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 26, 2027 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 Law

Title II of the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act already required public institutions like JMU to provide equal opportunities to people with disabilities in all their operations, including online “services, programs, and activities.”

The 2024 revised regulations adopted technical standards for making web content and mobile apps used by Title II institutions accessible. Specifically, they designated the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Version 2.1, Level AA (WCAG 2.1 AA), an international accessibility standard developed by the World Wide Web Consortium. The regulations also set a deadline for institutions like JMU to meet these requirements of April 26, 2027.

At the state level, Virginia lawmakers amended the Information Technology Access Act in spring of 2025. The law applies to information and communications technologies, including web content, mobile apps, and other online materials. The law states, in part, that “all persons with disabilities have the right to full participation in the life of the Commonwealth, including the use of information and communications technology that is provided by such covered entities [including public institutions of higher education] for use by employees, program participants, students, and members of the general public...” The bill has a delayed effective date of April 26, 2027.

What Content is Included?

Examples of content types that should be accessible include:

• 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

JMU values accessibility and plans to be in full compliance with the law. 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

Taking our Digital Accessibility Awareness training is your first step in preparing to meet these standards. By reviewing this website and completing the training, you will learn some of the fundamentals that will enable you to make your digital content accessible.