Digital accessibility compliance: Updated federal deadlines and UGA expectations

As a community, the University of Georgia has worked diligently to meet federal guidelines for digital content accessibility. Following the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) decision to extend the compliance deadline for ADA Title II digital accessibility (“Final Rule”) to April 24, 2027, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has likewise extended its compliance deadline from May 11, 2026, to May 11, 2027.

While the deadline has been extended, the University’s commitment to digital accessibility remains unchanged. Colleges, departments, and administrative units should continue to ensure that all digital content complies with applicable federal, state, and Board of Regents requirements by the April 24, 2027 deadline set by the DOJ.

Please note that these federal requirements apply to all University digital content, regardless of how it is distributed, whether centrally hosted (e.g., eLC) or maintained on other platforms. The additional year is intended to support units in strengthening their understanding of accessibility best practices and in completing the review and remediation of existing content. Resources can be found on the Digital Accessibility Services website.

We encourage you to build on the momentum established over the past year through the Accessibility Steering Committee, the Accessibility Working Group, and the Digital Accessibility Services team in EITS. While this compliance effort is substantial, it represents a meaningful and lasting investment in accessibility across the University.

Thank you for the work you and your teams have already contributed, and we encourage you to continue that process in the months ahead. Please direct questions to your digital accessibility liaisons, the EITS Digital Accessibility Services team, or to the Equal Opportunity Office.