In April 2024, the Department of Justice released new ADA requirements for public‑sector websites and mobile apps, with compliance deadlines beginning in April 2026. While academic libraries have long advanced digital accessibility, institutional data repositories (IDRs) remain an under-discussed area, particularly regarding accessibility of research data itself, not simply access to it. Now that the initial ADA deadline has passed, data librarians and repository managers face unclear guidance about how the rule applies to research data repositories and the content published and preserved within them. This work reflects a structured assessment of published resources, community documentation, and active working group contributions. Drawing on web accessibility standards, practices from digital archives and scholarly publishing, and emerging community work, the presentation will identify where existing guidance supports IDR needs and where it falls short. Particular attention will be given to challenges such as the complexity of research data as digital web content and tensions between preserving authentic formats and offering accessible alternatives. The session will conclude with actionable steps institutions of all sizes can take and will invite libraries to maintain momentum as accessibility expectations become active across the research data ecosystem.
