Curious about the new digital accessibility rule? Explore our frequently asked questions below. This page continually updates as new questions come in to the Office of the ADA Coordinator.
Course content is to be treated like any other web or mobile app content.
UW Medicine content is to be treated like any other web or mobile app content under these standards. In addition to the Department of Justice’s new rule under Title II of the American with Disabilities Act UW Medicine also falls under the guidance of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In April 2024, HHS also issued a final rule to strengthen the implementation of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. According to this rule, all websites and mobile applications linked to health and human services, including those utilized by UW Medicine, must now adhere to the WCAG 2.1, AA technical standards.
Yes. The new rule applies to all websites and mobile apps “that a public entity provides or makes available, directly or through contractual, licensing, or other arrangements,” subject to exceptions that are documented elsewhere on this web page. Steps must be taken during the procurement process to ensure third party web and mobile apps meet accessibility requirements. For more information, see the Procurement Policies & Procedures page on the UW Accessible Technology website.
UW-IT is in the process of implementing enterprise-wide tools to support the assessment of University websites and mobile apps against the technical standards. UW-IT Accessibility Technology Services has a IT Accessibility Checklist that outlines the principles of WCAG to support web designers, developers, and content creators, in creating accessible content.
The new rule will require both enterprise-wide and local unit efforts to ensure that web content and mobile apps comply with the technical standards. All owners, managers and creators of web and mobile app content will need to understand how to comply with the technical standard. More information, resources, deadlines and responsibilities will be made available starting fall quarter 2024 and beyond.
Visit our what you can do now page that provides steps that faculty and staff can take now to prepare for this important transformation.
The new rule defines conventional electronic documents as web content or content in mobile apps in the following electronic file formats: portable document formats (PDFs), word processor file formats, presentation file formats, and spreadsheet file formats. Examples of conventional electronic documents include Adobe PDF files, Microsoft Word files, Apple Keynote or Microsoft PowerPoint files, and Microsoft Excel files.
Federal regulations and guidelines have played a crucial role in promoting digital accessibility and ensuring equal access to information for individuals with disabilities over the past decades. These include but are not limited to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Amendment Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act in 1998, and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 1.0 in 1999. Despite these legislative milestones, ongoing efforts are needed to address evolving technologies and challenges that remain in the digital world across various sectors.
To learn more, see the Level Access article Key Milestones in Website Accessibility Law