From the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

On May 11, 2026, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights (HHS OCR), issued an Interim Final Rule extending the compliance deadline for the Section 504 web, mobile application, and kiosk accessibility requirements from May 11, 2026, to May 11, 2027, for entities receiving HHS funding with fifteen (15) or more employees.

This extension aligns with the recently announced one-year extension (April 26, 2027) of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Title II Web Accessibility Rule. While the federal compliance date has shifted, the substance of the rule remains unchanged. It is important to note that SUNY campuses continue to have existing accessibility obligations under New York State Law, Section 504, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), including the responsibility to provide accessible programs, services, and activities to individuals with disabilities. New York State requires compliance of all digital content by January 1, 2027. 

The additional year should be used to continue remediation efforts, strengthen review processes, and integrate accessibility into routine content creation, procurement, and academic planning. This extension is not intended to pause or slow ongoing accessibility work.

Faculty and staff are encouraged to continue reviewing and improving the accessibility of instructional materials, digital content, and online resources using Ally in Brightspace and Digital Content Accessibility Resources from Student Accessibility Services. Support is available through Instructional Design and Distance Learning Appointments.