect you with additional support services as needed

After your consultation, you'll receive follow-up documentation including key recommendations, resource links, and a summary of our discussion.

How to Prepare

To make the most of your consultation time, please prepare the following before your scheduled session:

For All Consultations

  • Identify Your Goals: Think about what you want to accomplish. Are you starting a new project, fixing existing issues, or learning general best practices?
  • Gather Context: Be ready to describe your project, audience, timeline, and any specific concerns
  • Note Your Questions: Write down specific questions or challenges you'd like to address

For Web and Digital Projects

  • Provide URLs or access to the websites, applications, or digital systems you'd like to discuss
  • Share any relevant technical documentation or design specifications
  • Identify your content management system, development framework, or authoring tools
  • Note any accessibility testing you've already conducted

For Course Content

  • Bring examples of your instructional materials (documents, presentations, videos, assessments)
  • Provide access to your Canvas course or relevant learning management system
  • Identify which content types you create most frequently
  • Share information about your students' documented accessibility needs (if applicable)

For Document Remediation

  • Bring sample documents you need to remediate
  • Provide an overview of the volume and types of documents involved
  • Identify the source formats and desired output formats
  • Share your project timeline and any deadline constraints

For Software Procurement

  • Provide the vendor's name and product information
  • Share any accessibility documentation from the vendor (VPAT, ACR, testing reports)
  • Describe how the software will be used and by whom
  • Identify any alternative solutions you're considering

Resources to Review Before Your Consultation

Familiarizing yourself with these resources beforehand can help make your consultation more productive:

Additional Support Services

Beyond consultations, the Digital Accessibility Team provides:

  • Accessibility Testing: Comprehensive evaluations of websites, applications, and digital content
  • Training Workshops: Group sessions on accessibility topics for departments, teams, or communities of practice
  • Technical Guidance: Detailed remediation support for complex accessibility challenges
  • Policy Implementation: Assistance with developing departmental accessibility workflows and procedures

If you're unsure whether a consultation is right for your needs, we encourage you to schedule one anyway. We'll help determine the best path forward during our conversation.

Schedule Your Consultation

Ready to get started? Schedule a time that works for you:

Schedule a Consultation

Report an Accessibility Barrier

If you've encountered a technology accessibility barrier that prevents you from accessing UC Merced digital content or services, please let us know:

Report a Technology Barrier

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can request a consultation?

Consultations are available to all UC Merced faculty, staff, students, and authorized third-party vendors working on university digital projects.

How long does a consultation take?

Most consultations last 30-60 minutes, depending on the complexity of your needs. For larger projects, we may schedule follow-up sessions.

Is there a cost for consultations?

No, accessibility consultations are provided free of charge to the UC Merced community as part of our commitment to digital inclusion.

Can you fix my content for me?

Our primary role is to provide guidance and empower content creators to make their own materials accessible. However, we can offer technical support for complex challenges and can help identify remediation services for large-scale projects.

Do I need technical expertise to request a consultation?

No technical expertise is required. We work with people at all skill levels, from beginners learning accessibility basics to experienced developers tackling complex compliance issues.

Our Commitment to You

The Digital Accessibility Team is dedicated to supporting UC Merced's mission of creating an inclusive digital environment. We approach every consultation with:

  • Collaboration: We work with you, not just for you, building your capacity to create accessible content
  • Practical Solutions: We provide actionable guidance that fits your workflow, timeline, and technical constraints
  • Ongoing Support: We're here beyond the initial consultation as questions arise and projects evolve
  • Expertise: We stay current with accessibility standards, best practices, and assistive technologies
  • Respect: We recognize the complexity of accessibility work and appreciate your commitment to inclusion

Together, we can ensure that UC Merced's digital spaces work for everyone.