UCLA’s digital accessibility requirements come from three converging sources:

• UC IMT-1300 — IT Accessibility Policy The University of California’s systemwide policy requires all UC locations to implement an IT Accessibility Policy Program (ITAPP) and bring covered IT into compliance with WCAG 2.1 AA. UCLA’s compliance date under this policy is April 24, 2026. 
• ADA Title II Federal regulations under the Americans with Disabilities Act require state and local government entities, including public universities, to make their digital content accessible. The federal compliance deadline has been extended to April 26, 2027, but UCLA’s UC policy obligations remain in effect on April 24, 2026. Content created after April 24, 2026 must meet WCAG 2.1 AA regardless of the federal deadline extension.
• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act HHS has issued an Interim Final Rule extending the Section 504 web and mobile accessibility compliance deadline by one year, to May 11, 2027 for institutions with 15 or more employees. 
• WCAG 2.1 AA The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines are the technical standard UCLA must meet. They cover web pages, documents, applications, multimedia, and interactive tools. 

Federal Accessibility Deadlines Have Been Extended

Two federal deadlines for digital accessibility compliance have been extended. Here's what's changed (and what hasn't) for UCLA.

What changed

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) previously extended the ADA Title II compliance deadline to April 26, 2027. On May 7, 2026, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights issued an Interim Final Rule extending the Section 504 compliance deadline to May 11, 2027 for recipients with 15 or more employees.

What hasn't changed

The substantive standard (WCAG 2.1 AA)  has not changed. UCLA's obligation to ensure that people with disabilities can access our digital content remains in effect.

Content exceptions tied to a specific date (including archived web content, preexisting conventional electronic documents, and preexisting social media posts), continue to use April 24, 2026 as the cutoff date. Any new digital content created after April 24, 2026, must meet WCAG 2.1 AA.

IMT-1300, the UC systemwide IT Accessibility Policy, has not been revised. UCLA's ITAPP programs and the work of our Action Response Teams continue as planned.

What Is Covered

• Websites and web applications, including content behind a login
• Documents (PDFs, Word files, presentations, spreadsheets) created or posted after April 24, 2026
• Course materials in Bruin Learn and other learning platforms
• Multimedia (video, audio, interactive content)
• Procurement — software, platforms, and tools UCLA purchases or licenses
• Third-party tools and embeds used to deliver UCLA services

What is Not Covered Under the UC Policy’s Accessibility Standard:

• Archived content (content preserved for historical reference, with no ongoing use)
• Electronic documents posted before April 24, 2026, that are not currently used to access UCLA services, programs, or activities
• Social media posts published before April 24, 2026
• Individualized, password-protected documents about a specific person

Note: Even exempt content may still be subject to individual accommodation requests.

When making a specific piece of content accessible is not technically feasible or creates an undue burden, UCLA has a formal exception process. Exceptions require institutional approval and must include an Equally Effective Alternate Access Plan (EEAAP) that describes how affected users can still access the content or service.

Exceptions are not permanent waivers: they are documented, time-limited, and subject to review.

Submit or learn about the exception process

Get help determining whether an exception applies

Digital accessibility is a shared responsibility across campus. Everyone who creates, publishes, purchases, or manages digital content has a role.

The UCLA Digital Accessibility Steering Committee, co-chaired by Lucy Avetisyan (AVC & CIO) and Dr. Ralina Joseph (Vice Provost for Inclusive Excellence), provides strategic direction and institutional oversight.

Six Action Teams (ARTs) are leading domain-specific work across web content, applications, academic and course content, health, research, and procurement.

Learn more about the Steering Committee and governance structure

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) previously extended the ADA Title II compliance deadline to April 26, 2027. On May 7, 2026, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights issued an Interim Final Rule extending the Section 504 compliance deadline to May 11, 2027 for recipients with 15 or more employees.

What hasn't changed

The substantive standard (WCAG 2.1 AA)  has not changed. UCLA's obligation to ensure that people with disabilities can access our digital content remains in effect.

Content exceptions tied to a specific date (including archived web content, preexisting conventional electronic documents, and preexisting social media posts), continue to use April 24, 2026 as the cutoff date. Any new digital content created after April 24, 2026, must meet WCAG 2.1 AA.

IMT-1300, the UC systemwide IT Accessibility Policy, has not been revised. UCLA's ITAPP programs and the work of our Action Response Teams continue as planned.