Accessibility at U-M

There are some exceptions to the minimum accessibility standards set by the Access Board:

1. University facilities built before the ADA Standards for Accessible Design came into force are allowed to be in nonconformance with the standards. However, if spaces open to the public or students within these facilities are renovated, the space needs to be brought into compliance with the most recent version of the standards. 
   
   
2. Employee work areas (facilities used exclusively by employees for work) have very limited accessibility requirements under the ADA. Employee work areas must have visible alarms, a way for individuals with disabilities to approach, enter, and exit, and accessible circulation paths if they are 1000 square feet or larger. Employee work areas may be made more accessible in cases where an individual employee requires changes as a part of disability-related accommodations. ADA Standards do apply to employee restrooms, break rooms, and kitchenettes because these rooms are used for non-work activities. 
   
   
3. Accessibility may exceed the minimum standards in cases where an individual's disability-related accommodations require it. For example, a toggle light switch meets the minimum ADA standards but may be inaccessible to an individual whose disability affects fine motor control. Installation of a push plate switch, which has a larger surface area and requires less force to operate, may be required as part of this individual's ADA accommodations.

To raise general LSA building accessibility concerns, please email LSA-Facilities@umich.edu or contact the LSA Building Manager.

To request building modifications or furniture to accommodate an employee with a disability, please contact the LSA Disability Navigators (LSA.Disability.Navigators@umich.edu). 

Non-Emergency Issues

For non-emergency accessibility issues, such as an obstruction blocking most of a hallway or a broken door opener button, generate a support ticket by sending an email to LSA-Facilities@umich.edu.

Emergency Issues

For emergencies, which include elevator problems, power losses, or snow blocking entryways, please:

1. Call the U-M Facilities and Operations Service Center immediately at 734-647-2059. 
2. Notify LSA Facilities of the problem via email at LSA-Facilities@umich.edu.

For information on the accessibility of U-M event venues, please visit the LSA Event Accessibility webpage.

Michigan Medicine

Review the Michigan Medicine accessibility statement and Michigan Medicine patient accessibility resources.

Michigan Medicine offers two disability-focused programs: 

MDisability - Program focused on improving the inclusion of people with disabilities in healthcare settings. Meet with doctors who specialize in specific disabilities, attend Deaf Health Talks, find accessible COVID testing sites, and learn about current research projects. Check out their Docs with Disabilities Podcast!

Center for Disability Health and Wellness - An innovative research, clinical, and educational program which aims to address inequities in healthcare access, quality, and outcomes for those with disabilities. Offers opportunities to participate in studies, join educational events, and become part of the research network.

Plan your visit using the Medical Campus building floor maps and the Parking at Michigan Medicine webpage.

University Health Service

University Health Service accessibility information

The U-M Library Services for Patrons with Disabilities webpage provides information on:

• library hours and locations
• building accessibility details (including floor plans, amenities, and parking and transportation information)
• how to request accessible copies of library materials 
• how to request accommodations for library visits

Information about the accessibility of U-M's museums that are open to the public:

• Kelsey Museum of Archaeology
• Museum of Art
• Museum of Natural History
• Sindecuse Museum of Dentistry

Contact U-M's Research Museums directly for information about the accessibility of their spaces and collections.

Information about accessible entry-points and elevator access in non-LSA buildings is available through this interactive campus map.

Report an Issue

Report accessibility issues in non-LSA buildings to the U-M Facilities Service Center at 734-647-2059.

Accommodations for Instructional Employees

LSA faculty members and instructional staff who are assigned to teach in non-LSA buildings and require disability-related accommodations in the classroom should contact the LSA Disability Navigators for assistance (LSA.Disability.Navigators@umich.edu). Accommodations may include modifications to a teaching space, on-site adaptive technology, and/or modifications to furniture.

U-M's outdoor spaces including parking areas, sidewalks, and roadways are maintained by U-M Facilities and Operations.

To report accessibility concerns or request snow removal contact the U-M Facilities Service Center at 734-647-2059 or send an email to fo-service-center@umich.edu. 

List of accessible restrooms (maintained by Services for Students with Disabilities):

• Alphabetical by Building

• South Campus

• North Campus

• Central Campus

• Medical Campus

List and map of all-gender restrooms (maintained by the Spectrum Center)

Adaptive Sports Program

The U-M Adaptive Sports Program provides opportunities to try adaptive sports and to join university teams in Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Tennis, Track and Field, and Para-Equestrian.

Michigan Athletics

Some Michigan Athletics venues have comprehensive accessibility guides and guidance on wheelchair accessible seating, while others provide limited details online. Available venue accessibility information is linked below:

• Canham Natatorium
• Crisler Center
• Michigan Stadium (The "Big House")
• Lacrosse Stadium
• Oosterbaan Field House
• Phyllis Ocker Field
• Soccer Stadium
• Wilpon Complex
• Yost Ice Arena

Accessibility questions for any Michigan Athletics facility can be directed to the Michigan Athletic Ticketing Office at 1-866-296-6849 or mtickets@umich.edu.

U-M Recreational Sports Facilities

Contact U-M Recreational Sports Facilities directly for information about accessibility.

Parking

This map of central campus parking structures includes a table that indicates which U-M structures have accessible spaces. U-M employees and students with disabilities can register for a campus accessible parking permit and request a reserved accessible parking space. 

Ann Arbor provides downtown accessible parking information as well as an interactive parking map with an on-street accessible parking feature. 

Public & U-M Transportation Services

Ann Arbor Transit Authority (AATA) operates fixed bus routes in the Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti Area (includes Pittsfield, Scio, and Superior Townships) which can be accessed for free by U-M ID holders. All AATA fixed-route buses are wheelchair accessible and welcome service animals. AATA also offers an airport service, commuter services including carpools, vanpools, and free park and ride lots, and FlexRide which connects riders in underserved areas to fixed-routes via a shuttle service.

AATA's A-Ride Program offers door-to-door service within their service boundary to eligible individuals with disabilities. There is a fee of $3 per ride, even for U-M ID holders. Application required and review make take up to 21 days.

U-M "blue buses" operate on a fixed-route schedule and are free for U-M employees and students to use with their U-M ID card. Most routes run on the weekdays only. The buses are wheelchair accessible, feature stop names on a visual display, and welcome service animals. 

U-M Paratransit Service is available to U-M employees and students with disabilities who that are unable to used the fixed route campus system and offers curb-to-curb service on weekdays. Application required.

LSA employees who require assistive technology to perform work should contact the LSA Disability Navigators (LSA.Disability.Navigators@umich.edu) to be connected to appropriate specialists at U-M, such as those in the MHealthy Medical Ergonomics program.

MHealthy Medical Ergonomics assists with identifying tools, equipment, and strategies to align employee abilities with job functions and work environments. The program requires a physician referral. Possible solutions include adaptive and ergonomic technology (e.g. keyboard, mouse, digital pens) and referrals for assistive technology evaluations (e.g. screen reader software, speech-to-text software, and screen magnifiers). Equipment and software trials may be available. The LSA Disability Navigators cover the cost of recommended technologies for LSA employees through the LSA Central Accommodations Fund.

Sites public computers are located throughout campus and provide some assistive software. Contact Sites.Knox@umich.edu for more information.

Documents

U-M offers this How to Create Accessible Documents guide and Content Accessibility Quick Tips.

Media

MiVideo is U-M's video streaming service which is free for any employee to use. It has an automatic captioning feature (robot-generated captions) and offers an option to pay for human-generated captions.

Library Resources

U-M Library Services for Patrons with Disabilities can provide accessible copies of U-M library materials by request.

Textbooks & Course Materials

How to Access E-textbooks and Course Materials as Accessible Digital Documents 

ITS Accessible Computing Resource - Information about the accessibility of Canvas, Google apps, and Dropbox.

U-M Software Accessibility Guide - Information about the accessibility of commonly used software including Slack, Wolverine Access, and Zoom.

For information about the accessibility of other software, contact LSA Technology Services at 734-615-0100 or LSATechnologyServices@umich.edu.

The IT Accessibility at U-M website and LSA Technology Services Web Accessibility webpage offer guidance on creating accessible websites. 

The U-M Web Accessibility Working Group facilitates a community of practice that is open to anyone to join and provides space to share best practices and ask website accessibility questions.

For assistance with website accessibility, request a one-on-one web accessibility consultation with LSA Technology Services (LSATechnologyServices@umich.edu or 734-615-0100). 

Join Jessica on certain Wednesdays from 12 to 1 pm ET on Zoom for digital accessibility office hours. These office hours are an opportunity for LSA employees and past workshop attendees to consult with Jessica on the accessibility of online materials such as documents, videos, audio recordings, and images.

Zoom link: https://umich.zoom.us/j/91505103964 (Join via your U-M Zoom account. No registration required.)

Winter 2023 office hours will be held on:

• January 18
• February 1
• February 8
• February 22
• March 8
• March 22
• April 5

Cancellation of office hours will be noted on this website. Individuals interested in website accessibility should sign up for a Web Accessibility Consultation with LSA Technology Services.

To report digital accessibility issues, use the Disability Equity Office intake form.