In April 2024, the Department of Justice signed a final rule under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ensure digital content and mobile applications are accessible for people with disabilities.
Digital accessibility is the practice of making technology and digital content more accessible to people with a diverse range of hearing, movement, sight and cognitive abilities. This new rule marks a victory for individuals with disabilities and users of assistive technology, ensuring greater access and inclusivity in our digital landscape.
New rule sets guidelines and deadlines
This final rule sets two main requirements. First, it clarifies that state and local governments — including public universities like UNC-Chapel Hill — must make their digital content accessible.
Second, it establishes a technical standard to follow. To position us for the future, the University is adopting Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Version 2.2 AA.
The new rule also sets a compliance deadline. All University digital content, including instructional content, audio, videos, documents, forms and websites, must be accessible by April 24, 2026.
Individuals are responsible for ensuring the digital content they create or maintain for University business is accessible and meets WCAG 2.2 AA guidelines.
Defining digital content
Digital content is defined as the information and experiences available on the web, like text, images, audio, videos and documents and the webpages and platforms that house them. The Department of Justice rule also requires mobile apps to be accessible.
Essentially, if you access content using your computer or smartphone, it’s digital content. This includes content that also exists in a physical format. For example, if your department has a paper form and a PDF of that form online, the PDF version must be accessible.
The rule also applies to third-party content that the University or vendors post on University websites or platforms.
Responsibilities vary by role
Ultimately, everyone is responsible for ensuring the digital content they create or maintain for University business is accessible and meets WCAG 2.2 AA guidelines. However, your responsibilities may vary depending on your role.
Staff
All digital content created for University business must be accessible by April 24, 2026. Ideally, everyone who creates or maintains digital content will make that content accessible, but some units may centralize accessibility work. Work with your team, department or unit to clarify responsibilities.
Staff who procure content, like training courses, websites, platforms, software or apps, must ensure that content is accessible during the procurement process. The Digital Accessibility Office offers guidance and support for procurement.
Instructors and faculty
All course content must meet WCAG 2.2 AA guidelines by April 24, 2026.
This includes third-party content. For example, if you link to or embed a YouTube video in your course, you are required to ensure it has accurate captions or provide a transcript as a text alternative — even if you did not create the video.
Archived reference content, like courses from previous semesters, does not need to be accessible. However, if you reuse the course or content from the course, it must be made accessible.
Students
If you create digital content for University business, that content must be accessible by April 24, 2026. As a student, University business may include work you perform in a student job or content you create for a University-sponsored student organization or club. You are not required to make your schoolwork or personal content accessible.
For example, if you have a student job creating social media posts for a department, those social media posts must be accessible and meet WCAG 2.2 Level AA. Ask your supervisor to clarify any responsibilities you have as you create and post content. You do not have to make old posts accessible retroactively.
Or, if you maintain a website for a University-sponsored student organization that is registered with UNC Student Life and Leadership, that web content will need to meet accessibility requirements. If you create or maintain that content, you are responsible for making it accessible.
Some content may be exempt
The Department of Justice ruling does make a few exceptions, largely for archival and reference content or preexisting content, including old social media posts. These exceptions must meet specific conditions and generally do not apply to content that is active and current.
At UNC, the Digital Accessibility Office will review and approve any exceptions. You can learn more about exemptions and other frequently asked questions about compliance.
Resources and support
The UNC Digital Accessibility Office (DAO) is a resource to help you and your units create accessible content. The DAO has developed and will continue to create an array of resources and training opportunities, including:
- Instructor-led training and specialized workshops covering diverse topics, such as web accessibility, captioning, document remediation, social media accessibility, Universal Design for Learning and disability etiquette
- E-learning courses on Digital Accessibility Awareness and Digital Accessibility in Course Design
- Personalized consulting sessions to support your team’s compliance plan
- A new course captioning grant, which can help cover the cost of professional captioning for multimedia content used in courses
- Evaluation of procured software, departmental websites and other content
- A new website and updated Digital Accessibility Policy and standards
- Guidance to help University entities understand and meet the new legal requirements and develop compliance plans and procedures
The Digital Accessibility Office also fosters a group of Digital Accessibility Liaisons. Digital Accessibility Liaisons advocate for accessibility within their department and act as a resource to their colleagues. Faculty and staff can consider joining the Microsoft Team or connecting with your school or department’s liaison.
Students may be interested in joining Tar Heels at the Table, UNC’s accessibility and disability advocacy student organization or one of the technical, coding or design groups on campus. You can search for student groups on Heel Life.
