What the rule says 

“Web content that meets all four of the following points would not need to meet WCAG 2.1, Level AA:

1. The content was created before the date the state or local government [including JMU] must comply with this rule, or reproduces paper documents or the contents of other physical media (audiotapes, film negatives, and CD-ROMs for example) that were created before the government must comply with this rule, AND 
2. The content is kept only for reference, research, or recordkeeping, AND 
3. The content is kept in a special area for archived content, AND 
4. The content has not been changed since it was archived.” 

What this means for you 

1. To use this exception, you must create and clearly label a section of your website as “Archived”. You can’t just label the content itself as archived. It must be kept in a separate place that is easy to identify. 
2. Content doesn’t qualify as “archived” just because you put it in the Archived section of your website. All four of the points above must apply to the content for it to qualify for this exception. 
3. After the compliance date of April 24, 2026, any content you want to use this exception on can never be updated. As soon as you change it in any way, it no longer qualifies for this exception and would need to be made accessible at that time. 
4. Any content created after the compliance date of April 24, 2026 can never qualify for this exception. This is because all content created after your compliance date must be accessible from the beginning. You can still put that new content in the Archived section of your website, but it will already be accessible by that point, so the exception would be useless. 
5. Even if content qualifies for this exception, if someone requests an accessible version of it, you still have to make it accessible for them. This is a requirement found in the rest of Title II. 

What the rule says 

“Documents that meet both of the following points usually do not need to meet WCAG 2.1, Level AA, except in some situations: 

1. The documents are word processing, presentation, PDF, or spreadsheet files; AND 
2. They were available on the state or local government [including JMU]'s website or mobile app before the date the state or local government must comply with this rule.” 

What this means for you 

1. You don’t have to make all your old documents accessible. 
2. You do have to make any old documents that people are still using “to apply for, access, or participate in services, programs, or activities” accessible. After JMU's Compliance date of April 24, 2026, this will include digital materials used in classes, such as content posted on Canvas.
3. After JMU's compliance date, any content you want to use this exception on can never be updated. As soon as you change it in any way, it no longer qualifies for this exception and would need to be made accessible at that time. 
4. Any documents created after JMU's compliance date can never qualify for this exception. This is because all content created after JMU's compliance date must be made accessible from the beginning, so the exception is useless at that point. 
5. Even if a document qualifies for this exception, if someone requests an accessible version of it, you still have to make it accessible for them. This is a requirement found in the rest of Title II. 

What the rule says 

“Content that is posted by third parties on a state or local government [including JMU]’s website or mobile app would not need to meet WCAG 2.1, Level AA.” 

What this means for you 

1. This exception does not apply to content posted by your vendors! In this case, “third parties” means “members of the public.” 
2. Any of the tools and platforms that allow members of the public to post content onto your website do need to be accessible. However, the content that the public posts using those tools does not. Basically, you can’t force a member of the public to create accessible content, so that means you’re not responsible for it. For example: 
   • If you have a message board on your website, the message board itself must be accessible. Any posts you or any of your vendors make on your message board must also be accessible. But any posts that members of the public make on your message board do not need to be accessible. 
3. Even if content qualifies for this exception, if someone requests an accessible version of it, you still have to make it accessible for them. This is a requirement found in the rest of Title II. 

What the rule says 

“Documents that meet all three of the following points do not need to meet WCAG 2.1, Level AA: 

1. The documents are word processing, presentation, PDF, or spreadsheet files, AND 
2. The documents are about a specific person, property, or account, AND 
3. The documents are password-protected or otherwise secured.” 

What this means for you 

1. This exception does not apply to documents just because they are behind a password. For example, materials posted on Canvas must still meet WCAG 2.1 AA.
2. This exception can never apply to documents that are distributed for public use. 
3. This exception only applies to the 4 specific types of documents listed. If you provide documents to people in other formats, such as HTML, those documents do need to be accessible.  
4. Even if a document qualifies for this exception, if someone requests an accessible version of it, you still have to make it accessible for them. This is a requirement found in the rest of Title II.