In 2026, UGA and CAES faculty and staff are required to ensure all digital content — including course materials, websites, PDFs, presentations, and videos — meets specific federal accessibility standards under updated ADA Title II and Section 504 regulations.
Here’s what it means for you:
Audit and remediate existing content
Existing course materials, web content, and resources with accessibility barriers should be identified, reviewed, and remediated in priority order. Focus remediation efforts on high-impact issues that prevent access, starting with critical, high-traffic pages and addressing severe problems that can be fixed quickly.
Who is responsible?
Content owners are responsible for ensuring their materials are accessible. We offer training and tools to assist content creators in achieving self-compliance with WCAG 2.1 AA and future standards.
What is the deadline?
The new ADA Title II law takes effect April 24, 2026.After this date, all public-facing digital material that is newly published or reused must meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards. Newly published content is any content created after April 24, 2026. Reused content includes any existing content that you modify, update, or continue to use after April 24, 2026.
Do all existing materials need to be compliant by April 2026?
Our goal is to make a good-faith effort to expand the accessibility of our digital materials and to make continuous headway toward complying with all the new regulations.
How do I get started?
Once you’ve inventoried and audited your digital materials, here are your next steps:
- Quickly remediate simple, high-impact items, such as adding missing alternative text to images and adding proper headings to documents
- Identify archival content, move it to a clearly labeled “Archive” section, and add a short statement such as: “Content in this archive may not meet current accessibility guidelines. To request an accessible version, please contact [name/office/email].”
- Remove assets that are not worth remediating
- Establish a documented remediation plan with clear deadlines, assigning roles to specific team members
Accessibility from the start
For all new or significantly updated materials, design for accessibility from the beginning. Retrofitting old content is less efficient and may not fully meet standards. The accessibility-first approach reduces costs and ensures digital products are usable by everyone from day one.
Adopt the accessibility-first workflow
DESIGN
Plan content using universal design principles and accessibility best practices to support a wide range of users.
BUILD
Create clear, well-structured materials using proper headings (H1, H2, H3, etc.) and simple, well-organized tables.
ADAPT
Add accessibility features such as video captions, audio transcripts, alt text for images, graphs, and charts, and descriptive link text.
REVIEW
Use a combination of accessibility checkers, including DubBot for web content, built-in accessibility checkers within platforms (such as Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and learning management systems), and other accessibility tools. When possible, supplement automated checks with manual review and testing with real users.
DELIVER
Publish materials that meet accessibility standards and keep them updated—ensuring each new version remains accessible.
Review OIT’s software guides and tools to learn how to apply accessibility best practices across different tools and platforms.
Training
Participate in training to develop the skills necessary to create and maintain accessible digital materials. Get educated on digital accessibility best practices and tools with:
- Checklists, templates, and guides for creating accessible content
- Workshops, webinars, and self-paced training
- Access to tools like Office Accessibility Checker, captioning platforms, and web evaluation tools
Get started:
CAES and UGA Extension Resources:
University of Georgia Resources:
Collaboration
CAES and Extension faculty and staff are encouraged to collaborate with digital accessibility liaisons, support teams and instructional design partners. Questions, requests for guidance, or help with specific materials can be submitted through established channels.
CAES Contacts
- Student course development and online learning
Christy Rich
christy.rich@uga.edu - Web and digital delivery
Office of Information Technology Web Team
caesweb@uga.edu - Social media and marketing
Office of Marketing and Communications
OMC project request form
Why this matters for you
Creating accessible materials ensures that your teaching, outreach, and research can reach the broadest possible audience. It also reduces time spent fixing accessibility issues later, strengthens the quality of your work, and aligns with UGA and federal accessibility requirements.
By integrating accessibility into daily workflows, UGA and CAES faculty and staff can create high-quality, usable, and effective digital materials — benefiting all learners and stakeholders.
