Web Accessibility Compliance
Information and Updates
Effective June 24, 2024: Changes to Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) require all state and local public institutions to ensure their web and mobile content follows the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA. This includes all documents, videos, audio, and other learning materials posted within D2L Brightspace, regardless of course modality.
The full ruling, published on April 24, 2024, is available on the Federal Register website. EIU has until April 26, 2026, to comply fully with this rule.
Title II of the ADA
Title II of the ADA mandates that state and local governments make their services, programs, and activities accessible to people with disabilities. ADA Title II specifically covers web content and mobile apps. These must follow the minimum technical accessibility standards in Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 for Level A and Level AA. Web content and mobile apps include:
- Websites and web applications, including electronic documents hosted on them
- Mobile apps (e.g., for phone, tablet, wearable devices, and future mobile technology), including electronic documents hosted on them
- Digital course materials, including content made available online or provided to students as a requirement towards completion of a course or program (e.g., video, online textbook; this includes third-party software, websites, and ancillaries)
- Social media posts (not the platforms themselves), including electronic documents in the posts
Key Requirement
The WCAG 2.1 Level AA is the technical standard for web and mobile app accessibility. This rule sets a specific standard that must be followed to meet the obligations under Title II of the ADA.
What is WCAG?
WCAG, or Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, outlines what is needed for web accessibility, such as captioning videos. These guidelines are developed by the World Wide Web Consortium. More details about why WCAG 2.1 Level AA was chosen can be found in the "Technical Standard—WCAG 2.1 Level AA" section of the rule.
Compliance for Course Materials
Documents currently used for accessing or participating in state or local government services, including course materials posted on D2L Brightspace, must be accessible, even if they were posted in previous semesters.
WCAG 2.1 Quick Reference Guide (external)
FDIC Guidance
Moving forward, faculty members should create and post accessible digital course content, including documents (PDF, Word, PowerPoint, etc.), audio files, video files, and text within D2L Brightspace.
Additionally, existing non-accessible digital course content should be remediated to meet accessibility standards. This includes updating or replacing current documents, videos, and other material to ensure they comply with WCAG 2.1 guidelines. A list of resources to assist with this process is provided below.
Training and assistance to faculty is available through the Instructional Support and Training Specialist (ISTS) Team; please contact the ISTS Team at fdic_help@eiu.edu.
Web Accessibility Compliance Updates
June 2024
University leadership is meeting to consider the steps necessary for implementation. Please continue to visit this site for updates as they become available.
Resources
The written information and resources are developed or curated by the
Faculty Development and Innovation Center
phone 217-581-7051 :: email fdic@eiu.edu :: web eiu.edu/fdic
Contact the FDIC for instructional design related questions or to schedule a consultation appointment. The FDIC staff can recommend instructional design strategies for your online, hybrid, and face-to-face courses.
Last updated: June 18, 2024
