Introducing Equalify: New Tool, Same Commitment

UIC transitions to Equalify for web accessibility monitoring and reporting

UIC Technology Solutions is entering a new phase in its commitment to digital accessibility and inclusive design. As part of this effort, UIC has transitioned from Deque to Equalify, a modern, open-source accessibility testing and reporting platform.

As part of this transition:

  •  Deque was decommissioned on July 5, 2026.
  •  Units previously using Deque have transitioned accessibility testing, workflows, and reporting to Equalify in advance of this date.
  •  Additional guidance, documentation, and resources were shared to support a smooth transition.

Equalify now serves as the Accessibility team’s source of truth for determining whether a site meets accessibility requirements.

It will also serve as UIC’s centralized web accessibility testing hub, supporting campus-wide efforts to strengthen WCAG 2.1 AA compliance, improve accessibility monitoring and reporting, and enhance the digital experience for all users, including individuals with disabilities.

Why This Matters

Equalify takes a more targeted, efficient approach to accessibility testing than crawl-based tools like Axe Monitor. Instead of broad site crawls that can generate large volumes of duplicate or low-priority findings, Equalify scans specific, known URLs and CMS-driven pages directly from platforms such as Red and other WordPress-based systems.

This results in cleaner, more relevant reports that reflect actual UIC content, reduce time spent triaging noise, and help teams focus on fixing the issues that matter most. In a recent scan, Equalify reviewed approximately 1,700 pages at a cost of under $100, demonstrating its effectiveness and cost efficiency.

Equalify vs. Axe Monitor

  • Equalify: Targeted page scans, high-signal results, lower cost, open source.
  • Axe Monitor: Broad crawls, more noise, commercial licensing.

Timeline

Equalify Transition Timeline showing: January 2026: Internal Release, February: Pilot Testing, March: Soft Launch for Liaisons, April: Campus-Wide Community Launce, May: Feedback and Q&A, June 29,2026: Deque Contract Ends.

Equalify was rolled out in phases to support a smooth transition from Axe Monitor and ensure campus teams had time to prepare.

January 2026
The process began on January 9 with an internal release, allowing UIC Technology Solutions to validate functionality and workflows.

February 2026
Selected teams participated in pilot testing to provide early feedback and help refine guidance and processes.

March 2026
Equalify was soft launched for accessibility liaisons, along with training documentation to support early adopters.

April 2026
Equalify was made available to the broader UIC accessibility community.

May 2026
The Technology Solutions Digital Accessibility team gathered feedback, addressed questions, and hosted Q&A sessions to support campus users and make final adjustments.

July 2026
Transition completed with UIC fully migrating from Axe Monitor to Equalify. Deque (Axe Monitor) was decommissioned on July 5, marking the completion of the transition.

Where can I learn more?

Blake Bertuccelli-Booth, Assistant Director of Digital Accessibility Engineering, introduced Equalify, on January 29th. The session provided an overview of what Equalify is, how it supports web accessibility testing and reporting, and how UIC teams can use it to strengthen compliance and improve digital accessibility across campus.

What You Can Do Now

  1. Watch the January 29th Equalify introduction session recording.
  2. If you have not started transitioning away from Deque, do so immediately. UIC no longer has access to Deque.
  3. Stay tuned for training opportunities, documentation, and onboarding resources.
  4. Check out the Equalify User Guide, a helpful resource with instructions on using the platform’s core features — from getting started to managing audits and monitoring compliance.

More information and registration details will be shared soon.

Frequently Asked Questions