Dear Colleagues, 

As a follow-up to our December 2025 communication, we are writing to remind you of a significant change that may impact the digital assets you rely on to teach.   

Federal accessibility regulations, which take effect on April 24, 2026, require public colleges and universities to align their websites and digital content with WCAG 2 accessibility standards. This includes all content on UMassd.edu, as well as the Canvas sites and course materials that students use in your classes. These new federal regulations ensure that all material offered for coursework can be accessible to anyone with a disability. 

Practically speaking, this means taking specific steps such as captioning videos, using accessible forms, and no longer publishing course materials as PDFs to Canvas or on any University website (including WordPress sites). The University will provide tools and support to get your course materials and websites into compliance. The University Web Development team has already taken steps to archive and convert existing digital content on umassd.edu that is not compliant, as well as develop several helpful tips and tools to help faculty and staff efforts, including the following: 

1. Spring 2026 Accessibility & ADA Compliance Faculty Guide 

Our new faculty-facing page, Accessibility & ADA Compliance for Your Courses, provides a practical overview of: 

• What the April 24, 2026, deadline means for your Canvas courses 

• Prioritized steps you can take this semester 

• How to use the available tools and resources to improve accessibility 

2. Accessibility in Action: Weekly “Newsbite” Posts 

Beginning the week of January 26, we’ll publish a short Accessibility in Action “newsbite” each Monday through April. Each post focuses on one small, concrete action you can take in your courses right away. You’ll get a brief reminder via Canvas global announcements each week when a new post is published. Once published, you’ll be able to browse current and previous posts here: Accessibility in Action series.  

3. Instructional Development Accessibility Resources 

Instructional Development maintains a set of teaching-focused accessibility resources. You can explore these resources here: Instructional Development Accessibility Resources. 

4. University-wide Accessibility Information and Policies 

In addition to teaching-focused resources, UMass Dartmouth maintains a comprehensive Accessibility at UMass Dartmouth site with university-wide information, policies, and contacts. 

This site is a valuable companion to the Spring 2026 course accessibility guide, particularly when you require a broader institutional context, policy language, or referrals beyond your own courses. 

5. Training Opportunities 

Throughout the Spring semester, we will also offer workshops and training sessions focused on enhancing course accessibility and utilizing relevant tools. Details and dates will be posted on the Instructional Development workshops page and through our regular faculty development announcements. 

The Web Development team has also provided a set of self-paced, asynchronous training modules available on the Accessibility at UMass Dartmouth site. While this training is primarily directed toward website editors, it can also help them understand digital accessibility concerns and the remediation process. 

6. 1:1 Course Support via Canvas Help Tickets 

If you’d like personalized support, you can request help at any time by submitting a Canvas Help Ticket (select “Accessibility” in your description, if applicable).  

Instructional designers or technologists will be happy to: 

• Review a specific course or module with you 

• Interpret Panorama accessibility reports 

• Help you prioritize high-impact fixes before and after April 24 

• Plan a realistic “accessibility roadmap” for Summer and Fall 2026 courses 

7. Library Support for Accessible Readings and Course Materials 

For help locating accessible versions of articles, book chapters, and other readings —especially if your course currently relies on scanned PDFs— please get in touch with your discipline/program Library Liaison: Library Liaisons & Staff Directory 

We recognize that the course accessibility work comes on top of many competing demands on your time. Our goal is to provide clear guidance, take small steps, and offer responsive support. 

Thank you for the ongoing care and attention you bring to your teaching and to your students’ access to learning.

With appreciation, 

Ramprasad Balasubramanian

Provost