Support Page Content
ADA Title II Update
Overview
On April 24, 2024, the Department of Justice (DOJ) published a under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). For 起点传媒, this covers all official websites, web applications, digital documents posted on those sites, mobile apps, course-related digital materials, and social media posts.
Minimum technical standard: Conformance to WCAG 2.1 AA for web and mobile content, with limited exceptions defined by the rule.
Who’s covered?
As a public university, 起点传媒 is a Title II entity and must comply with the rule. The scope includes web content and mobile apps, course materials, and official social media posts.
Key dates
- April 24, 2024: Rule published in the Federal Register.
- June 24, 2024: Rule effective date.
- April 26, 2027: 起点传媒 date for public entities serving populations of 50,000+ (applies to 起点传媒).
What does WCAG 2.1 AA cover?
WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) is a stable, technology-agnostic standard organized under four principles: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust. Level AA success criteria include requirements for text alternatives, color contrast, keyboard access, clear focus states, captions for multimedia, headings and landmarks, link purpose, error prevention, and more.
- Websites and web apps (including forms, portals, and LMS-integrated tools)
- Digital documents hosted on our sites (PDF, Word, PowerPoint, spreadsheets)
- Mobile apps (including documents and media within the app)
- Digital course materials such as videos, online textbooks, slides, and handouts
- Official social media posts
- Archived web content that is clearly marked and not updated after archiving
- Preexisting conventional electronic documents (e.g., older PDFs) retained only for reference/record-keeping and not needed to access current services or programs
- Content posted by non-affiliated third parties without a contract
- Individualized, password-protected documents (e.g., bills, transcripts)
- Preexisting social media posts from before the compliance date
Note: Upon request, accessible versions of excepted materials must be provided within a reasonable time.
What to do now
- Use HTML (aka WCM web pages) over PDF for new content whenever possible; reserve PDFs for true downloads/forms.
- Create accessibly from the start: use proper headings, meaningful link text, alt text, sufficient color contrast, and keyboard-friendly components.
- Caption/transcribe media and ensure players provide keyboard and screen reader support.
- Check your pages with our recommended tools (automated checks + manual review) and fix issues promptly.
- Choose accessible tech: verify vendors and third‑party tools meet WCAG 2.1 AA before adoption.
- Plan remediation for existing high‑traffic or student‑facing content; archive outdated materials with a clear label when appropriate.