As part of Purdue University’s system-wide initiative to support instructors as they transition their course materials in alignment with the new digital accessibility standards issued by the Department of Justice (DOJ) under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Purdue has selected Yuja Panorama as the centrally supported digital accessibility remediation tool. When deployed, Yuja Panorama will have remediation capabilities to support…
Digital accessibility remediation tool selected for ADA support
As part of Purdue University’s system-wide initiative to support instructors as they transition their course materials in alignment with the new digital accessibility standardsissued by the Department of Justice (DOJ) under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Purdue has selected Yuja Panorama as the centrally supported digital accessibility remediation tool.
When deployed, Yuja Panorama will have remediation capabilities to support instructors with the ability to:
Scan instructional materials within Brightspace to identify potential digital accessibility issues.
Allow remediation of course content without leaving the Brightspace environment.
Provide clear, actionable feedback on common concerns such as document structure, color contrast, and alternative text.
The tool was selected after Purdue conducted a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a digital content remediation tool to integrate into Brightspace and assist instructors in identifying and addressing accessibility issues in instructional materials.
A cross-campus project team representing Purdue system institutions reviewed the tools and evaluated them based on defined instructional use cases, technical considerations and feedback submitted by faculty, instructors and staff. This collaborative approach ensured that perspectives from across Purdue’s diverse teaching environments were incorporated into the final decision-making process.
Additional information, including timelines, training opportunities, and guidance for instructors, will be shared in the coming weeks. There is no immediate action required from faculty at this time. Visit theYuja Panorama webpage for the most current information.
For further questions and support at your campus, contact:
Purdue University remains committed to ensuring that instructional materials and digital content are accessible to every student. On April 20, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) extended the compliance deadlines by one year for the ADA Title II rule requiring state and local governments to make their websites and mobile apps accessible under…
DOJ extends ADA Title II digital accessibility deadlines—what instructors should do now
Purdue University remains committed to ensuring that instructional materials and digital content are accessible to every student. On April 20, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) extended the compliance deadlines by one year for the ADA Title II rule requiring state and local governments to make their websites and mobile apps accessible under WCAG 2.1 AA. Large covered public entities (like Purdue) must comply by the updated deadline of April 26, 2027.
The Department determined that many state and local governments – including higher education institutions and school districts – lack the staffing, resources, or technological capacity to meet the original deadline (April 24, 2026) without risking rushed or low-quality implementation and increased litigation exposure.
By extending the deadline to April 26, 2027, the DOJ aims to give institutions sufficient time to plan and implement accessibility measures thoughtfully and sustainably, ultimately supporting better access for people with disabilities rather than compliance driven primarily by legal risk.
What this means for instructors
Continue updating course content. Even with the DOJ extension, accessibility work takes time, especially for documents, videos, images, and specialized content like math.
Prioritize high-use materials. Start with what students must use this term (syllabus, core readings, key slides, major assignments, recurring media).
Use existing supports. Keep using the ADA Readiness resources, checklists, training, and support services already available to help you make steady progress.
The remediation tool is coming. A centrally supported remediation tool will be provided to assist with identifying and addressing common accessibility issues; more details and timelines will be shared as soon as the tool is ready for use.
Bottom line: The federal compliance timeline has moved, but the law will remain the same: faculty are required to provide accessible instructional materials to support student success and inclusive learning. Please continue to follow ADA Title II guidelines in creating new materials, work to remediate course content where needed, and watch for updates as Purdue rolls out the remediation tool and further guidance leading up to April 26, 2027.
For further questions and support at your campus, contact:
Accessible materials are the new normal for instructional course content—and the good news is that it doesn’t require a complete overhaul. The biggest impact on accessibility comes from small, repeatable habits you can build into your workflow. When these steps become routine, you catch issues early, avoid last‑minute fixes, and make your content easier to navigate for…
Accessibility is a regular routine for creating course content
Accessible materials are the new normal for instructional course content—and the good news is that it doesn’t require a complete overhaul. The biggest impact on accessibility comes from small, repeatable habits you can build into your workflow. When these steps become routine, you catch issues early, avoid last‑minute fixes, and make your content easier to navigate for everyone.
When you write or revise content (Word docs, Brightspace pages): Use built-in headings (don’t just bold/resize text), keep lists as true lists by using Styles, and use simple tables with a clear header row.
When you add links: Swap “click here” for descriptive link text so students know exactly what they’re opening.
When you add images, charts, or diagrams: Add alt text that explains the purpose of the visual; for a complex visual, pair it with a brief description in nearby text.
When you use PowerPoint/slides: Use slide layouts, ensure every slide has a unique title, and check reading order before you share them.
When you use video or audio: Make sure captions (video) or transcripts (audio) are available.
Before you publish (5-minute final check): Run the built-in accessibility checkers and tackle the highest‑impact items first.
Using past content? Build in a quick “touch-up” step
If you’re reusing files from prior terms, make accessibility part of your course copy routine. Start with the items students need first (syllabus, core readings, key slides, major assignments), then work outward as time allows. Accessibility isn’t an all‑or‑nothing finish line—it’s steady progress that pays off every time you teach.
Need a starting point? Keep the Digital Instructional Materials – Accessibility Checklist open as you build—it’s designed to support this “new normal” workflow. The Instructional Material ADA Readiness webpage pulls the latest guidance into one place. For step-by-step practice, the Brightspace ADA Accessibility Course – see details on the Readiness page — provides a structured pathway you can complete at your own pace.
For further questions and support at your campus, contact:
Are you interested in new ideas to engage students in your class? The Center for Instructional Excellence (CIE) invites you to join us for an afternoon of game-based learning on Fri., April 24, 2-4 p.m. in LYLE 1160. Hear from Purdue instructors who will share practical, game‑based strategies to boost…
Join CIE for an Instructional Innovation Showcase: Engagement Using Games
Are you interested in new ideas to engage students in your class? The Center for Instructional Excellence (CIE) invites you to join us for an afternoon of game-based learning on Fri., April 24, 2-4 p.m. in LYLE 1160. Hear from Purdue instructors who will share practical, game‑based strategies to boost student engagement. After the presentations, you may join a Q&A and networking session with presenters and CIE staff.
This event is open to all Purdue West Lafayette, Purdue in Indianapolis, and Purdue Polytechnic Statewide faculty, graduate students, postdocs, and staff. Complete this registration. Download and share this PDF flyer.
CIE is a member of Innovative Learning, Purdue’s hub approach to connect instructors in Indianapolis and West Lafayette to the resources they need to engage students, develop courses in any instructional modality, and enhance learning across the University. Other members include Libraries and the School of Information Studies and Purdue University Online. To learn more, visit www.purdue.edu/innovativelearning or email InnovativeLearningTeam@purdue.edu.
The Instructional Material System Project team has been honored with a 2026 Special Recognition Focus Award for its sustained, systemwide work to help Purdue instructors prepare for the Department of Justice’s updated digital accessibility requirements under ADA Title II. The award recognizes the team’s focus on practical support, steady communication, and cross-campus…
The Instructional Material System Project team has been honored with a 2026 Special Recognition Focus Award for its sustained, systemwide work to help Purdue instructors prepare for the Department of Justice’s updated digital accessibility requirements under ADA Title II. The award recognizes the team’s focus on practical support, steady communication, and cross-campus coordination as Purdue moves toward the April 24, 2026, compliance deadline.
Over the past academic year, the team from Indianapolis and West Lafayette, Northwest, and Fort Wayne campuses built a support ecosystem designed for busy instructors and course materials, which includes the Instructional Material ADA Readiness website, the Digital Instructional Materials – Accessibility Checklist, and ADA Title II Compliance FAQs. The team delivered a series of synchronous workshops to introduce requirements and demonstrate efficient, repeatable fixes; hosted daily drop-in help sessions where instructors could bring questions and receive real-time guidance; and developed an asynchronous ADA Title II training course to provide on-demand, step-by-step instruction for improving accessibility in documents, media, and Brightspace content.
The project team is engaging in a digital content remediation tool RFP—working through procurement requirements, vendor engagement, and implementation planning to roll out a solution that can scale across courses and campuses.
This work matters because accessibility is not only a legal expectation—it is a direct investment in student success. By helping instructors identify what to prioritize, how to remediate common issues, and where to get help fast, the team is reducing barriers for students who use assistive technologies and improving the learning experience for everyone. The Special Recognition Focus Award celebrates this commitment to inclusive teaching and the steady progress being made toward April 2026 readiness. Details on the award and other awardees can be found on the Current Year Focus Awards Recipients | Office for Civil Rights.
Representatives of the Instructional Material System Project team who were present at the 2026 Focus Award ceremony are (l-R): Molly Kremer, Casey Wright, Sarah Reifel, Kevin O’Shea, Karen Neubauer, David Schwarte, Kristen Hamby, Ben Holmes, Deb Steffen, and Jenny Monarch McGuire.
Need support? Instructors are encouraged to take advantage of available workshops, drop-ins, and the self-paced training course, and to use the Instructional Material ADA Readiness resources as they update course content.
For further questions and support at your campus, contact:
Following a comprehensive evaluation process, Purdue University has selected Simple Syllabus as the system-wide syllabus management tool. The platform will support instructors and students across all campuses in the creating, distributing, and updating of course syllabi within the Brightspace learning management system. In response to instructor requests for a single point of access to efficiently and effectively develop syllabi, the selection of Simple Syllabus also reflects Purdue’s commitment to enhance academic quality and operational efficiency, while supporting compliance with evolving accreditation and state and federal guidelines. The tool provides 24/7 cloud-based…
Purdue selects Simple Syllabus for system-wide implementation
Following a comprehensive evaluation process, Purdue University has selected Simple Syllabus as the system-wide syllabus management tool. The platform will support instructors and students across all campuses in the creating, distributing, and updating of course syllabi within the Brightspace learning management system.
In response to instructor requests for a single point of access to efficiently and effectively develop syllabi, the selection of Simple Syllabus also reflects Purdue’s commitment to enhance academic quality and operational efficiency, while supporting compliance with evolving accreditation and state and federal guidelines. The tool provides 24/7 cloud-based access, flexibility to include public- and student-facing content and ensure accessibility for all students and instructors.
Simple Syllabus was chosen for its robust feature set, including seamless integration with Brightspace, support for standardized content and branding, tiered permissions for department-level oversight, and analytics capabilities to support accreditation and accountability reporting. The tool enables collaborative syllabus creation and aligns with Purdue’s goals for digital transformation and excellence at scale.
The selection process included input from the project group and applied feedback from instructors who participated in live-streamed vendor sessions. This process ensured that the chosen solution meets the diverse instructional needs across Purdue West Lafayette and Indianapolis locations, Purdue Fort Wayne, and Purdue Northwest.
The project group anticipates integration of Simple Syllabus into the Brightspace learning management system by Fall 2026 and will include instructor input and feedback, along with training and resources to support use of the new tool.
Questions about the Simple Syllabus tool implementation can be directed to your campus contact:
