While the U.S. Department of Justice has extended the formal compliance deadline for Title II digital accessibility requirements to April 2028, the University of Vermont will maintain April 2027 as its operational target for achieving WCAG 2.1 AA conformance.

Deadline Update (91 FR 20902): On Friday, April 17, the U.S. Department of Justice issued an update to the Title II digital accessibility regulations, extending the formal compliance deadline for many public institutions. In light of this ruling, UVM remains committed to its Digital Accessibility Roadmap, and continues to plan to meet full conformance by April 2027.

While the U.S. Department of Justice has extended the formal compliance deadline for Title II digital accessibility requirements to April 2028, the University of Vermont will maintain April 2027 as its operational target for achieving WCAG 2.1 AA conformance.

This approach reflects the University's commitment to advancing its Digital Accessibility Roadmap on an accelerated timeline to build sustainable accessibility practices and advance Our Common Ground values. 

In other words: while the federal deadline has shifted, UVM's expectations and timeline have not.

The University will continue moving forward to:

  • Advance digital accessibility across websites, course content, and technology
  • Strengthen conformance with WCAG 2.1 AA standards
  • Support equitable access for students, employees, and the public
  • Build long-term, sustainable accessibility practices across units

Maintaining our April 2027 target ensures:

  • Continued momentum on work already underway
  • Alignment with evolving regulatory and compliance expectations
  • A proactive -- not reactive -- approach to accessibility

All units should continue progressing with accessibility efforts, including:

  • Ensuring new and updated digital content meets WCAG 2.1 AA standards
  • Prioritizing remediation of high-impact or frequently used materials
  • Incorporating accessibility into procurement and technology decisions
  • Engaging with the Office of Accessibility Services for guidance and support

The Office of Accessibility Services will continue to partner with campus units to support this work through training and guidance resources, digital accessibility tools and support, procurement and WCAG 2.1 AA alignment, and ongoing updates through the Digital Accessibility Roadmap.

Accessibility is a shared institutional responsibility, and continued progress now is essential to meeting both regulatory expectations and our commitment to equitable access.