The U.S. Department of Justice has issued updated regulations under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requiring that public institutions ensure all digital content and services meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA standards.
For the University of Vermont, full compliance is required by April 2027.
UVM is approaching this work not only as a regulatory requirement, but as an opportunity to position the university as a national model for accessibility and inclusive excellence, ensuring all students have equitable access to learning.
What This Means for Faculty
Faculty play a critical role in ensuring digital accessibility. By April 2027:
- All course materials (documents, PDFs, slides, syllabi) must be accessible
- All videos and multimedia must include accurate captions
- All Brightspace content and instructional materials must follow accessibility best practices
- Faculty should avoid sharing or posting inaccessible third-party content
Getting started now is essential. Early adoption will allow time for support, training, and gradual improvement.
Key Dates & Timeline
Faculty Support & Resources
UVM is committed to supporting faculty throughout this transition.
Office of Accessibility Services (OAS)
- Guidance on accessibility requirements and compliance
- Consultation on accommodations and accessible content
- Support for addressing accessibility barriers
Center for Teaching & Learning (CTL)
- Course design support
- Brightspace accessibility best practices
- Workshops and training opportunities
Faculty are strongly encouraged to reach out early for guidance, training, or course review support.
UVM Digital Accessibility Roadmap
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to update all of my course materials?
Yes. By April 2027, all materials used in courses must be accessible. However, this work can happen over time. Faculty are encouraged to prioritize frequently used and high-impact materials first.
What makes documents accessible?
Accessible documents include:
- Proper use of headings and structure
- Readable fonts and sufficient color contrast
- Alternative text for images
- Tagged PDFs (when applicable)
CTL and OAS can assist with creating or remediating materials to make them accessible. For .pdfs, OAS provides full document remediation services. For videos, OAS provides both human-edited captioning and audio description services. CTL and OAS both offer trainings, workshops, and one-on-one consultations for faculty in creating more accessible materials.
All of these services are free for all UVM faculty.
Are captions required for all videos?
All instructional video content that includes spoken dialogue must include fully accurate captions. Video content that contains visuals but no spoken dialogue must also include an audio-described version, where a narrator describes what is happening on screen for anyone who can't access the visual content.
These rules apply to:
- Recorded lectures
- Embedded videos
- Third-party video content used in courses
"Third-party video content" includes any YouTube or Vimeo videos created by someone else that are then sent to students, embedded in course webpages, or incorporated into a course in some way.
What if I am using materials created by someone else?
Faculty are still responsible for ensuring materials provided to students are accessible.
Options include:
- Replacing with accessible alternatives
- Remediating the document
- Contacting OAS or CTL for guidance and support
What if a tool or technology itself is inaccessible?
If you are using a digital tool that may not meet accessibility standards:
- Contact OAS for guidance
- An alternative solution or accommodation may be required
- Future use of inaccessible tools may be restricted
Will this be enforced?
Yes. These requirements are part of federal ADA Title II regulations. UVM is required to demonstrate compliance by April 2027.
The university is taking a support-first, phased approach, but expectations apply to all digital content and instruction.
How will faculty learn what to do?
UVM will provide:
- Workshops and training sessions, from both OAS and CTL
- Step-by-step guides and resources
- Consultations and course support
You do not need to navigate this alone—support is available.
How much time will this take?
Time will vary depending on the volume and format of materials. Starting early and making incremental improvements will significantly reduce the burden.
What should I do first?
Recommended first steps:
- Review your current course materials
- Start with high-use documents (syllabi, slides, key readings)
- Ensure new materials are created accessibly
- Attend a training or consultation session
Where can I get help right now?
- Contact OAS for accessibility and compliance questions. You can email access@uvm.edu, or call (802) 656-7753.
- Contact CTL for course design and instructional support. You can email ctl@uvm.edu, or call (802) 656-1155
Upcoming Accessibility Events
Faculty feedback is an important part of this process.
How can we make this process work better for you? What are you seeing faculty need?
Feedback on the Digital Accessibility Roadmap proposal is welcome through March 31, 2026, but input is welcome on an ongoing basis.
Faculty feedback is an important part of this process.
How can we make this process work better for you? What are you seeing faculty need?
Feedback on the Digital Accessibility Roadmap proposal is welcome through March 31, 2026, but input is welcome on an ongoing basis.