Digital accessibility compliance date extended to April 2027

Dear colleagues,

On Friday, April 17, the U.S. Department of Justice extended the deadline by which all public universities must meet updated accessibility standards for digital content — such as websites, course materials, videos, documents, social media posts, emails, and applications — under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Regulations that were previously scheduled to take effect on April 24, 2026, are now scheduled to take effect on April 26, 2027. UM-Dearborn’s digital accessibility experts, along with colleagues at Ann Arbor and Flint, are closely monitoring the changes.  Updates will be shared on U-M’s Digital Accessibility Guidance page.

While the compliance date has changed, our obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act and other disability-related laws remain, along with the U-M Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility SPG (601.20), which requires that all digital materials meet accessibility standards.

Faculty should update materials on Canvas to meet digital accessibility standards, focusing first on courses being offered in upcoming terms and prioritizing published material that is visible to students. 

We remain committed to providing guidance, resources, and support for the campus community as we work together to create a more inclusive, accessible UM-Dearborn.

If you have questions about or need help with accessibility grants, tools or services at UM-Dearborn,, please reach out to our teams for assistance (faculty can email [email protected], staff/students can fill out a Digital Accessibility request).  If you have compliance-related questions, please contact the U-M Disability Equity Office.

With gratitude,

Gabriella Scarlatta, Interim Chancellor

Carrie Shumaker, Vice Chancellor for Information Technology, Chief Strategy Officer