TO DO: Update UMD digital content for accessibility by April 24, 2027
Under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the University of Maryland (UMD) must meet new technical requirements [new tab] for digital content by April 24, 2027 to help ensure that public services and information are accessible to all, including people with disabilities. This means that digital content should be formatted in specific ways so that it is “accessible.” For example, captions on videos, alt text on images, and headings on documents. Among other things, this allows accessible technology like screen readers to understand how to read the content.
What is digital content?
Digital content = digital documents, communications, and environments that communicate information to the public or that are necessary for the work of the organization. Examples:
- Word/Google docs, slides, spreadsheets
- Presentations
- Forms, surveys
- PDFs
- Emails, e-newsletters
- Videos, audio recordings, images
- Websites, apps, ELMS
- Calendars, widgets
- Social media sites
Get started! Step-by-step instructions
Click on the button below for your job category for a to-do checklist, simple “how-to” instructions, and a timeline. Some people may have more than one job category.
Resources
Information Sources
Sources used to develop INFO’s how-to guides for faculty/staff to meet the new digital accessibility requirements established by the April 24, 2024 U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)’s final rule updating regulations for Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
- The official version of the rule (DOJ, published in the Federal Register)
- Appendix D: section-by-section guidance (DOJ, published in the Federal Register)
- ADA Fact Sheet provides a summary of the rule (DOJ, Civil Rights Division)
INFO Digital Accessibility Committee
- Kevin Remmell, Assistant Dean for Information Technology & Facilities (Chair)
- Paul Jaeger, Professor (Policy POC)
- Vedat Diker, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (Instructional POC)
- Tetyana Bezbabna, Director of Undergraduate Programs (Instructional POC)
- Galina Reitz, Director MS Human-Computer Interaction (Research POC)
- Ron Padrón, OACES Director (Training POC)