Roles & Responsibilities

Overview

Digital accessibility is a shared responsibility across UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR). Creating accessible digital experiences requires collaboration among content creators, communicators, managers, project teams, technology owners, procurement staff, and leadership.

While specific responsibilities vary by role, accessibility should be considered throughout the lifecycle of digital content and technology, from planning and procurement through publication, maintenance, and retirement.

No single individual or team can ensure accessibility alone. Sustainable accessibility depends on integrating accessibility into everyday work.

Shared Responsibilities

Regardless of role, everyone who creates, manages, purchases, approves, or publishes digital content or technology should:

• Understand basic accessibility principles.
• Consider accessibility from the beginning of a project.
• Follow applicable accessibility requirements and standards.
• Use available accessibility tools and resources.
• Seek assistance when accessibility questions arise.
• Address accessibility issues within their area of responsibility.

Review Accessibility Essentials for an introduction to core accessibility concepts and best practices.

Content Creators

Content creators are often the first line of defense against accessibility barriers.

Examples include:

• Authors
• Editors
• Administrative professionals
• Program staff
• Educators
• Subject matter experts
• Student employees
• Volunteers

Content creators should review Accessibility Essentials and consult content-specific guidance such as Documents & PDFs, Images & Graphics, Video & Multimedia, Email Accessibility, and Social Media Accessibility as appropriate.

Typical responsibilities include:

• Writing clear, understandable content.
• Using headings and structure appropriately.
• Adding alternative text to images.
• Creating accessible documents.
• Using descriptive link text.
• Ensuring multimedia content includes required accessibility features.
• Following established accessibility guidance.

Website Editors and Site Owners

Website editors and site owners are responsible for maintaining accessible web content and ensuring accessibility remains part of ongoing website operations. They should review Web Content, Documents & PDFs, and ADA Title II & UC Requirements to help ensure that digital content remains accessible and compliant.

Typical responsibilities include:

• Maintaining accessible page structure and content.
• Monitoring accessibility issues.
• Correcting identified accessibility barriers.
• Reviewing new content before publication.
• Retiring or archiving outdated content appropriately.
• Working with technical teams to resolve accessibility issues when needed.

Communications and Marketing Staff

Communications professionals and marketing staff help ensure that information is accessible across multiple platforms and communication channels.

Communications professionals and marketing staff should review Email Accessibility, Social Media Accessibility, Images & Graphics, and the UC ANR Communications Toolkit to support accessible and brand-aligned communications.

Typical responsibilities include:

• Creating accessible newsletters and emails.
• Publishing accessible social media content.
• Reviewing communications materials for accessibility.
• Ensuring accessibility is considered during campaign planning.
• Supporting accessible visual design and content practices.

Managers and Supervisors

Managers and supervisors play a critical role in establishing expectations, prioritizing accessibility work, and supporting staff. They should review ADA Title II & UC Requirements, Training, and Governance to better understand how to support accessibility within their areas of responsibility.

Typical responsibilities include:

• Communicating accessibility expectations.
• Ensuring accessibility is incorporated into work processes.
• Supporting employee training and professional development.
• Prioritizing remediation efforts when needed.
• Allocating time and resources for accessibility-related work.
• Identifying accessibility risks within their areas of responsibility.

Accessibility is most successful when leaders actively support and reinforce accessibility practices.

Project Managers and Project Teams

Projects involving technology, websites, systems, content development, or digital services should account for accessibility from initiation through implementation. Project managers and project teams should review ADA Title II & UC Requirements, Procurement, and Policies & Standards to help ensure accessibility is incorporated throughout the project lifecycle.

Typical responsibilities include:

• Incorporating accessibility requirements into project planning.
• Identifying accessibility risks and dependencies.
• Ensuring accessibility reviews occur at appropriate milestones.
• Engaging accessibility expertise when needed.
• Tracking accessibility-related tasks and deliverables.
• Supporting remediation activities before deployment.

Accessibility should be treated as a project requirement, not an optional enhancement.

Technology Owners and System Administrators

Technology owners and system administrators are responsible for ensuring that systems, applications, platforms, and digital services meet accessibility requirements. They should review Procurement and Policies & Standards to understand accessibility requirements, risk considerations, and responsibilities throughout the technology lifecycle.

Typical responsibilities include:

• Evaluating accessibility during system selection.
• Maintaining accessibility throughout the system lifecycle.
• Working with vendors to address accessibility issues.
• Monitoring accessibility-related risks.
• Supporting accessibility testing and remediation.
• Maintaining documentation related to accessibility requirements, risks, and remediation efforts.

Procurement and Purchasing Staff

Procurement and purchasing staff play an important role in preventing accessibility barriers before new technology is acquired. They should review ADA Title II & UC Requirements and Policies & Standards to better understand accessibility requirements during vendor evaluation and technology acquisition.

Typical responsibilities include:

• Incorporating accessibility requirements into procurement processes.
• Requesting accessibility documentation from vendors.
• Reviewing Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates (VPATs) and Accessibility Conformance Reports (ACRs).
• Engaging subject matter experts when accessibility concerns are identified.
• Ensuring accessibility is considered alongside security, privacy, and business requirements.

Accessible procurement helps reduce future remediation costs and compliance risks.

Leadership

Leaders help establish organizational expectations and accountability for accessibility. They should review Governance, Policies & Standards, and ADA Title II & UC Requirements to support organizational accountability and long-term accessibility efforts.

Typical responsibilities include:

• Supporting accessibility as an organizational priority.
• Promoting accessibility awareness and training.
• Providing resources needed to address accessibility barriers.
• Supporting accessibility governance and compliance efforts.
• Monitoring accessibility program progress and risks.

Sustained leadership support is essential for building and maintaining an accessibility program.

Digital Accessibility Team

The Digital Accessibility team provides guidance, resources, consultation, training, and program support to help UC ANR advance accessibility across digital content and technology.

Services may include:

• Accessibility consultation
• Training and awareness activities
• Resource development
• Accessibility reviews
• Procurement support
• Program guidance
• Policy and governance support

The Digital Accessibility team supports accessibility efforts across UC ANR, but accessibility remains a shared responsibility across the organization.