Two hands using a braille keyboard with blue buttons.

Updated Title II requirements 

In 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) updated Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to require all public universities to meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Version 2.1 Level AA (WCAG 2.1 AA) by April 24, 2026. This applies to all websites, mobile apps, and the digital materials we share with students, employees, and our communities.

Examples of meeting WCAG 2.1 AA include, but are not limited to:

  • Adding alternative text (alt text) to images in a social media post so that those who can’t see the image can still understand its message.
  • Ensuring videos have accurate closed captions so that those who can’t hear the audio can still understand the video content.
  • Replacing old, scanned PDF readings in a course with an accessible e-book version so that students who rely on assistive technology, like a screen reader, can complete the homework assignment.

Important reminders

  • The Title II update added clarification, not new requirements. Public universities were required to provide equal access to digital materials and activities before the 2024 update, but the language was vague. Now, it’s clear what entities and digital materials the ADA covers, and what digital accessibility standards need to be met.
  • The Title II update does not replace disability accommodations for individuals, but it may reduce the number of accommodations needed — and make them easier to meet.
  • For more information on disability accommodations, contact the Disability Services Center for students or contact Human Resources for employees.

WCAG standards

Our website needs to be accessible to people with both visible and invisible disabilities, like blindness, deafness, limited mobility, and neurodivergence. It’s our job to ensure that all our content (text, images, videos, etc.) is clear and easy to understand at a 7th-grade reading level. Website visitors may be using a screen reader, a keyboard without a mouse, or other assistive technology, and may need to enable captions on videos, change the font size, or adjust the color contrast.

Perceivable

Information and user interface components must be presentable to users in ways they can perceive, not invisible to all of their senses.

Operable

User interface components and navigation must be operable. End users must be able to interact with all webpage elements.

Understandable

Information and user interface operation must be understandable. Web content cannot be beyond the understanding of end users.

Robust

Content must be robust enough to be compatible with and interpreted reliably by a wide variety of user agents, including evolving assistive technologies.

Wooden blocks spell the word "inaccessible" with the first two blocks angled to change the word to "accessible."

Resources for USM faculty and staff

Achieving our digital accessibility goals requires a shared, sustained effort from our university community. Everyone who creates, shares, or posts content on websites, social media, in courses, or in digital communications must know how to make those materials accessible.

Find digital accessibility resources