The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has released updated Title II regulations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), significantly impacting how public colleges and universities provide accessible digital content and services. These changes are designed to ensure that all individuals, regardless of ability, can fully participate in the programs and services offered by public institutions. We have until April 2026 to fully comply with the new regulations.
What’s Changing?
Under the new regulations, public entities—including state colleges and universities—are now required to ensure that all web content and mobile applications are accessible to people with disabilities. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Course materials and learning management systems (LMS)
- Institutional websites and online forms
- Video content and recordings
- Mobile applications developed or used by the institution
- 3rd party vendors
Key Compliance Areas:
- Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA: All covered digital content must meet these standards to ensure accessibility for users with disabilities, including those who use assistive technologies.
- Timely Remediation: Institutions must ensure that inaccessible content is remediated within a reasonable timeframe once identified.
- Procurement and Third-Party Tools: Any third-party software, platforms, or digital tools used by the college must also meet accessibility requirements.
Why This Matters:
These updates reinforce the legal and ethical responsibility of higher education institutions to provide equal access to all individuals. Ensuring digital accessibility is not just about compliance—it’s about creating an inclusive learning and working environment for everyone in our college community.
What Faculty and Staff Can Do:
- Review your course materials for accessibility. Use tools within Brightspace to check for issues (D2L Accessibility Checker and ALLY). Use the accessibility checkers within Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, and Excel) or Adobe Acrobat.
- Attend training:
- Workshops offered through the Center for Professional Excellence. Join us on Wednesday, April 30th at 2:00 p.m. for our first workshop, Getting Ahead on Title II Compliance: Preparing your Digital Course Materials for Accessibility Compliance.
- Deque University provides an extensive curriculum of self-guided online accessibility courses. Get started with one of the following courses: Fast Track to Accessibility for Any Role, Fast Track to Accessibility for Microsoft Office, or Basic Web and Document Accessibility for Content Contributors
- Consult with instructional designers (Distance and Online Learning) or accessibility specialists (CAAT) when developing new content or selecting digital tools.
- Report accessibility concerns promptly to the Distance and Online Learning office, CAAT, IIT, or Communications and Marketing so they can be addressed in a timely manner. Site Accessibility Information and Report Form
- Use SensusAccess which is an automated document conversion service that allows you to convert your readings into alternative formats. You can also use SensusAccess to convert inaccessible or tricky documents into more accessible formats.
Next Steps:
Hudson Valley Community College is committed to supporting faculty and staff in meeting these new requirements. We will be rolling out updated accessibility guidelines, training opportunities, and resources in the coming weeks. Watch for announcements in the Campus Chronicle, and your email.
For more information, or if you have questions about how these regulations impact your work, please contact Elissa Baker at e.baker@hvcc.edu, or Deanne Martocci at d.martocci@hvcc.edu.