Access to digital information is essential to inclusive education and equal opportunity.
Our goal is to create a digital environment where everyone can access and benefit from the rich learning experiences James Madison University has to offer.
JMU is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for all members of our community, in accordance with updated regulations for Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Title II requires public institutions, like JMU, to provide equal access to services, programs, and activities including websites, course materials, and other digital resources.
Update to ADA Title II Accessibility Compliance Deadline
On Monday, April 20 the U.S. Department of Justice released an extension to the compliance deadline for the federal digital accessibility standards under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II. The new deadline for “large public entities” to comply with the updated regulations has moved to April 26, 2027. We are still evaluating how this change in federal regulations impacts Virginia law.
Please Note: Although the compliance deadline has shifted, JMU's mission to improve accessibiity remains unchanged. Learn more about this extension and see updates.
What's New?
- New Guides:
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Fundamentals of Digital Accessibility: Introduces the importance of accessibility, outlines its core principles, and highlights best practices across key topics. Included guides provide practical, step-by-step instructions to help content creators apply key accessibility concepts to their work.
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How to Caption at JMU: Detailed guide for captioning new and existing media.
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MS Word Inline Accessibility Assistant: New option in Word to help users create accessible documents. The inline accessibility assistant flags issues with content you have just created and suggests corrective options to apply as a fix.
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- Recorded Workshops:
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Title II and You: Digital Accessibility Changes Coming to JMU (Oct. 1, 2025) - eID login required
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Get Started: Learn about Digital Accessibility
JMU Digital Accessibility Awareness Course
Enroll in a self-paced online training to get an introduction to the fundamental concepts of digital accessibility, including tips, tools and strategies for creating accessible digital content.
Bite-Sized Tips
Got 5 minutes? Use it to learn a new accessibility topic with JMU Libraries' Bite-Sized Tips for Digital Accessibility at JMU. New topics added regularly!
For Instructors:
- Enroll in the Digital Accessibility Awareness training in Canvas
- View the Getting Started Guide for Faculty
- Convert written documents using Sensus Access
- Learn how to create accessible materials in Microsoft Office
- Check for accessibility in Canvas using Anthology Ally
- Submit a request for assistance
Questions? Feedback? Concerns?
Our cross-divisional team is gathering and responding to questions about Title II web accessibility. Your questions may guide the creation of additional resources.
PLEASE NOTE: We are actively working to provide additional support to faculty, staff and students to meet current accessibility standards. Additional resources are being developed and will be added to this website as they are made available for use.