University of Wisconsin–Madison

Call to action: Plan now for digital accessibility in course content for 2026-27

Audience:

Thank you for all you have done this year to provide excellent learning opportunities for our students. Your commitment to high-quality teaching makes a meaningful difference every day.

As you begin planning for the next academic year, we want to share that the federal digital accessibility rule compliance deadline has been extended to April 2027. While the timeline has shifted, our commitment has not. This rule applies to materials such as documents, Canvas course content, lecture slides, notes and readings. Creating accessible digital materials is an important part of ensuring that all students can fully engage with your course content and succeed.

We recognize that making content accessible requires new knowledge and takes time. Our recommendation is to start now and keep building momentum. If you have not already done so, this is a good time to:

  1. Familiarize yourself with the course material accessibility webpage, which outlines six key steps to help you get started and make steady progress toward more accessible course content.
  2. Review your course materials planned for 2026-27.
  3. Identify and begin making changes needed for digital accessibility.

For more information on digital accessibility, visit the University Digital Accessibility Hub. If you have questions, you can request guidance through the Center for User Experience website.

Thank you for your continued efforts – focusing on steady, meaningful progress will help us build a more accessible learning environment for everyone.

John Zumbrunnen, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Robert Cramer, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration

Nancy Lynch, Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs, Compliance, and Enterprise Risk Management