[{"id":66750,"date":"2026-03-04T13:06:10","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T18:06:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adminfinance.umw.edu\/procurement\/?page_id=66750"},"modified":"2026-03-04T13:06:12","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T18:06:12","slug":"umw-accessibility-requirements","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/adminfinance.umw.edu\/procurement\/vendors\/umw-accessibility-requirements\/","title":{"rendered":"UMW Accessibility Requirements"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Procurement Services<\/div>

UMW Accessibility Requirements<\/h1><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
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UMW Accessibility Requirements Letter to Suppliers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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Dear Supplier,<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The University of Mary Washington (UMW) is committed to ensuring that all digital resources used by our students, faculty, staff, and community members are fully accessible to individuals with disabilities. This commitment reflects both our institutional values and our legal obligations under federal and state law. As a current or prospective supplier of digital products or services, your partnership is essential to achieving full compliance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Federal Requirements: ADA Title II & WCAG 2.1 AA (Effective Date for UMW: April 24, 2026)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

On April 24, 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a final rule updating Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA),<\/a> requiring all state and local government entities – including public universities, such as UMW – to ensure that their websites and mobile applications conform to WCAG 2.1 Level AA<\/strong> no later than April 24, 2026<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

UMW must, therefore, ensure that all digital tools, platforms, documents, and electronic content provided by third-party vendors meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards by this federal deadline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

UMW Institutional Compliance Timeline<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

UMW has launched a campus-wide digital accessibility initiative requiring that all digital content, including websites, documents, instructional materials, and third-party tools, be fully compliant by April 24, 2026.<\/strong> This includes Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, PDF, video, and other digital files used in Canvas or distributed electronically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To meet this requirement, all suppliers must ensure that any digital products or services provided to UMW are accessible upon delivery or accompanied by a UMW-approved remediation plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Virginia House Bill 2541 (2025) Requirements<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Virginia’s 2025 update to the Information Technology Access Act (HB 2541) expands accessibility obligations for all state agencies and public institutions of higher education. The law requires that digital communication and information technology be accessible to individuals with disabilities, extending beyond visual impairments, to include a broader range of accessibility needs. Under these updates to the ITA Act, UMW must:<\/p>\n\n\n\n