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ADA Title II Digital Accessibility

Digital Accessibility Report

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Road map

Governing regulations regarding digital compliance
Review current efforts
Provide possible solutions
Our ask

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What is the ADA Title II Amendment?

Department of Justice rules issued April 2024
IT/Instructional Technology – working towards compliance
Faculty Commons is providing training
As of April 24, 2026, all “new” digital content must meet accessibility requirement

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Federal and State Requirements

WCAG 2.1
WaTech Policies

1. WCAG 2.1 was developed with individuals and orgs around the world with the goal to provide a shared standard for web content accessibility that meets the needs individuals, orgs., and governments internationally.

2. Requires accessible web and mobile content, including desktops, laptops, kiosks, and mobile devices. The guidelines will make web content accessible to individuals with all types of disabilities and to all users.

International accessibility standard and guidelines

Covers visual, auditory, physical, cognitive, and neurological disabilities

Requires accessible web and mobile content

Applies to third‑party vendors

Digital Accessibility Policy – ensures technology is accessible to individuals with disabilities.�

Agencies must provide effective communication, reasonable accommodations, and equal opportunities. Exceptions apply to archived or legacy content, individualized documents, and third-party content. Non-compliant technology must offer equivalent access.

By July 1, 2029, all tools necessary for job performance or public access must be accessible. Agencies must develop policies, conduct annual accessibility training, and create IT Accessibility Plans, prioritizing user needs. An accessibility coordinator must address issues and ensure compliance with accessibility standards.

Level AA — Standard / expected level

What it is:�The most commonly required level for laws, policies, and institutions.

What it adds beyond A:

Color contrast meets minimum ratios

Text can be resized without breaking layout

Clear headings and labels

Error messages explain what went wrong and how to fix it

Captions for live and prerecorded video

Who it helps:�A much broader range of users, including:

Low vision

Color blindness

Hearing loss

Cognitive and learning disabilities

Why it matters:�✅ Most accessibility laws and policies reference WCAG 2.x Level AA

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Institutional Responsibility

Ensure commonly used information is accessible
Hold vendors accountable for compliance
Provide accessible digital experiences for students, staff, and the public

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Current Compliance �Support Efforts

IT & Instructional Technology improving website and Canvas accessibility
Technical assistance for online courses
Procurement ensuring vendor compliance
Enrollment Services & MARCOM addressing apps and web forms
Faculty Commons Information and Training

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Current Work

Conducting accessibility audits
Prioritizing remediation efforts
Developing a long‑term accessibility plan
Addressing accessibility of existing technologies
Supporting training for faculty and staff

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2026 Enforcement & Penalties

• Private citizens can bring a complaint

DOJ resolution agreements

• Civil fines up to $100,000 (first violation)

• Up to $200,000 for subsequent violations

• Private litigation costs

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Ask

April 24, 2026 “NEW” digital content must meet accessibility requirement
Document accessibility:

PDFs, Word, PowerPoint

Video and audio accessibility
Canvas content structure

1. Document accessibility (PDFs, Word, PowerPoint)

✔ Use built-in headings�✔ Add alt text to images, charts, and diagrams�✔ Ensure logical reading order�✔ Use real lists and tables (not visual formatting)�✔ Export PDFs as tagged PDFs

Syllabi
Assignments
Exams
Instructions
Lecture slides

2. Video & audio accessibility

✔ Accurate captions for all videos�✔ Transcripts for audio-only content�✔ Avoid auto-generated captions unless corrected

📌 Applies to:

Lecture recordings

Embedded YouTube videos

Podcasts or narrated slides

3. Canvas / LMS content structure

✔ Proper heading hierarchy (H1 → H2 → H3)�✔ Descriptive link text (not “click here”)�✔ Lists built with list tools�✔ Tables used only for data, not layout

📌 Why it matters: Screen reader users rely heavily on structure

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Questions?