USC Press Completes Digital Accessibility Updates Ahead of New 2027 Deadline

June 1, 2026 | by uscpress

Columbia, SC – June 1, 2026

University of South Carolina Press (USC Press) makes its digital resources accessible ahead of the original April 2026 compliance deadline for Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This year, the U.S. Department of Justice extended the deadline to April 26, 2027, for public entities with populations of 50,000 or more.

Thanks to generous support from the University of South Carolina Libraries and donor Bill Schmidt, and collaborative efforts by USC Press staff, the press’s digital materials are now accessible to people with disabilities and those who use assistive technology.

USC Press completed its accessibility upgrades in two stages. In spring 2025, the press published its first accessible ebooks and launched an accessible version of its open access website, Open Carolina. The following year, staff implemented accessibility best practices for email campaigns, social media posts, and contracts while launching an accessible version the press’s website, uscpress.com.

“Accessibility is a core value at USC Press and so making our digital profile—from ebooks to website to guidelines for authors—fully accessible is incredibly important,” said Michael J. McGandy, director of USC Press.

USC Press’s efforts are part of a larger strategy coordinated by USC’s digital accessibility initiative led by Senior Digital Accessibility Specialist Dow Hammond.

“I’ve been so appreciative of the many USC accessibility advocates and allies, such as USC Press, working together toward more inclusive and accessible digital experiences for our USC community, including those with disabilities,” Hammond said.

For Provost Mary Anne Fitzpatrick, USC Press’s leadership in accessibility upholds the university’s mission to make new scholarship available to everyone in the community.

“Accessibility is essential to expanding opportunity and advancing our mission as a leading public research university,” said Fitzpatrick. “USC Press’s efforts ensure that more readers and scholars can fully engage with the important work being produced and shared through the university."

About the University of South Carolina Press
University of South Carolina Press, established in 1944, is one of the oldest, most distinguished publishers in the American South. Through its publications, USC Press extends the mission of its university by publishing premier scholarship and authentic stories that initiate important conversations and positively impact communities. For more information, visit uscpress.com.