Get Ready for the April 24, 2026 newly expanded ADA Title II Rule
Beginning April 24, 2026, the newly expanded ADA Title II digital accessibility rule comes in effect, which requires that all digital programs, services, and activities offered by public institutions be accessible to individuals with disabilities. This does not replace existing accommodation requirements—rather, it shifts expectations from a reactive accommodation model to a proactive universal design approach that ensures equitable access from the start.
What the New Law Requires and Why This Matters
The updated ADA Title II rule applies to a wide range of digital content across the University, including:
- Digital course materials in Canvas
- Websites and web applications
- Mobile applications
- Digital documents and media
- Social media content
Only a few narrow exceptions exist (e.g., archived content that is never updated, certain single‑user password‑protected PDFs, and content not contracted by the University).
This means that digital materials and systems must be usable by people with disabilities, including support for screen readers, captions and transcripts, keyboard navigation, readable structure, and sufficient color contrast. We have made progress; including vendor accessibility reviews, improved website scanning, reduced non‑compliant documents, new Canvas accessibility tools, and expanded training, but full compliance requires shared responsibility across all colleges and departments.
What You Can Do Now
Join the OHIO DAN
The OHIO Digital Accessibility Network is a community of 300+ members that provides ongoing support, training, and practical guidance for building accessible materials. Please join yourself and share the invitation with your units. The OHIO DAN is focusing on the “7 Core Skills” for accessible content creation which include simple practices like:
- Proper headings
- Descriptive links
- Proper use of lists
- Alternative text
- Accessible tables
- Captions and transcripts
- Sufficient color contrast
These practices address many of the accessibility gaps we see in courses and departmental materials.
Reassess Technology Purchases and Renewals
Avoid adopting tools with known high accessibility risk. Vendor reviews show that many technologies still contain significant barriers; your oversight is critical to reducing future compliance issues. When your department plans to purchase technology, please submit it through the Vendor Technology Review intake form.
Review Canvas Courses to Make Sure Course Content is Accessible for Students
Canvas is launching a new accessibility checker in February 2026 that will allow faculty to scan courses – faculty can test this now in their courses! While this tool doesn’t scan PDFs, external links, or PowerPoint presentations, please follow these tips to remedy issues. OIT’s instructional technologists are also available to consult on available accessible technologies.
Report accessibility barriers. If students, faculty, or staff struggle to use technology due to a disability, let Accessibility Services know so issues can be resolved quickly.
Follow University Communications and Marketing guidelines for web content.