Insights from Hadi Rangin on Building a Culture of Accessibility in Higher Ed

With new federal accessibility requirements taking effect in April 2026, colleges and universities across the U.S. are under pressure to ensure their digital environments are inclusive, compliant, and future-ready. We spoke with Hadi Rangin, a long-time leader in digital accessibility and the Director of Accessibility Services at the University of Washington to learn what his institution is doing to prepare. 

Drawing on decades of experience as both a computer scientist and blind user of technology and digital content, Hadi has dedicated his career to helping institutions and vendors close accessibility gaps and address the needs of all users. We spoke with him about the upcoming regulatory shift, what it means for institutions, and how to build lasting, campus-wide accessibility practices.

Building a Bridge Between Users and Developers

Hadi’s background in computer science, coupled with his personal experience navigating education as a blind student, led to a realization: he could bridge the gap between technical teams and users like himself. 

“My background helped me to really establish a better communication channel with designers and developers,” he explained. “I can communicate these issues in such a way to designers and developers and then help them to create a better product.”

His ability to speak both developer and user has made him a sought-after collaborator, known for what colleagues jokingly call the “Hadi effect.” Because he was sighted for a portion of his life, Hadi brings a rare dual perspective that helps him translate between design intent and user impact—especially in systems that weren’t built with accessibility in mind.

Actionable Insight: Consider how to include users with disabilities in conversations, collaboration, and problem-solving around accessibility.

Accessibility as Evolution, Not Revolution

In Hadi’s experience, accessibility in higher ed has been a slow but steady, ongoing evolution, shaped by growing awareness, not quick fixes.

“Evolution, definitely not revolution” says Hadi. “Accessibility was an abstract thing for many designers and developers. We even had problems selling accessibility within higher education.”

Developers had not been trained to consider accessibility, and higher education leaders lacked the knowledge—and confidence—to push for change.

Accessibility is now integrated into procurement, design, and development practices, especially at institutions like University of Washington that have spent years laying the groundwork.

“We didn’t get here overnight,” he said. “Many people worked hard to make the case that accessibility is not a touch-up process. Some of these issues are so fundamental that they have to be considered in the design process.”

Actionable Insight: Make accessibility an integrated part of your design, development, and operational practices so that it can evolve structurally with your organization.

Building a Campus-Wide Culture of Accessibility

So how do you build a culture of accessibility that moves an organization towards awareness and action? For Hadi, the answer is simple: relationships, not regulations. Instead of relying on policy enforcement with development teams, departments and vendors, Hadi emphasizes engagement and empathy—inviting teams to experience barriers alongside him.

“We achieved all these accessibility improvements without policing, without threatening them with a lawsuit.”

Hadi’s approach is hands-on and collaborative. He often invites designers, developers, and service owners to test products together—so they can see accessibility issues in real time. Live demos and empathetic conversations, he says, have been far more effective than top-down mandates.

“I drag them through my discovery and frustration. They see the pain points. That’s why I think they take it more seriously—because they feel the problem.”

Actionable Insight: By building empathy for the needs of disabled users and making that experience real, you can align teams more effectively around designing for accessibility. 

Preparing UW for New Compliance Requirements

When the US Federal government announced a 2026 step-up in accessibility compliance requirements, Hadi welcomed the new regulations as a long-needed nudge for institutions and vendors that had not yet prioritized accessibility. He is optimistic that this step is producing the desired results.   

At the University of Washington, years of groundwork helped ensure that the announcement didn’t trigger panic. Instead, it sparked coordination.

“When this regulation came, they were not surprised, right? Because they already knew about accessibility.”

In response, UW launched a Digital Accessibility Initiative with action teams focused on procurement, academic content, research, and more. By mobilizing cross-functional groups and conducting comprehensive audits, the university is mapping out a campus-wide path to compliance. According to Hadi, these groups are tasked with first identifying issues and then planning for and implementing the recommended accessibility measures.

This structure builds on longstanding relationships between the accessibility office and vendors like Microsoft, Zoom, Canvas, and Blackboard—where Hadi and his team have already been deeply involved in accessibility reviews and improvements.

Actionable Insight: Engage teams focused on key institutional functions to conduct accessibility audits, identify accessibility issues, plan and implement improvements.  

Supporting Instructors and Course Content

One of the most persistent challenges, Hadi says, is academic content, especially in complex subjects like math and science. From math equations to multimedia content, instructors often lack the tools—or time—to make their materials fully accessible.

“Accessibility of academic content has been a huge problem and probably will remain a big problem for the time being.”

While UW promotes accessible platforms like Canvas, instructors often rely on outside tools or copy-and-paste workflows that don’t meet accessibility standards. The goal, he says, is to shift more faculty toward accessible containers and help them simplify content creation.

“If the framework, the container—like Canvas—is accessible, as well as the content, then we have an accessible experience. If either of them is not accessible, then accessibility experience is broken.”

He also encourages creative strategies, like accessibility training for teaching assistants and reusable course templates.

Actionable Insight: Recognize that academic content requires a holistic approach to accessibility, including ongoing training and support to help instructional staff make accessible choices.  

Advice for Vendors and EdTech Providers

Hadi’s message to learning technology providers is clear: don’t wait for institutions to bring up accessibility. Come to the table early, and come prepared.

“Engage the accessibility conversation right at the beginning. Identify the issues and come up with a reasonable road map.”

Institutions understand that no product is perfect. What matters is transparency and a commitment to fix what’s broken.

“Finding accessibility issues does not mean that we cannot purchase your product. Not having a timeline to fix those issues, that is the key. I hope software companies have realized the new normal and they prioritize accessibility in their development.”

Actionable Insight: Develop relationships that engage technology providers with institutions as partners in understanding and addressing accessibility needs. 

The Road Ahead

With the 2026 deadline approaching, more institutions are mobilizing. But for Hadi, this moment isn’t about compliance—it’s about culture. He believes the future belongs to those who understand that accessible design is better design—for everyone.

“We need to stop thinking about accessibility as a burden or checklist,” he said. “It’s an opportunity to improve the experience for all users.”

For Hadi, the 2026 deadline is a milestone, not a finish line. “There isn’t any week that I would not be challenged by some innovations by designer developers,” he said. But regulation helps. “Some companies have so many other competing priorities. At least now it helps them to prioritize accessibility.”

Actionable Insight: The mindset shift that changes everything is when people and organizations understand accessible design is better for everyone.  

Hadi Rangin is an Information Technology Accessibility Specialist at the University of Washington, where he works with cross-functional teams to make technology and learning materials accessible for all users. He was interviewed by Julie Curtis, VP Growth and Strategy at Pressbooks.