Charge
The University of Iowa has a strong commitment to digital accessibility, but new federal requirements call for an updated approach. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) recently issued a Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) rule requiring state and local governments to make web content and mobile applications accessible by April 2026. This task force is responsible for creating and implementing a comprehensive strategy to ensure the university’s digital content fully complies with these standards.
Guiding Principles
As the Task Force develops solutions and addresses the challenges of this ruling, the following guiding principles provide high level direction
- Efforts should be focused on the work that has the greatest impact with the resources available.
- Higher impact solutions should be implemented first wherever possible.
- Employ a user centered approach.
- Work towards creating sustainable solutions through education, support, and the technology and content acquisition process.
Members
Sponsors
- Liz Tovar, director of strategic partnerships and senior associate athletics director, Office of the Provost, Student-Athlete Academic Services
- Steve Fleagle, associate vice president and chief information officer, Information Technology Services
Members
Team memberships represent their constituent groups and provide input to subcommittee leads while serving on one or multiple subcommittees. They coordinate efforts across campus units to ensure comprehensive compliance, align priorities across subcommittees, and help determine the most effective focus of efforts. As an oversight group rather than a working group, members also play a key role in clearing roadblocks, supporting progress, and keeping each subcommittee team at a size that is most effective for achieving its mission.
Membership
- Maggie Jesse (co-chair), executive director, Office of Teaching, Learning, and Technology
- Tiffini Stevenson Earl (co-chair), senior director and ADA coordinator, Office of Civil Rights Compliance
- Mirra Anson, director, student academic success and strategic initiatives, Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost
- Kirk Corey, director of policy and user services, Information Security and Policy Office, ITS
- Nicole Dahya, director of strategic communication, Office of the CIO / Office of Strategic Communication
- Nicholas Dreyer, assistant director, clinical applications, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
- Eddie Etsey, associate athletics director, Technology and Data Analytics, Department of Athletics
- Erin Feltes, deputy counsel, Office of General Counsel
- Ethan Fry, senior application developer, UI Health Care
- Paul Hanson, senior technical writer, UI Health Care
- Brandon Mills, senior IT director, Division of Student Life
- Michael O’Neill, director of web strategy, Office of Strategic Communication
- Rakesh Rao, associate director, Facilities and Management Technology and Data
- Maureen Schafer, assistant provost and director, Academic Advising Center
- Mike Venzon, director, Student Disability Services, Division of Student Life
- Mike Weaver, associate director of operations, Office of the Vice President for Research
- T.M. Weissenberger, digital accessibility coordinator, Security Office, ITS
- Mike Frangi, director, Project Management, ITS
Subcommittees
The subcommittees play a vital role in advancing the overall charge by focusing on specific areas and developing actionable plans. They are responsible for identifying and communicating training needs, monitoring progress, and reporting on their designated areas. In addition, subcommittees collaborate with one another to ensure alignment with broader objectives while sharing resources and best practices to support collective success.
Teaching
- Identify high-priority academic content that needs to be brought into compliance.
- Develop remediation plans for digital course materials.
Communications
- Execute a comprehensive communications plan
- Educate campus on DOJ rule and its implications.
- Develop an organizational change management plan
- Promote awareness and understanding of accessibility initiatives.
Health Care
- Identify and prioritize digital systems and content used in healthcare settings.
- Develop plans to bring these systems into compliance with accessibility standards.
Contracts
- Review and update Procurement Policies
- Engage with vendors
Web
- Conduct a comprehensive audit of the university's web content.
- Identify and prioritize high-traffic and high-impact web pages for remediation.
Athletics
- Identify digital systems and content related to athletics that require accessibility improvements.
- Prioritize based on usage and impact on the athletics community.
Administrative
- Identify key administrative systems and digital content that require accessibility improvements.
- Prioritize systems based on usage and importance.
Research
- Identify digital platforms and content used for research that need accessibility improvements.
- Prioritize based on usage and impact on the research community.
Student Life
- Identify digital systems and content related to Student Life that require accessibility improvements.
- Prioritize based on usage and impact on the student community
Task Force Progress
June 2025
The Task Force published its Q2 Report.
April 2025
The Task Force published its Q1 Report.
January 2025
- Subcommittees finalized and announced in Iowa Now
- accessibility.uiowa.edu website launched to serve as as a central hub for accessibility, educate and an create an ongoing conversation to build campus wide understanding and adoption.
December 2024
- Task Force formed
- Announcement to campus: UI launches digital accessibility task force
- Subcommittees formed