By our campus compliance deadline in April 2026, everyone creating content related to the offerings and functions of the university must ensure that their digital materials meet minimum accessibility requirements as outlined in ADA Title II. This includes JMU websites, applications, IT services, online content, digital documents, presentations, and online learning materials.
We are developing a scalable compliance plan, along with campus-wide and Libraries workshops, trainings, and other resources to help you create materials that meet these new standards. While teams across ODS, the Libraries, JMU IT, and other groups are working as hard as possible to provide training, assistive software, consultation, and support, ultimately it is everyone’s responsibility to learn and apply the skills necessary for creating accessible content.
Faculty/Staff
Instructional Content
Title II requires that all JMU course content meet WCAG 2.1 AA guidelines by April 24, 2026. This includes third-party content. For example, if you link to or embed a YouTube video in your course, that video should include correct captions or a transcript with audio description. This applies even if you are not the owner of the video.
Archived reference content, like courses from previous semesters, may be exempt from compliance. However, if you reuse content in a new course, it must be made accessible.
To support faculty in creating and providing accessible content, JMU is developing trainings and guides, and will soon provide new tools in Canvas to assist in the identification and remediation of content that does not meet accessibility requirements. Additionally, the Libraries negotiates accessible licensing terms with information vendors when adding new e-Resources. The Libraries collects Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates (VPATs) from all digital publishers, indicating how well a platform or service adheres to accessibility standards. Over time, the updates to Title II are meant to drive publishers and software vendors to provide "out of the box" accessibility in their products.
Administrative Content
All digital content created for university business must be accessible by April 24, 2026. Ideally, everyone who creates or maintains digital content will make that content accessible, but some units may centralize accessibility work. Work advise working with your team, department, or unit to clarify responsibilities.
Staff who procure content, like training courses, websites, platforms, software, or apps, must ensure that content is accessible during the procurement process. JMU offers guidance and support for vendor management through Procurement.
Students
If you create digital content for university business, that content must be accessible by April 24, 2026. University business may include work you perform in a student job or content you create for a university-sponsored student organization or club.
For example, if you have a work-study job creating social media posts for a department, any new social media posts must be accessible. Ask your supervisor to clarify any responsibilities you have as you create and post content. If you maintain a website for a university-sponsored student organization that is registered with JMU’s Office of Student Life, that web content will need to meet accessibility requirements.
You are not required to make your personal content or digital class assignments accessible unless your content is integrated into course material and used in a classroom setting.