Standards Update
Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act was updated in April 2024 to include enhanced web accessibility standards. Universities of JMU's size have until April 24, 2026 to come into compliance with the new rule, and each of us has an important role to play.
Working under the auspices of JMU's Accessibility Committee and advised by General Counsel, collaborators from across campus have come together to provide a list of campus-wide and Libraries supported resources, including this informational page, and to craft JMU's compliance plan.
Understanding the Web Accessibility Rule
ADA's Title II is designed to ensure that state and local government services, including those provided by public universities, are accessible to people with disabilities. This includes digital content, like websites and mobile apps, which must be designed so that everyone can access them regardless of ability, disability, or use of assistive technology, without a need to request special accommodations.
The Web Content Accessibility Guideline (WCAG) standard JMU will be following is WCAG 2.1, Level AA. Examples of content types included in this guideline are:
- Web Content: includes information and experiences available on the web, such as text, images, sound, videos, and documents.
- Non-text content: includes images, videos, audio, and other elements that are not text, requiring text alternatives or other forms of accessibility.
- Time-based media: audio and video require captions, transcripts, and audio descriptions.
- Mobile Apps: applications for mobile devices must meet accessibility standards
- Documents: all web-accessible document types must be created in such a way as to guarantee access by people with disabilities.
Everyone has a role
Everyone creating content related to the offerings and functions of the university must ensure that their digital materials meet minimum accessibility requirements as required by ADA Title II. This includes making sure that JMU websites, applications, IT services, online content, digital documents, presentations, and online learning materials are accessible.
See your role in Title II compliance