{"693234":{"#nid":"693234","#data":{"type":"news","title":"New Resources Support Georgia Tech\u2019s Digital Accessibility Efforts","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EEarlier this year, Georgia Tech shared information about updated digital accessibility requirements under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Institute\u2019s work to help ensure that digital content and services are accessible to all members of our community.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESince then, the federal compliance deadline has been extended to April 26, 2027, and Georgia Tech has expanded the tools and resources available to help the campus community prepare.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe extended deadline gives our community more time to make thoughtful, sustainable progress, and Georgia Tech has expanded the tools, guidance, and training available to support that work,\u201d said Jarmon DeSadier, vice president for Equal Opportunity, Compliance, and Conflict Management. \u201cWe need to keep the momentum going. By building accessibility into how we create and maintain digital content now, we can reduce the need for remediation later and help ensure a more inclusive learning and working environment for everyone.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EExtended Deadline\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EThe U.S. Department of Justice extended the Title II of the ADA digital accessibility compliance deadline applicable to Georgia Tech by one year, to \u003Cstrong\u003EApril 26, 2027\u003C\/strong\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis additional time gives faculty and staff more opportunity to assess their digital content, build accessibility into their everyday work, and address existing content that needs to be updated. The extended timeline does not change the importance of this work or the accessibility standard. The Title II rule continues to use WCAG 2.1 Level AA as its technical standard.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMore Resources Are Available to Help\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EOver the past several months, Georgia Tech teams have continued to expand the guidance, tools, training, and support available through the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/digitalaccess.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDigital Accessibility website\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. The site serves as a central resource for making digital content, including websites, Microsoft Office documents, PDFs, instructional course materials, and multimedia, accessible.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EKey resources include:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022ec7e7138adc1281061c0e10d79fe64912\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/digitalaccess.gatech.edu\/start\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGet Started guidance\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E for assessing digital resources and developing an action plan for content that should be removed, archived, or remediated.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e10982423232c2ec78634ef93f1d6b83c\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERoles and responsibilities\u003C\/strong\u003E for instructors and faculty, administrators and staff, technical staff, librarians, and students.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022ea0f67669b11daa53b1e230ba61e388a3\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERole-related road maps\u003C\/strong\u003E to guide \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/digitalaccess.gatech.edu\/course-accessibility-roadmap\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Einstructors\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/digitalaccess.gatech.edu\/accessibility-roadmap-administrators-and-staff\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Estaff\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E through common challenges ranging from everyday administrative and communication needs to more complex instructional materials, including formulas and scientific equations.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e1cf91915db78c5568587e0fd3ec6b515\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/digitalaccess.gatech.edu\/testing-and-remediation-tools\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETesting and remediation resources\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, including enterprise tools for digital documents and website accessibility scanning and remediation.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e2976771431c70872007595fd23130526\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/digitalaccess.gatech.edu\/workshops\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETraining and workshops\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E to help campus users understand and apply accessibility practices. Additional workshops will be added to the website as they become available. Visit the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/digitalaccess.gatech.edu\/recorded-workshops\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERecorded Workshops webpage\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E to view previously conducted workshops. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat You Can Do Now and Moving Forward\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EIf you create, manage, or share digital content on behalf of Georgia Tech, make the following steps an ongoing part of your digital content routine:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Col\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e8733c04f6c5e9a164aa65ccfd5a63406\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETake inventory\u003C\/strong\u003E of the websites, documents, presentations, multimedia, and other digital resources you manage. Make a plan to remediate existing content in time to fully comply with the April 26, 2027, deadline.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e61d1005f55b69fcc066b5d3223a12619\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPrioritize your work\u003C\/strong\u003E, beginning with content required for instruction, employment, or campus services; public-facing or frequently used materials; and new or actively maintained content.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e6b59c01f2c8b13396d6006a036d50233\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EUse Georgia Tech\u2019s testing and remediation tools\u003C\/strong\u003E to identify and address digital accessibility content issues. In addition to the instructional faculty and staff accessibility road maps, review the \u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/digitalaccess.gatech.edu\/testing-and-remediation-tools\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETesting and Remediation Tools webpage\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E for quick links to enterprise resources to address documents and instructional materials.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e5ae030d4e0efbc5fb9e234ee980fdb08\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EContinue to test and remediate your websites.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003ESince February, the Office of Information Technology has sent direct communications to owners and managers of 425 websites about how to claim their website in the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/digitalaccess.gatech.edu\/testing-and-remediation-tools#websiteasset\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWebsite Asset Inventory\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E process and begin scanning their websites using\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/digitalaccess.gatech.edu\/testing-and-remediation-tools#dubbot\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDubBot\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. If you have created a new website since February, submit a request to\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:gtaccessibility@gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Egtaccessibility@gatech.edu\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E to be added to the Website Asset Inventory. Learn more about this process, including knowledge articles, on the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/digitalaccess.gatech.edu\/testing-and-remediation-tools\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETesting and Remediation Tools webpage\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e17de4fc112e51d0c1e801fdd5d9f8fab\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBuild accessibility into new content from the start\u003C\/strong\u003E so that remediation becomes less necessary over time.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ol\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAccessibility Is an Ongoing Commitment\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EThe extended deadline gives Georgia Tech valuable additional time to prepare, but digital accessibility is about more than a date on the calendar. It is an ongoing commitment to creating digital experiences that allow everyone to fully participate in the academic, research, and working life of the Institute.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EExplore the tools, guidance, training, and resources available at\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/digitalaccess.gatech.edu\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Edigitalaccess.gatech.edu\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EOver the past several months, Georgia Tech teams have continued to expand the guidance, tools, training, and support\u0026nbsp;needed to help ensure that digital content and services are accessible to all members of our community.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The federal compliance deadline has been extended to April 26, 2027, and Georgia Tech has expanded the tools and resources available to help the campus community prepare."}],"uid":"27164","created_gmt":"2026-10-14 14:27:38","changed_gmt":"2026-10-14 15:03:42","author":"Rachael Pocklington","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-10-14T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-10-14T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"681425":{"id":"681425","type":"image","title":"Accessibility-Stock-Image.jpg","body":null,"created":"1791990049","gmt_created":"2026-10-14 15:00:49","changed":"1791990049","gmt_changed":"2026-10-14 15:00:49","alt":"Keyboard with \u0022Accessibility\u0022 on a key","file":{"fid":"265830","name":"Accessibility-Stock-Image.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/10\/14\/Accessibility-Stock-Image.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/10\/14\/Accessibility-Stock-Image.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":8551345,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/10\/14\/Accessibility-Stock-Image.jpg?itok=4WzzyCPh"}}},"media_ids":["681425"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/digitalaccess.gatech.edu\/","title":"Digital Accessibility Website"}],"groups":[{"id":"64319","name":"Administration and Finance"},{"id":"660400","name":"Digital Accessibility"},{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"194896","name":"digital accessibility"},{"id":"194884","name":"Title II, ADA, digital accessibility"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ERachael Pocklington\u003Cbr\u003EInstitute Communications\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["rpocklington@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}