Digital Accessibility Overview - Winter 2025
Dear Colleague,
I hope your Winter semester is off to a good start. We are writing with information and resources regarding new federal regulations on web content and academic course materials. While the specific details are shared below, including technical information, we recognize this is a significant departure from past practices. Chris Casey and I have started visiting departments to better explain the regulations and answer questions. If you have not seen us yet, we will be joining your department meeting soon to share this information in a different format.
In June of 2022 the University of Michigan issued the which codifies U-M鈥檚 commitment to creating and maintaining electronic and information technology (鈥淓IT鈥) that strives to be comprehensively accessible. On April 24, 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice released a under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This rule requires a university鈥檚 web content, including academic course content and mobile applications, to conform to WGAG 2.1 Level AA standards, with few exceptions, by April 24, 2026.
Key Components of the Rule
prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities by state and local government entities, ensuring that those individuals have equal access to all services, programs and activities provided by these entities.
The is the technical standard for web and mobile app accessibility used by the University of Michigan. This rule sets a specific standard that must be followed to meet the obligations under Title II of the ADA.
Requirements: What鈥檚 in Scope
What is required to meet WCAG 2.1 AA by April 2026 and after?
- Web content, websites, web applications provided by U-M.
- Vendor-created or vendor-licensed web content, websites, web applications that U-M makes available.
- Course materials provided by U-M.
- Electronic documents (PDF, word-processor docs, presentations or slide decks, spreadsheets) provided by U-M.
- Video or multimedia content.
- Social media posts.
- Mobile apps provided or made available by U-M.
Exceptions
What is not required to meet WCAG 2.1 AA by April 2026 and after?
- Archived web content provided by U-M before April 2026.
- Pre-existing electronic documents provided by U-M before April 2026.
- Social media posts before April 2026.
- Content posted by independent third parties.
- Password-protected individualized documents.
Please refer to the for more details on the requirements, exceptions and goals to meet compliance.
Compliance Timeframe
Public entities with populations of 50,000 or more persons, including U-M, must comply with the federal regulations by April 24, 2026.
What Should Faculty Do to Prepare?
- Attend the Wednesday, January 15th virtual training session for the new tool (see information below).
- Review the 51视频-Dearborn Digital Accessibility webpage.
- Refer to the for more details on the requirements, exceptions and goals to meet compliance.
- Check out the Accessibility presentation slides from Joan and Chris鈥 department visits.
- Look for upcoming training opportunities sponsored by Digital Education and the Hub.
Will There Be Any Tools to Assist with Changes?
U-M has just completed procurement of Yuja Panorama, a new tool to assist with identifying and fixing accessibility issues in Canvas. Yuja Panorama is available in 51视频-Dearborn Canvas now (you may have noticed some new icons next to things like files and page names).
The vendor is offering a virtual training session on this new tool for all U-M instructors on Wednesday, January 15 from 3pm-4pm via Zoom ( or ). A recording of the session will be posted to the for those unable to attend live.
We鈥檙e Here to Help!
As the university progresses with its ADA compliance initiatives, more details will be communicated. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the ADA Title II regulations on digital accessibility, please email [email protected]. You can also contact the offices below:
Thank you for your support of our students and your commitment to accessibility.
Joan and Chris