UDC-Accessible Technology Initiative
“It is the policy of the CSU to make information technology resources and services accessible to all CSU students, faculty, staff and the general public regardless of disability.” (E.O. 926)
The CSU Accessible Technology Initiative (ATI) is the effort by the California State University (CSU) system to ensure that information and communication technology (ICT) is accessible to all students, faculty, staff, and the wider community. ICT includes websites, web and mobile applications, computer software and hardware, and multimedia such as video.
ATI and the ADA
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has been updated with more specific guidelines around accessibility for public entities like the CSU. These changes to the ADA take effect April 26, 2027. While the update to the ADA has drawn attention to accessibility, most of the guidelines were already in place under different federal and California laws and CSU policies. The change to the ADA sets a useful deadline, but the CSU has been endeavoring to meet these guidelines for some time.
ATI at CSUN
Within University Technology Governance, the ATI Executive Steering Committee and its sub-committees provide governance for the ATI at CSUN. The Faculty Senate takes an active role as well.
The Universal Design Center (UDC) manages the day-to-day execution of the ATI for CSUN, drafting the annual reports, training faculty and staff on accessibility standards, maintaining accessibility resources for the campus, and evaluating ICT purchases. UDC works closely with departments including Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES), NCOD: Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, the University Library, and more.
Monthly tests are conducted on the CSUN web domain using PopeTech and WebAIM’s WAVE. Additional manual testing is conducted as needed based on the findings. UDC also provides more extensive accessibility and usability testing on enterprise level products purchased, promoted, or supported by the campus.
For faculty, the Course Accessibility Report (Cidi Labs), available through Canvas, provides course-level information and guidance about the accessibility of course materials. CSUN provides professional video captioning, which faculty may request through NCOD: Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services.
Technology purchased for CSUN is assessed, first for risk, then for accessibility. Based on the findings, UDC may provide guidance to the department making the purchase.
If you have any questions about accessibility and technology at CSUN, contact the UDC or make an appointment.