Nexus

Public universities play a crucial role in promoting education, research, and community engagement. They bear the responsibility of ensuring equitable access to their programs and services for all individuals, including those with disabilities. Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) reflects a university’s commitment to inclusion and accessibility.  

With the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) rule issued in April 2024, which requires state and local entities to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA standards, digital accessibility is an ADA compliance requirement for public universities. This article explores the importance of ADA compliance for digital experiences, and practical strategies for achieving it. 

Why ADA compliance for digital experiences matters 

Public postsecondary institutions are required to bring their websites, apps, and other digital content into ADA compliance. However, the benefits of ADA compliance for digital experiences go beyond legal obligations. Digital accessibility plays a critical role in ensuring that all students have the opportunity to learn and thrive in the classroom and beyond.  

Legal accountability 

Title II of the ADA mandates that public universities ensure their digital spaces are accessible to individuals with disabilities. The DOJ rule released in April 2024 clarified this requirement, providing specific technical accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1 AA) for digital experiences. Non-compliance with Title II could result in significant legal consequences, including reputation-damaging lawsuits. 

Promoting inclusion 

An accessible institution ensures that no one is excluded from opportunities due to barriers. ADA compliance helps foster an inclusive campus environment, allowing students, faculty, and staff with disabilities to fully participate in academic and social activities. 

Improving user experience 

Accessibility enhancements often benefit all users. Features such as closed captions, keyboard navigation, and mobile-friendly designs greatly enhance usability not only for people with disabilities, but also for many other users accessing content on different devices and in different environments. For example, closed captions may be used by students to watch educational videos in quiet settings, such as libraries and dormitory rooms, even if they don’t have hearing disabilities. 

Understanding WCAG 2.1 Level AA 

To comply with the ADA, public institutions must ensure their digital content conforms with version 2.1 of WCAG at an AA, or intermediate, level. WCAG is a set of internationally recognized guidelines for digital accessibility. These guidelines ensure that web content is accessible to individuals with a wide range of disabilities, such as vision, hearing, mobility, and cognitive disabilities. For a digital experience to conform with WCAG 2.1 Level AA, it must meet a number of specific success criteria. These criteria cover many core accessibility considerations, including the following items: 

• Text alternatives: Providing descriptive alt text for images to support screen reader users. 

• Time-based media: Adding accurate captions to videos and transcripts to audio content. 

• Color contrast: Ensuring sufficient contrast between text and background for readability.  

• Keyboard accessibility: Designing websites and applications that are fully navigable via keyboard. 

• Responsive design: Ensuring that content adapts seamlessly to different devices and screen sizes without the user having to zoom in or out of the screen. 

• Error identification: Making error messages clear and providing suggestions for correction, particularly for online forms.