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Digital Accessibility

Access for Everyone by the ADA National Network

What Is Digital Accessibility?

Digital accessibility means designing websites, digital content, and communication tools so they can be used by people with disabilities, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). 

What’s Changing: ADA Title II Digital Accessibility Requirements

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a final rule under Title II of the ADA establishing digital accessibility requirements for state and local government entities—including state and local education agencies (SEAs and LEAs).

The rule requires that covered digital content conform to WCAG 2.1, Level AA, the internationally recognized technical standard for web accessibility.

What content is covered?

The rule applies to nearly all digital content schools create, maintain, purchase, or use, including:

  • Websites and web-based tools
  • Mobile apps
  • Images, text, and multimedia
  • Digital documents (PDFs, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Google Docs, Slides, etc.)

Compliance Deadlines

Educational agencies must meet accessibility requirements by the following dates:

  • GBCS and other agencies serving populations* of 50,000 or more: April 24, 2026 

  • Agencies serving populations* under 50,000 and special district governments: April 26, 2027

*Population count is based on the total population served by the entity (e.g., city, county) according to the 2020 U.S. Census Bureau data. Not sure what your public entity’s population is? Call the ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301.

Read the full DOJ Title II final rule. 

What This Means for Schools

Accessibility must be a fundamental requirement, not an optional feature. Schools and districts are responsible for making sure the digital tools and content they create, maintain, purchase, and share with the public are accessible by and after the compliance deadline.