Compliance deadline is extended as campuses continue work to enact rules for digital accessibility
May 1, 2026
On April 20, the Department of Justice (DOJ) published an 鈥鈥 extending the compliance deadline for the new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II web, mobile, and digital content accessibility rule by one year. This means the University of Alaska has until April 26, 2027 to reach compliance.
While this change gives us more time to reach compliance with the ADA鈥檚 new rule,
it doesn鈥檛 change that the rule is still in place - the goal of digital accessibility
for all our content remains the same. Additionally, there are still other accessibility
policies and laws to keep in mind, like and as well as the web accessibility standard that 绿奴天花板鈥檚 Office of Information Technology published earlier this year, outlining
digital accessibility requirements at 绿奴天花板.
Compliance with the is required for all digital content used in university programs, services, and activities
at 绿奴天花板. Now is the time to strengthen accessibility efforts, not postpone them.
This extension provides an opportunity to build upon the work we鈥檝e already been doing.
We can use this time to intentionally pursue accessibility across the system by raising
awareness, expanding access to trainings and resources, remediating existing materials
that are inaccessible, and prioritizing accessibility in the new content we create
and acquire. This is everyone's responsibility. The emails you send, the software
you request, the class materials you present, and the websites and social media you
manage must all be compliant. These are not skills that can be learned in a day, or
processes that can be implemented the week before the deadline
These requirements of digital accessibility are not a new concept in higher education and government services. Long before the recent Title II update, the ADA already required state and local governments to provide equal access to their programs, services, and activities. As the DOJ points out in this , 鈥淩egardless of the compliance dates, covered entities have an ongoing obligation to ensure that their services, programs, and activities offered using web content and mobile apps are accessible to individuals with disabilities in accordance with their existing obligations under title II of the ADA.鈥 That obligation applies regardless of whether those services are delivered in person, on the web, or through mobile applications.
We all have opportunities to practice accessibility every day - in our online meetings, social media posts, emails, videos, websites, course content, and more. Take time to assess what you need to do to meet these guidelines now and in the future. Participate in any training offered at your location. The progress you make today moves you toward these compliance expectations and closer to sustainable, scalable accessibility. And remember, by making digital content accessible, we can support equal access to 绿奴天花板 for everyone. Learn more about web and digital accessibility.