New ADA Deadline

The U.S. Department of Education has set a deadline of April 24, 2026 for public schools to comply with ADA requirements. This applies to web content, course materials, syllabi, PDFs, slide decks, and Word documents. In particular, this refers to access for individuals with visual impairment.

 

Individuals using a screen reader will need alternative text describing images and captions for videos. This also includes proper color contrasts and text formatting. For more specifics, see the following resources:

 

https://attheu.utah.edu/facultystaff/digital-accessibility-standards/

https://cte.utah.edu/instructor-education/accessibility-essentials/index.php

https://www.ada.gov/resources/2024-03-08-web-rule/

 

PDFs are one component that must be accessible. Therefore, theses and dissertations must be created with these rules in mind. See Appendix A of the Handbook for Theses and Dissertations:

 

https://gradschool.utah.edu/thesis/handbook/index.php

 

• Please note that for manuscripts created with the LaTeX word processing software, equations are problematic. Fractions are often misinterpreted by screen readers. Brackets and parentheses are also an issue. These issues are being investigated and will hopefully be resolved, but for the time being, it is a work in progress.