Dear DFOs, ADs, and H&S Web Editors,
As we approach the end of 2024, I want to take a moment to recognize your significant efforts in advancing digital accessibility across H&S, and the combined impact you’re having. I'm excited to share some highlights, give you a glimpse of what's coming next, and wish you all a wonderful and restful winter closure.
Let’s start with some quick numbers:
- Nearly 200 video captions and audio transcripts have been added, making our multimedia content more inclusive.
- Over 140 web editors have completed the accessibility training in the Deque platform.
- You've embraced the Editorially editing accessibility assistant, enhancing our content creation process.
- Together we've resolved over 680,000 issues, dramatically improving our web accessibility.
- We're ending the year with a 90% grade from SiteImprove, the university's automatic accessibility checking tool.
While the volume of work continues to challenge us all, you’ve brought your inquisitive and collaborative spirit to this challenge, and I'm pleased to share that H&S's efforts in digital accessibility are being recognized across the entire university.
As we look to the start of a new year, I’d like to share several initiatives:
- PDF Document Compliance: We're onboarding a couple of Stanford students to assist in bringing H&S PDF documents into compliance. This initiative will help us tackle the latest university mandate, which also represents a significant amount of work.
- Staff Seminar: In response to your interest, we're coordinating with Angie Wilcox to organize a Staff Seminar on digital accessibility in early 2025.
- STARS Integration: We're hopeful for the integration of the digital accessibility training into STARS to further streamline our efforts.
- Continued Support: My team will continue to work behind the scenes to minimize additional tasks that fall on you while providing the support you need to maintain accessibility compliance. We've also had many discussions with units to adapt broad mandates to meet the unique needs, workflows, and realities of departments, programs and institutes.
Your dedication to creating an inclusive digital environment is making a real difference. We're with you every step of the way and look forward to building on this year's successes in 2025.
Thank you for your much appreciated efforts this year. Wishing you all a restful and rejuvenating winter break.
Kind regards,
Marion