Digital Accessibility Initiative

Ensuring digital accessibility across the university is a shared responsibility. As a UK employee, if you produce or disseminate digital content that is available to students, patients or the public, you are responsible for ensuring it is compliant with accessibility standards utilizing the resources and guidance provided on this page and through other means at UK.

Note: If you produce or disseminate digital content that is available only to employees and you receive a request for accommodations, you should seek and follow guidance from UK’s Office of Campus of Accessibility and ADA.

Through your efforts, UK will comply with applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination with respect to disability as well as our own Governing Regulations addressing the equal dignity of members of our community, providing equal opportunities in all aspects of institutional operations.

Compliance with WCAG version 2.1 level AA at minimum

As of April 24, 2026, UK’s web content and mobile apps available to students, patients or the public must comply, at minimum, with the global standard Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.1 level AA.

Compliance of websites, web content, and web-based software

The scope includes resources that will be accessed online, through digital means, by students, patients or the public. Examples of web content include text, images, sounds, videos, controls, animations and conventional electronic documents. Conventional electronic documents include portable document formats (“PDF”), word processor file formats, presentation file formats and spreadsheet file formats.

Any web content – i.e., items accessed online, through digital means – that students, patients or the public use to apply for, gain access to or take part in UK’s services, programs or activities, must be accessible and meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards by April 24, 2026.

This includes web content developed and created by UK employees and by third parties through contractual, licensing or other arrangements with UK that is shared with students, patients or the public, no matter when the content was developed.

This includes:

• websites and web content including browser-based platforms, software and applications;
• academic technologies and instructional digital content;
• digital documents shared with students, patients or the larger public like PDFs, presentations, word processing and spreadsheets;
• mobile applications;
• social media content on university accounts; and
• third-party supplier goods and services accessed through the web.

Examples of content accessed through online, digital means used by students, patients or the public to apply for, gain access to or take part in UK’s services, programs or activities may include but are not limited to:

• Forms that are used to request services or fulfill requirements.
• Web page describing current clinical services.
• Web page describing an upcoming event.
• Class schedule maintained online.
• Course syllabus or assignments maintained online.
• A calendar of important upcoming dates.
• Website providing online scheduling for appointments.
• Website providing RSVP form for an upcoming symposium.
• Website that provides information about an academic program for prospective students.
• Website directory identifying faculty members in a program or college.
• A PDF that describes the steps to apply for a degree program.
• An email sent to students, patients or the public.

The new regulations spell out specific and limited exceptions from the requirement to conform to WCAG 2.1 Level AA.

1. Properly archived web content where content was created before April 24, 2026. Archived web content must meet all of the following requirements to be excepted:
   1. The web content was created prior to April 24, 2026. This includes both digitally created or reproduced scans from paper copies or physical media.
   2. The web content is retained exclusively for reference, research or records keeping.
   3. The web content is not altered or updated after being archived.
   4. The web content is organized and stored in a dedicated area clearly identified as being archived.
2. Pre-existing conventional electronic documents created and posted on a website before April 24, 2026, which are no longer used to apply for, gain access to, or participate in the university’s services, programs or activities. Conventional electronic documents include portable document formats (“PDF”), word processor file formats, presentation file formats, and spreadsheet file formats.
3. Content posted to a UK website by a third party, so long as that party is not posting due to contractual, licensing, or other arrangements with UK, such as on a community bulletin board.
4. Individualized password-protected or otherwise secured conventional electronic documents. Individualized documents are about a specific person, property or account.
5. Social media posts made prior to April 24, 2026.

There will be instances in which the university must provide accessible versions of items falling under these exceptions upon request by users who need accommodation to access them.