Dear Faculty and Staff,
As we shared in March, new regulations under the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) require GVSU's digital content to comply with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 guidelines, ensuring our digital content is accessible to everyone. We are writing to share an important update from the federal government regarding web accessibility compliance under the nondiscrimination provisions of the ADAAA.
On April 20, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice issued an official notice in the Federal Register––under Document No. 2026-07663––announcing a one-year extension of the compliance deadline, moving it from April 24, 2026 to April 26, 2027.
The Department noted that this extension was granted after determining it had underestimated how quickly covered entities could realistically achieve compliance. Importantly, the notice makes it clear that this extension affects only the timeline. It does not change the underlying substantive accessibility requirements adopted in the 2024 rule.
While this extension provides additional time, we will continue moving ahead with our accessibility efforts to ensure our web content and services are inclusive and compliant.
We encourage you to explore available resources, tips, and support on the WCAG website, gvsu.edu/wcag, as well as related eLearning training opportunities. On May 5, you can drop-in for Fix-Your-Content Day, hosted in support of the WCAG 2.1 accessibility initiative. Stop by between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. to work alongside experts from Student Accessibility Resources, eLearning Technologies, Blackboard, University Libraries, and University Marketing. Learn more and register via Workday Learning.
For any questions, you can direct those to accessibility@gvsu.edu.
Thank you for your continued hard work and dedication in creating an accessible environment for all at GVSU. Your efforts remain essential and are deeply appreciated.
Sincerely,
