Recently, you may have heard news regarding the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issuing a one year extension for the federal mandate on digital accessibility (Title II of the ADA).
While the DOJ’s enforcement deadline has shifted for some entities, the University of Georgia (UGA) and the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) are committed to moving forward and maintaining our momentum.
The New Deadline
UGA and CAES will observe the compliance timeline set by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The Digital Accessibility Compliance Deadline is May 11, 2026.
What You Need to Know
The Extended Deadline Doesn’t Change Our Work
It is tempting to see a deadline extension as a reason to slow down, but for the CAES community, we are staying the course.
The Laws Are Already in Effect
The federal mandate isn’t the creation of a new law but rather a clarification of enforcement. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act have required digital accessibility for decades. The obligation to provide equal access to our programs and services is an existing and ongoing legal requirement.
Accessibility is Mission-Critical
As a land-grant institution, our mission is to serve everyone in Georgia. Digital barriers are real barriers to education, research, and extension services. We have an ethical obligation to ensure that our digital presence is accessible to everyone.
Momentum is Our Greatest Asset
Our faculty and staff have already made incredible strides. Stopping now would only make the final push harder later. By continuing our progress, we ensure that accessibility becomes a seamless part of our workflow.
How OIT is Supporting You
We are here to ensure this transition is as smooth as possible. We are providing tools and learning opportunities to help our content managers be successful in this effort. Email the CAES Web Team if you have questions.
Training and Resources
DubBot Monitoring
We use DubBot to help identify and prioritize accessibility issues on CAES websites. You can request access to DubBot by emailing caesweb@uga.edu.
Consultation
If you have complex documents or another unique situation, our team is available to help you. Email us at caesweb@uga.edu to request a meeting or content review.
Going Forward
Accessibility is not a one-time project—it is an ongoing responsibility in how we communicate digitally. While the DOJ extension provides additional time for the broader public sector, CAES remains committed to moving forward and leading this work.
Let’s keep the momentum going!
