Are you prepared for the upcoming changes to ADA Title II? As we move into 2025, it's crucial to understand the new regulations and how they impact your institution. Here's a quick guide to help you navigate these changes and ensure compliance.
1. Understanding the ADA Title II Update
In April 2024, a significant update to ADA Title II was published, focusing on the accessibility of digital content. This update mandates that state and local governments, as well as public colleges and universities, make their web content and mobile apps accessible to people with disabilities. Private institutions are subject to anti-discrimination regulations including Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and state laws that often require similar technical standards.
Key Points:
- Adoption of WCAG 2.1, Level AA: This is now the technical standard for web and mobile app accessibility
- Scope: Applies to websites, web applications, mobile apps, and digital documents of public entities
- Exceptions: Limited exceptions for archived content, pre-existing documents, and certain social media posts
- Compliance Dates: April 24, 2026, for larger entities (50,000+ population of your state or local government) and April 26, 2027, for smaller entities
2. The Pitfalls of Automated Accessibility
With the increasing pressure, it can be tempting to turn to automated tools that pitch a quick fix to all your accessibility issues; however, relying solely on automated tools for accessibility can be risky. These tools often lack the context and accuracy that human intervention provides. For example, tools that automatically add alternative text to an image may miss the true purpose of the image. Automatically adding a title to a document may misrepresent the document’s intent. These oversights can create additional barriers for learners and put the institution at greater risk. A balanced approach, combining human oversight with technology, is essential for effective accessibility remediation.
3. Building a Sustainable Accessibility Strategy
Creating accessible content requires a thoughtful, collaborative approach. Institutions need to set clear goals and work towards long-term, sustainable changes. While accessibility tools are helpful, they cannot guarantee compliance on their own. A broader strategy that includes education, human intervention, and continuous improvement is key to avoiding recurring issues and enabling people with disabilities to effectively participate in the educational experience.
We're Here to Help
Navigating these regulatory changes can be challenging, but you don't have to do it alone. At Anthology, we're committed to helping institutions achieve their accessibility goals-–the right way. We can partner with you to help you build your accessibility strategy, no matter where your starting point. Anthology is committed to accessibility and, our product, Anthology® Ally, supports inclusive learning experiences and helps track accessibility progress. Anthology® Ally complements any accessibility strategy by providing instructors just-in-time accessibility education and guided fixes that always keep the human in control, actionable data for administrators, and multiple ways for students to engage with the content. Together, we can create more inclusive environments for all learners.
Ready to take the next step? Let's work together to ensure your institution is prepared for the future of accessibility. Contact us.
