Digital Accessibility Compliance Under ADA Title II and WCAG 2.1 AA

 

Conducting a digital accessibility audit allows departments/schools to evaluate current digital assets, determine which materials require updates or archiving, and identify accessibility barriers. Following this process will help ensure compliance with updated ADA Title II standards (WCAG 2.1 AA).

Digital Accessibility Audit Framework

 

Don't know where to start? The Office for Campus Accessibility provides Digital Accessibility Consultations for general questions and concerns, guidance on auditing tools, manual testing support, or assistance with your school/department's remediation planning.

Assign Responsibility

A designated faculty or staff member should be assigned to oversee accessibility compliance and ensure all digital materials meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards.

Accessibility leads should compile a list of all digital materials accessible to the public, including:

  • Websites: pages, images, forms, tables, and hyperlinks
  • Documents: Word, PowerPoint, Google Slides and PDFs
  • Audio & Video Content: lectures, podcasts, recordings (audio and video)
  • External Applications: LMS systems, surveying/polling, grading, testing, and online discussion tools 

 

Utilize Existing Accessibility Tools/Software

Leverage available campus tools and software to support your audit:

  • WAVE: automated website checks
  • Canvas Accessibility Checker and UDOIT: course content review
  • Microsoft 365: document accessibility checkers

 

For additional support, contact the Office for Campus Accessibility to schedule a Digital Accessibility Consultation. 

Online material should be separated into categories: Archived and Remediation Review. 

For items requiring remediation review, assess whether they already meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards. Refer to the section below for guidance on the most suitable accessibility tools and resources based on the content type:

  • Websites: JAWS, WAVE, or ANDI
  • Documents: Microsoft 365 (i.e., Word, PowerPoint) and Acrobat Adobe (PDFs)
  • Audio and Video Content: Manual evaluation techniques
  • External Applications: LMS systems, surveying/polling, grading, testing, and online discussion tools

 

Please reach out to the Innovative Learning Center (ILC) to determine if external applications have already been reviewed for accessibility or schedule a Digital Accessibility Consultation with the OCA. 

Please reach out to the Office for Campus Accessibility if you need support for video captioning, assistance with document remediation, or reviewing the accessibility of websites/apps.

Individual Digital Accessibility Consultations and specialized, role-based group trainings are available, upon request. 

Once your online content has met the minimum accessibility guidelines, continue to use the recommended tools to continue to monitor and verify that all your digital materials continue to meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards. If you have questions or need assistance, schedule a Digital Accessibility Consultation.