Digital Accessibility and Your Purchases: What to Know

What to know!

At UVA, the technologies we choose shape how our community learns, works, and connects. Ensuring those tools are accessible by everyone is a shared responsibility. UVA’s ADA Coordinator team is guiding a university-wide effort to ensure that digital tools and content meet accessibility standards and support an inclusive experience for all in our community.

Starting April 24, 2026, updated federal requirements under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) will further formalize these expectations for public institutions, including UVA.

As a result, digital accessibility is being integrated into standard purchasing and review processes.

For those involved in purchasing, this will feel familiar. Just as technology purchases today go through Information Security and contract review, accessibility will now be part of that same process. Procurement is here to support you as these requirements are incorporated into day-to-day operations.

When your purchase includes a digital tool

If your purchase includes a digital component, such as software, a website, a platform, or a service with a portal or dashboard, accessibility will now be part of the purchasing process.

In practice, it may include:

• Requesting accessibility documentation from suppliers (such as a VPAT or ACR)
• Engaging the ADA Coordinator team for guidance or review
• Building in time for accessibility review if requirements have not yet been met

Not every purchase will require the same level of review. In general, tools used by students, employees, patients, or the public are more likely to be in scope.

What to expect along the way

Digital Accessibility is now part of UVA’s broader purchasing and review framework.

• Departments help set expectations early by engaging suppliers and requesting accessibility information
• ADA Coordinator Team provides guidance, reviews tools, and partners with departments to assess risk and usability
• Procurement helps ensure required steps are completed before contracts are finalized or purchase orders are issued

As with other reviews, completing accessibility requirements early helps avoid delays later in the process.

Getting started

If you’re planning a purchase with a digital component, the best first step is simply to start early.

The ADA Coordinator Team can help you understand what applies, what documentation may be needed, and how to engage suppliers effectively. Procurement is also available to help you navigate the process.

More detailed guidance, including how to determine when a review is required and what steps to take, will be shared soon. In the meantime, building accessibility into your planning timeline will help keep your purchase moving smoothly.

Learn More and Get Support

You don’t have to navigate digital accessibility on your own.

UVA’s ADA Coordinator Team provides guidance and resources to help you understand complexities of this process. To learn more, visit the Digital Accessibility website or reach out to the team for support.

Visit the Digital Accessibility Website Contact the ADA Coordinator Team