The Justice Department has delayed a deadline requiring schools, colleges, and public institutions to make online content accessible to people with disabilities. The rule was set to take effect this week.
The accessibility requirement stems from federal law mandating that public institutions provide equal access to digital materials for students and staff with disabilities. Schools must ensure websites, videos, documents, and other online resources work with assistive technologies like screen readers.
The Trump administration's postponement gives institutions more time to comply with the regulation. Schools and colleges have struggled with implementation costs and technical challenges in converting existing materials to accessible formats.
Disability advocates have criticized delays in enforcement. They argue that postponing the deadline perpetuates unequal access for students with disabilities who rely on accessible digital content to participate fully in education.
The specifics of how long the delay will last remain unclear. Institutions previously faced pressure to audit their online materials and remediate inaccessible content before the original deadline.