Federal Mandate for Accessibility Compliance
UPDATED 5/15/2026
On April 20, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice announced a one-year extension for its digital accessibility rule, moving the compliance deadline to April 26, 2027. The rule had originally required all state and local government websites and mobile applications to meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA by April 24, 2026. With the updated timeline, all campuses—including UTC—must now achieve full compliance by April 26, 2027. UTC will continue to enforce these requirements rigorously to ensure all personnel meet the standard.
At the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, our compliance plan is built around more than just checking boxes. We’re committed to making our digital spaces usable for everyone. Accessibility ensures equal opportunity for all users, reduces legal risk, and improves clarity and usability for everyone.
Training Update
Most of you have already completed accessibility training in Silktide. However, due to the expanded federal requirements, we have added three new online training videos in addition to the existing three. They are Don’t be Afraid of…, WCAG 2.2, and What in the World is WCAG? Please set aside time to complete these courses at your earliest convenience.
- Key Focus: Accessibility applies not only to web pages but also to PDF documents. Every public-facing PDF must meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards. Over the years, thousands of PDFs have been uploaded to UTC websites, and we are now conducting a full inventory. We need your help to determine which files can be removed or archived, which must be updated for compliance, and—ideally—which could be converted into accessible web pages (this option is strongly encouraged). Archived PDFs do not need remediation, but they must include a clear “archive” label and URL indicator.
Additionally, we partnered with the Walker Center for Teaching and Learning to provide live PDF accessibility training, which is now available as a Zoom webinar. This is offered in addition to the Silktide training webinars.
- Images: All images included in digital content should be made accessible to ensure an inclusive experience for users who rely on assistive technologies.
Because screen readers can’t read text included inside of an image, is it highly discouraged to incorporate text within an image. If text is included in an image, that text should be added to the images “alt text” attribute.
Concise alternative text communicates the purpose and essential information conveyed visually. Alternative text should focus on what a user needs to understand from the image rather than describing every visual detail, and it should avoid redundant phrases such as “image of” or “picture of,” as screen readers already identify images. Decorative images that do not add informational value should use empty alternative text (alt=””) so they are skipped by screen readers and do not create unnecessary distraction.
For complex visuals such as charts, graphs, diagrams, or infographics, a more detailed description should be provided either directly adjacent to the image or through an accessible long description. This explanation should summarize key data points, trends, and conclusions to ensure users receive the same meaningful insights as sighted users. Any text displayed within an image must also be presented in accessible HTML text to guarantee readability and compatibility with assistive technology. Additionally, images should not rely solely on color to convey meaning; text labels, patterns, or icons should be included to support users with color vision deficiencies. When images function as links or buttons, the alternative text should clearly describe the action they perform rather than their visual appearance. Following these practices helps ensure that image content is perceivable, understandable, and accessible to all users.
See “The Art of Alt Text” for more information.
- Video Captioning: Videos play a big role in how people get information, which is why they matter under theaccessibility mandate. If a video can’t be understood by someone who is deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or has low vision, it’s like locking the front door to part of our audience. Adding things like captions, clear audio, and written descriptions makes sure everyone can access the same message at the same time. For help getting this right, it’s important to reach out to UTC’s Video Team in our ticketing system here, who can assist with captions, formats, and best practices so videos meet accessibility requirements from the start.
- Vendor Sites: Content editors must also review the accessibility compliance of any vendor-managed websites or platforms they use. If you work with a vendor site, notify the Accessibility Task Force so we can track compliance and provide support. In addition, you will need to include a disclaimer on your pages when linking to 3rd-party content. The disclaimer should notify users that while UTC has made every effort to ensure accessibility, the university cannot guarantee full accessibility for information provided by external vendors.
Example:
Disclaimer: This page contains links or embedded content from a third-party vendor. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has made every effort to ensure the accessibility of this content. However, because the material is hosted and maintained by an external provider, UTC cannot guarantee that all aspects meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards. If you encounter any barriers to access, please contact [email protected] for assistance.
Your active participation ensures UTC stays ahead of the federal deadline and equips you with the knowledge to apply accessibility standards in your daily content work.
For additional guidance—beyond your Silktide training—on making web pages and PDFs accessible, please visit our articles in our Knowledge Base.
What’s Ahead
Key Deadline
- April 26, 2027 – DOJ compliance date for WCAG 2.1 AA standards.
Roadmap Highlights
(Items in red indicate that UTC Content Editor attention is needed.)
- Clarify requirements: Review DOJ guidance and WCAG 2.1 AA standards.
Accessibility Task Force: A cross-campus team to lead compliance efforts.(Disbanded as of 4/24/2026)- Defined roles: Clear accountability for IT, faculty, staff, and communications.
- Campus-wide policies applied: Accessibility built into all digital processes.
- Training and communication: Workshops and updates for editors and stakeholders.
- Full inventory: Catalog all websites, apps, documents, videos, and PDFs. Report those to the Accessibility Task Force.
- Testing and fixes: Automated scans + manual reviews to uncover and resolve issues.
- Vendor checks: Ensure 3rd-party tools also meet WCAG standards and disclaimers are posted.
- User testing: Partner with the Signal Center to validate improvements with real users.
- Ongoing oversight: A new Accessibility Subcommittee within the Web Governance Council will keep accessibility a permanent focus.
Why This Matters to You as a Content Editor
- Your role is critical. Accessibility isn’t just a developer task. Editors ensure headings, alt text, links, and documents are clear and usable.
- Compliance is shared. Everyone who creates or updates content helps UTC meet these standards.
- Better experience for all. Accessible content isn’t just for people with disabilities—it makes sites clearer and easier for everyone to use.
Benefits for the University
- Equal opportunity and access for all users
- Reduced legal and compliance risks
- Improved usability and digital experience
- Stronger culture of accountability and collaboration
Required Steps:
- Review PDFs uploaded to your site for archiving, remediation, or webpage conversion.
- Complete the required training in Silktide, including the three new videos.
- Choose one of the PDF online training sessions presented by the WCTL and add it to your calendar.
- Improve your site with the recommendations made in Silktide.
Small actions now will help us stay ahead of the April 2027 deadline.
Contact the UTC Web Team for assistance if you have any questions.