Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act was updated in April 2024 to require specific standards for web content accessibility. This ruling aligns with University policy in requiring compliance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Level AA. It is important to note that the federal requirement references version 2.1 while University policy requires the most current version of WCAG.
In accordance with Title II, the University's digital material must be accessible in compliance with WCAG 2.1 AA by April 26, 2027. Specific content types that are covered under this obligation are listed below.
- PDFs
- Word processor files
- Presentation files
- Spreadsheet files
- Websites
- Videos and audio
- Canvas content
- Social media
- Digital books, textbooks, and libraries.
In order to meet this requirement, the following timeline of goals is recommended for all areas. By first prioritizing websites, courses, and materials that have the most widespread use we can significantly improve the accessibility of digital content at Pitt.
Timeline of Goals
- Fall Term 2026 general education, all first-year students, or other similar required courses are accessible by their start date of August 24, 2026.
- Courses include Canvas content and class materials.
- Main Office and School websites and content housed on them are accessible by October 23, 2026.
- Spring Term 2027 general education, all first-year students, or other similar required courses are accessible by their start date of January 11, 2027.
- All remaining websites (departments, subgroups, research groups, major/minor/degree programs, etc.) and content housed on them are accessible by April 26, 2027.
- All Summer Term 2027 courses are accessible before their relevant start date.
- 12-Week, 6-week, 4-week, and full-term courses have differing start dates.
- All remaining and any new Fall Term 2027 courses are accessible by their start date of August 23, 2027.
- All remaining and any new Spring Term 2028 courses are accessible by their start date of January 10, 2028.
FAQ
- What happens after April 26, 2027?
Pitt is expected to have all relevant digital content accessible by this date. Any content that is created, published, or made available after April 26, 2027 is expected to be accessible and compliant immediately upon availability.
If content is noncompliant, the University is at risk for litigation due to violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
- Are there exceptions to this rule?
There are very limited exceptions to the Title II requirement. First, to understand the exemptions, you must understand the following terminology.
- Pre-existing: available online before the compliance date of April 26, 2027.
- Non-essential: not currently being used to apply for, access, or participate in Pitt services, programs, or activities.
- Archival: kept strictly for reference, research, or recordkeeping; not altered or updated after April 26, 2027; and stored in a dedicated area clearly identified as being archived.
The following is a list of content that is exempt from compliance with WCAG 2.1 under Title II. Exemptions must meet all parts of their specified terminology definitions in order to qualify.
- Pre-existing, non-essential PDFs, word processor files, presentation files, or spreadsheet files.
- Pre-existing social media posts
- Pre-existing, non-essential, archival website content
- What are "all first-year students" courses?
These are courses that are required for all first-year students in your school, major, program, etc. This is specified as a means of prioritizing courses which have the most enrollment. Making these courses accessible first will have a large impact on accessibility because every student who comes through your program will experience it.
This could include first-year courses of a graduate or medical program, then, especially if that program is particularly large. If the students have no choice but to take that specific class to complete their major, it should be prioritized.
- Why are the dates for some goals after the federal deadline of April 26, 2027?
Content created or published after April 26, 2027 is expected to be accessible and compliant immediately upon its availability. The content for Summer 2027, Fall 2027, and Spring 2028 courses is not available to students until their course begins. Therefore, the dates chosen for these courses are their respective start dates.