In April 2024, the Department of Justice issued its final rule updating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The new regulation adds subpart H to Title II of the ADA and sets specific accessibility requirements for services, programs, and activities offered to the public through websites and mobile applications. This applies to public colleges and universities, including BSU and NTC.
If you would like a helpful overview of these new accessibility requirements for higher education, WCET's Access for All and the ADA Fact Sheet are good places to start.
Web content includes the information and experiences people access through a web browser or similar tool. This can include text, images, videos, audio, controls, animation, electronic documents (such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and PDF files), and HTML content.
There are five exceptions to compliance: (1) archived web content that is no longer in active use, (2) pre-existing conventional electronic documents that are not currently used, (3) third-party content, (4) individual password-protected documents about a specific person, and (5) pre-existing social media content.
Highlights
- Most digital content shared by BSU and NTC will need to meet accessibility requirements. This includes content in D2L Brightspace as well as third-party materials such as publisher content, digital textbooks, and YouTube videos.
- Digital content must meet at least the WCAG 2.1 Level AA (or WCAG 2.2 Level AA) requirements.
- Students should be able to access the same content in an accessible format. In other words, there should not be one accessible version and one inaccessible version of the same material.
- BSU and NTC have until April 24, 202 to comply.
- This revision complements the existing web requirements outlined in Title III.
What does this mean for BSU and NTC employees?
BSU and NTC employees play an important role in making digital content accessible. Shared materials such as flyers, newsletters, emails, digital signage, and similar content should meet Title II accessibility requirements.
This also applies to content in D2L Brightspace. While Brightspace itself is designed to be accessible, the files, videos, presentations, PDFs, and other materials added to a course may not automatically meet accessibility standards. Faculty are responsible for making sure the content they share is accessible to all learners.
Access Services and TLT can help you review and improve your content to make it more accessible.
How can I work toward compliance?
Using Accessible Fonts
- Use sans serif fonts (fonts without decorative strokes) for electronic materials. Good options include Arial, Aptos, Tahoma, and Lato.
- Use a minimum 12-point font size (19px in Brightspace) to support readability.
- Use color carefully. Color should not be the only way meaning or importance is communicated; bold text, labels, or symbols should also be used when needed.
Understanding accessible fonts and typography (Section508.gov)
Creating Accessible Documents
Microsoft Office applications include a built-in accessibility checker in the Review menu, which is a good first step when creating or updating documents.
Ensuring HTML Accessibility in D2L Brightspace
D2L Brightspace HTML pages also include a built-in accessibility checker to help identify common issues.
Writing Descriptive Hyperlinks
Write hyperlinks using descriptive text rather than generic phrases such as “click here.”
Writing Good Alternative Text for Images
Alternative text should be clear, concise, and meaningful.
Captioning and Transcripts for Video and Audio
Captions and transcripts should be accurate and carefully reviewed before content is shared.
If you use MediaSpace-generated captions, review them for accuracy before publishing.
Ensuring Accessible PDF Documents
Ensuring Appropriate Color Contrast