ADA Rule on Digital Accessibility

On April 24, 2024, the Department of Justice (DOJ) published a new rule on digital accessibility under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This rule requires that University web content and mobile apps, including academic course content, be in compliance with certain digital accessibility standards by April 24, 2026 (W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, version 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) Level A and Level AA success criteria and conformance requirements). 
 

The University of Maryland is committed to creating and maintaining a welcoming and inclusive educational and working environment for people of different abilities and to ensuring equal access to information and services for all its constituencies. Web-based information and services delivery are the primary means by which the campus community and its visitors communicate and conduct business. Ensuring that digital platforms are accessible is vital to fulfilling our commitment to usability, equal opportunity, and excellence in service delivery.

When web content and mobile applications are intentionally designed with accessibility from the beginning of the development process, they empower people with disabilities to engage fully and independently without needing to request accommodations. Digital accessibility, though required for some, improves usability and experience for everyone. For instance, using alternative text descriptions, logical heading structures, and descriptive links allows screen readers to accurately interpret and communicate visual and structural details to users who are blind or have low vision. Additionally, providing captions for videos, ensuring sufficient color contrast, and creating accessible documents enrich the overall user experience, supporting educational goals, enhancing learning outcomes, and increasing productivity for all members of our community.

The new DOJ rule sets the standard and emphasizes the University's responsibility to ensure that people with disabilities have full, equal, and independent access to services, programs, and activities provided via digital platforms. This commitment aligns with the University of Maryland’s strategic plan, reinforcing our dedication to excellence, innovation, and community engagement. It highlights our collective role in creating a digitally accessible environment, calling on administrators, faculty, web developers, content creators, communicators, and the entire campus community to proactively incorporate digital accessibility principles into all aspects of their work.

Public entities must ensure that web content and mobile apps made available directly or through contractual, licensing, or other arrangements are readily accessible and usable by individuals with disabilities.

All Web-based information (including both Legacy Web-based information and newly designed Web-based information) by any University administrative, academic, or programmatic unit must comply with the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, version 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) Level A and Level AA success criteria and conformance requirements for web content and mobile apps. 

Public entities with populations of 50,000 or more persons, including the University of Maryland, must comply with the federal regulations by April 24, 2026.

• “Legacy Web-based information” means any Web-based information created, adopted, or modified before April 24, 2026.
• “Web-based information” means web pages, websites, web content, web-based applications, mobile applications, online instructional content, services, and resources, and conventional electronic documents, that the University provides or makes available directly or through contractual, licensing, or other arrangements (for example through third-party vendors or open sources).
  • “Conventional electronic documents” means web content or content in mobile apps that is in the following electronic file formats: portable document formats (‘‘PDF’’), word processor file formats, presentation file formats, and spreadsheet file formats.
  • “Mobile applications” means software applications that are downloaded and designed to run on mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets.
  • “Web content” means the information and sensory experience to be communicated to the user by means of a user agent (meaning any software that retrieves and presents web content for users), including code or markup that defines the content’s structure, presentation, and interactions. Examples of web content include text, images, sounds, videos, controls, animations, and conventional electronic documents.

In limited situations, some kinds of web and mobile app content may not have to meet the technical standard. The DOJ fact sheet has more details on each of these exceptions:

• Archived web content: Web content that: (1) was created before, reproduces paper documents created before, or reproduces the contents of other physical media created before April 24, 2026; (2) is retained exclusively for reference, research, or recordkeeping; (3) is not altered or updated after the date of archiving; and (4) is organized and stored in a dedicated area clearly identified as being archived.
• Preexisting conventional electronic documents: Conventional electronic documents that are available on a website or mobile app before the date of compliance,like old PDF, word processor, presentation, or spreadsheet files, are generally exempt from the new ADA web accessibility rule if they were created or posted before the compliance date AND are not currently used for active public services unless such documents are currently used to apply for, gain access to, or participate in the University’s services, programs, or activities.
• Third-party content: Content posted by a third party, unless the third party is posting due to contractual, licensing, or other arrangements with the University.
• Individualized password-protected documents: Conventional electronic documents that are: (1) about a specific individual, their property, or their account; and (2) password-protected or otherwise secured.
• Preexisting social media posts: University social media that were posted before April 24, 2026.

• Visit the UMD digital accessibility website. The Division of IT provides digital accessibility services, tools, and resources to support our community and ensure that our services are accessible and usable by all community members. They offer digital accessibility guidance and documentation, training and consultation, accessibility and usability testing, remediation tools, and more.
  • Contact the digital accessibility team at itaccessibility@umd.edu.
• Learn about the Digital Accessibility 6 Essential Steps. Consistently completing these six steps when creating online content improves accessibility and gives all members of our community equal access to information and services.
• Review the UMD Web Accessibility Policy (currently under review for updates)

• Contact the ADA Coordinator if you have questions about the new rule, need clarification on requirements, guidance on compliance strategies, or to schedule a presentation for your department or unit.
  • Contact information: ADAcoordinator@umd.edu or 301.405.2841
  • Visit the UMD Accessibility Website