Accessibility is a core value at UC Santa Barbara, and this includes electronic accessibility for all shared digital documents.
Anyone developing content (text, images, video, etc.) for inclusion in online publications or systems must ensure that all the necessary elements are provided to make the content accessible to individuals with disabilities, including visually and hearing impaired people.
Effective April 2026, every campus department must ensure that all publicly available digital materials comply with WCAG 2.1 Level AA guidelines, in alignment with the Department of Justice (DOJ) federal requirements and the University of California IT Accessibility Policy.
A digital document typically refers to PDFs, but also includes Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides, along with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel sheets, among others. The Office of Teaching and Learning provides resources for meeting the ADA (American Disabilities Act) requirements for all digital content.
If you create and share Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides, they must comply with WCAG 2.1 Level AA guidelines.
Moving forward, please use the new UC Santa Barbara approved templates.
NOTE: This is an opportunity to stop sharing and archive content that's no longer needed. Only documents that have been shared, are required to adhere to the digital accessibility guidelines.
Google Workspace Docs
Grackle is a Google Suite add-on that has been made available campuswide for Docs, Sheets, and Slides. This remediation tool can be used to check the accessibility of your shared Docs, Sheets, and Slides. When launched, Grackle will scan your documents and determine what steps, if any, are necessary for meeting these requirements.
Grackle has been approved to be used for P1 and P2 information, but should not be used with Google Suite for P3 or P4 information.
For more information on digital accessibility at UCSB, please visit our UC Santa Barbara Accessibility site.