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Rule Guidance and FAQs

Curious about the new digital accessibility rule? Explore our Guidance and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) below. This page continually updates as new questions come in to the Office of the ADA Coordinator.

Guidance

Archived Web Content

Some older web content is considered “archived” and is not required to be accessible.

Archived Web Content Guidance

Audio and Video

Video captions and audio descriptions, and audio-only transcripts, are typically required.

Audio Descriptions and Video Captioning Guidance

Individualized Conventional Electronic Documents

Some new documents created for a specific person are not required to be accessible.

Individualized Conventional Electronic Documents Guidance

Preexisting Conventional Electronic Documents

Some preexisting documents are not required to be accessible.

Preexisting Conventional Electronic Documents Guidance

Social Media Posts

Social media posts published after April 24, 2026 are required to be accessible.

Social Media Accessibility Guidance

Third-Party Content

Some content posted by someone outside UW is not required to be accessible.

Third Party Content Guidance

FAQs

Accessible Accordion

Actions on the federal level regarding the interpretation and enforcement of other civil rights laws have prompted questions about potential impact on enforcement of the new ADA rule, effective April 2026. ​

The University remains committed to providing individuals with disabilities equal access to its programs, services, and activities. The work of the ADA Digital Accessibility Initiative will continue to ensure the UW’s digital content is accessible and meets compliance obligations under state and federal regulations and policies. If new guidance or information is provided regarding how to meet state and/or federal obligations, or the legal landscape changes, we will update the UW community.

What we know:

  • No executive orders have been issued to pause enforcement action relating to disability.
  • The digital accessibility rule is a final rule that has already been issued. A new full rulemaking process​ would be required to revoke and replace it. No indicators point to this.
  • Even if the Department of Justice does not make enforcement of the rule a priority in 2026, individuals and organizations may file lawsuits under the rule​.
  • No legal challenges to the rule have been filed.
  • The University also must comply with state laws and policies regarding disability access and accessibility. Washington State is in the process of updating its Digital Accessibility Policy, which sets technical standards for web content that state agencies and entities must follow.

Digital course content is to be treated like any other web or mobile app content. This would include digital content such as syllabi, readings and textbooks, recorded lectures and videos, slide decks, Canvas pages, assignments and handouts, images and diagrams, and course websites. More details on guidance and resources will be available starting Spring 2025 as the Academic Course Content Action Team shares recommendations. 

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.

UW-IT is implementing an enterprise-wide tool, DubBot Web Accessibility Checker, to support the assessment of University websites against the technical standards. The Ally in Canvas courses tool checks for accessibility issues in course content. 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. Follow along as the ADA Digital Accessibility Initiative leads the work across UW to comply with Department of Justice regulations by April 2026 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.

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