Digital Accessibility Exception Request

Utah State University is committed to providing equal access to all university programs, services, and activities provided through digital technology (Policy 5208: Digital Accessibility). There are some scenarios where an exception to USU Digital Accessibility Standards may be granted by the campus Digital Accessibility Steering Committee.  

When you apply for an exception, our review committee evaluates requests by balancing the impact on our community with the technical and practical limitations of the project. Requests are evaluated holistically based on the factors below. No single factor determines the outcome.

Specifically, we consider:

  • Audience & Reach — Who will use this content, how many people will it impact, and is it available to the general public or limited to an internal audience?
  • Criticality — Is this content required to complete a vital task, such as applying to the university, fulfilling a job duty, or completing a course assignment?
  • Lifespan — Is this a brand-new product or existing legacy content, how long will it be used, and what timelines exist for its use or replacement?
  • Technical Feasibility — Is full accessibility technically achievable for this content or product, or does a genuine technical limitation prevent compliance? Would achieving full compliance fundamentally alter the nature of the product?
  • Accessible Alternatives — Are there other products, tools, or solutions available that meet the same functional need and are accessible? If an accessible alternative exists, an exception for the requested product is unlikely to be granted.
  • Access Plan — Do you have a clear plan to provide effective access for a person with a disability while remediation is underway?

The following factors cannot serve as the basis for an exception request: 

  • Cost, effort, competing priorities, or internal prioritization — the financial expense, staff time, competing deadlines, or a requester's assessment of the content as low priority are not valid bases for granting or extending an exception.
  • No known or anticipated users with disabilities — the absence of a currently known or disclosed disability among existing users, or uncertainty about whether someone with a disability will ever use the content, does not reduce the obligation to provide accessible content.
  • No complaints, or the content works for most users — the absence of complaints or accommodation requests, a long history of use without issue, or the fact that content functions well for users without disabilities does not indicate the content is accessible or that a barrier does not exist.
  • Preference for a particular tool or format — preference for a specific product or workflow that is not accessible is not a valid basis for an exception.
  • "This is not part of my job duties" — creating and maintaining accessible content is an institutional responsibility that applies to all faculty, staff, and others who create, procure, or publish content on behalf of the university, regardless of role or job description.

Approval of an exception does not remove the university’s obligation to provide access. Approved exceptions may include requirements for alternative access, remediation timelines, limited scope, or ongoing review.

Request an Exception

To request a digital accessibility exception, fill out the following Qualtrics survey:

Digital Accessibility Exception Request Form

Please contact us with any questions.