Most of the time, it is best practice to delete old, out-of-date content. But sometimes the old content needs to be maintained for reference. Some of that older content will be exempt from accessibility compliance requirements if it meets the criteria for archival status.
Use this guide to determine whether content qualifies for archival status under the ADA Title II digital accessibility rule and how to create an archive page in Adobe Experience Manager (AEM).
Before you begin: Does your content qualify?
Not all content qualifies for an archival exemption. Under the ADA Title II digital accessibility rule, archival status refers to specific digital content created before April 24, 2026, retained solely for reference/recordkeeping, and stored in a designated, clearly labeled area.
To be eligible, content must meet all four of the following criteria:
Origin
Content must have been created before April 24, 2026, or must reproduce physical materials (such as paper documents or film) created before that date.
Purpose
Content must be retained solely for reference, research, or recordkeeping. It cannot:
- Provide information about active programs or services
- Be used for any current or ongoing informational purpose
Clear separation
Content must be placed in a designated archive section that:
- Clearly distinguishes it from current content
- Includes prominent messaging identifying it as archived material
No modifications
Once archived, the content must not be edited or updated. If changes are made at any time after April 24, 2026, it:
- Loses its archival status
- Must be brought into full compliance with WCAG 2.1 AA standards
Steps to create an archive page in AEM
Follow these steps to properly create an archive section on your site:
1) Create an archive page
- Create a new page named “Archive”
- Place it at the root level of your site (do not nest it under another page)
2) Add required archive statement
- Add a Rich Text component as the first component on the page
- Do not place any content above it
Use this required statement:
“The content on this page is retained only for recordkeeping, historical reference, or research. These materials are preserved in their original form and may not meet current WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards.
These archived materials are not required to be remediated. However, we remain committed to equitable access. If you need an accessible version of any archived item to participate in our current programs and services, we will provide one when feasible upon request at caesweb@uga.edu.”
3) Add archived content
- Place documents, blog links, or other eligible content below the archive statement
- Organize content clearly and follow general web best practices (e.g., descriptive links, headings)
Quick tips
- Only archive content that meets all four criteria
- Do not mix archived and current content on the same page
- Do not update archived content after publishing
- When in doubt, keep content accessible instead of archiving
