This blog was updated April 20, 2026
Key Takeaways:
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ADA deadlines extended, but expectations remain high
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Accessibility should be built in, not added later
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Community, standards, and training can help accelerate progress
New Deadline:
The compliance deadlines for updates to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) have been extended by an additional year, giving public institutions more time to prepare. The US Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division updated the ADA to include new requirements for any government web content or apps, including all public education institutions such as K–12 districts, state departments of education, and public colleges and universities. The update requires government websites and their web apps and tools to be accessible to all, following the W3C’s WCAG 2.1 AA Standard. The compliance timeline, based on the size of the organization, was originally set for April 2026 and April 2027, but are now moved out to 2027 and 2028. K–12 district and state education department timelines are based on census data, and for higher education, the dates are based on the population each institution serves. This also trickles down to those edtech providers that provide apps and tools to these institutions. While there is now more time to comply, organizations should continue preparing to meet these important accessibility requirements.
Work with Accessibility in Mind
At 1EdTech, we believe accessibility standards work best when they’re integrated into design and development from the very beginning. Considering accessibility early ensures it becomes a core part of design, helping create an inclusive edtech ecosystem.
To make it easier to include accessibility at the beginning of the process, 1EdTech member experts collaborate to create standards, tools and resources, including Question and Test Interoperability (QTI) 3, Support for Speech Synthesis (Data-SSML), Personal Needs and Preferences, best practices, suggested RFP language, and an Accessibility Rubric to help the edtech industry ensure that web content and apps are developed to provide equity and accessibility.
- 1EdTech's TrustEd Apps Accessibility Rubric helps members improve access for students with a broad range of auditory, visual, physical, and cognitive abilities, provides a standardized framework that promotes discussions and transparency, and should be used as a supplement to legislated requirements and accessibility conformance documentation, such as the ADA, Section 508, VPAT, CPAT, HECVAT, etc. This is an edtech provider self-assessment tool.
- Technical standards built with accessibility in mind, such as:
- QTI 3 helps ensure that digital learning tools and assessments are accessible to every student by providing a format that includes features aligned with WCAG 2.1 Level AA accessibility standards, Section 508 accommodations, and modern web accessibility practices, making content easier to use and more inclusive.
- Access for All describes a way to match characteristics of resources to the personal needs and preferences of online learners and test takers.
- Personal Needs and Preferences 3 provides a format that helps educators and developers design learning experiences that are accessible to each learner’s preferences and needs.
- LTI Personal Needs and Preferences Connector Service is a secure way to send the needs and preferences from the SIS or tool to the learning platform.
- Data-SSML is designed to improve pronunciation capabilities in text-to-speech and read-aloud technologies in digital learning resources and assessments.
- Member Resources and Certifications: CAST’s UDL Certification, Benetech’s Certifications, Teach Access’ Resources, etc.
Accessibility is a Journey
The 1EdTech community believes Accessibility is a Journey, meaning we can’t be “done,” but we have met the call to help our members and the public meet the new federal requirements. 1EdTech and WCET collaborated on a comprehensive workshop series to equip institutions and edtech providers with the tools and knowledge to ensure their web-based content complies with WCAG 2.1 AA standards. An in-person capstone highlighting the results of the series will be held in June 2026 in conjunction with 1EdTech’s Learning Impact Conference.
There will also be several sessions at the conference with experts who can discuss how they are implementing the needed changes.
It is time to focus on learner access and the accessibility of your content and applications. Join the conversation about improving accessibility for learners, educators, and EVERYONE at 1EdTech. To learn more, contact Susan Haught, Sr. Technical Program Manager.
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About the Author:
Susan Haught is the Senior Technical Program Manager at 1EdTech. Her passion involves educational technology leadership strategies that make a positive impact on teaching and learning, supporting all students and teachers in achieving their goals. She has academic and technical professional experience working in K12 and higher education with a focus in education technology leadership, IT program management, professional learning, instructional technology, and classroom teaching.
Susan’s background includes professional experience in education technology, encompassing classroom instruction and district IT leadership (K-12), student support services for low-income, first-generation, and/or students with disabilities (Higher Ed), and technology and operations (K-12 and Higher Ed).
She holds an M.Ed. in Education Technology Leadership, from Lamar University, with a focus in EdTech Leadership.
