Campus News
Update regarding federal digital accessibility requirements
Last week, the Department of Justice extended the ADA Title II digital accessibility compliance deadline by one year, to April 26, 2027. Nevertheless, the UC IT Accessibility Policy (ITAP) remains in effect with an implementation deadline of April 24, 2026.
Dear UC Santa Cruz Community,
We are committed to creating online information and experiences that are accessible to everyone in our community, and to keeping you informed as the policy landscape evolves.
Last week, the Department of Justice extended the ADA Title II digital accessibility compliance deadline by one year, to April 26, 2027. Nevertheless, the UC IT Accessibility Policy (ITAP), which requires that existing digital content, including websites, documents, course materials, and video, be remediated to meet accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1 Level AA), remains in effect with an implementation deadline of April 24, 2026.
Additionally, the Section 504 compliance deadline for digital accessibility regulations, which carry identical requirements for recipients of federal and human services funding, remains May 11, 2026. In consideration of these dates, we ask that all employees adhere to the original federal deadline of April 24, 2026.
The remediation work already underway across campus has made a real difference for members of our community. We remain committed to providing the tools and support needed to sustain and advance that progress.
As you continue this work, the following resources are available:
- Find Your Starting Point: Tailored next steps based on content type.
- Digital Accessibility Fundamentals: Learn more about your role in making digital life at UC Santa Cruz accessible to people with disabilities.
- Make IT Accessible Guide: Step-by-step instructions for creating accessible content.
- Teaching and Learning Center: Resources specific to instruction and course materials, including tools, guides, and direct support.
- Digital Accessibility Services and Open Labs: Reach out for help, or contact the team directly at digitalaccessibility@ucsc.edu.
Thank you for your continued commitment to making UC Santa Cruz’s digital content accessible to all.
Paul Koch
Interim Campus Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor
Christina Ravelo
Vice Provost for Academic Affairs
Melanie Douglas
Interim Vice Chancellor for Information Technology Services and CIO