Digital Accessibility

Our Commitment to You

At University of Utah Health, we believe that health care is a fundamental right, and access to health care information is an essential part of that right. Whether you are using a screen reader, a magnifier, or voice recognition software, our goal is to ensure that your experience on our website is as seamless as your experience in our clinics. We recognize that our digital front door must be open to everyone. We are committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience, regardless of circumstance or ability.

Following the Standards

We use the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA as our guiding light to help us make the U of U Health website a positive place for everyone. We are working diligently to ensure our digital presence meets all federal requirements, including the May 11, 2026 standards for state and local government entities. We regularly audit our site using both automated industry tools, like AxeMonitor and Acquia Optimize (Monsido), and manual testing performed by accessibility experts to ensure we are living up to these standards.

How We Build for Inclusion

Our approach to accessibility is a core component of our mission. We don't just fix bugs after they happen. We prevent them by embedding accessibility into our internal policies and procurement practices.

Our team works hard to ensure inclusive design, and we actively involve individuals who use assistive technologies in our user testing. We also use plain language to ensure that complex medical jargon is clear, actionable information. From patient journey mapping to high-contrast wayfinding and signage in our hospitals and health center locations, every step of your care is audited to ensure there are no digital dead ends.

Working with Our Partners

While we strive for total accessibility, we recognize that some parts of the patient experience—like the MyChart Patient Portal (Epic)—rely on third-party technologies. We are actively collaborating with our vendors to advocate for accessibility patches and improvements.

To ensure long-term inclusion, we hold our partners to rigorous standards:

• Mandatory Reviews—Under Rule R4-050B, all software purchased, leased, or developed by the university must undergo a formal review for IT security and accessibility compliance.
• VPAT/ACR Requirements—We require vendors to provide Accessibility Conformance Reports (ACRs) to verify how their tools support users with disabilities.
• Legal Compliance—Our standards align with ADA Title II and Section 504/508 mandates.