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Standards and Policies

Last modified: May 1, 2026
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Federal Laws Requiring Accessible Web Content

UAMS, as a public institution, must ensure individuals with disabilities are not denied the benefits of services, programs, or activities — including all content on public-facing websites and mobile apps.

Key laws include:

  • Section 504 and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act
  • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
  • Title II of the ADA – DOJ Final Rule (April 2024): Explicitly requires all state and local government entities (including public universities like UAMS) to conform to WCAG 2.1 Level AA by April 26, 2027. Non-compliance risks DOJ investigations, Office for Civil Rights complaints, and private lawsuits.

Established, Measurable Accessibility Standard

UAMS follows the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA, developed and maintained by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).

Blackboard Ally for Websites continuously monitors all UAMS sites against WCAG 2.1 Level AA and provides editors with real-time scores and remediation guidance.

Four Guiding Principles of WCAG – P.O.U.R.

These principles form the foundation of web accessibility:

  1. Perceivable – Users must be able to perceive the information being presented (it can’t be invisible to any of their senses). Example: Provide text alternatives for images, captions for videos, sufficient color contrast.
  2. Operable – Users must be able to operate the interface (the site cannot require interaction that a user cannot perform). Example: Full keyboard navigation, no flashing content that could trigger seizures.
  3. Understandable – Users must be able to understand the information and operation of the user interface. Example: Clear language, predictable navigation, proper headings and labels.
  4. Robust – Content must be robust enough to be interpreted reliably by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies. Example: Valid HTML, proper ARIA labels when needed.

All UAMS web content (pages, PDFs, videos, images, forms, etc.) must meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA by April 26, 2027.

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