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ADA Title II Compliance

ADA Title II is part of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a landmark civil rights law enacted in 1990. Title II specifically covers state and local government services. Title II directly affects digital assets at state universities by requiring that all digital content and services be accessible to individuals with disabilities, just as physical environments and in-person programs must be.

Use the UIC ADA Title II Roadmap Template to plan and prepare for the ADA Title II compliance deadline on April 26, 2026. This template will help your unit identify key milestones, responsible contacts, and progress toward compliance requirements.

UIC ADA Title II Roadmap Template

What is ADA Title II?

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (1990) is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in many areas of public life. On April 24, 2024, the Federal Register published the Department of Justice’s final rule updating its regulations for Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Under ADA Title II, State Universities are required to follow the widely accepted international standard: WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) 2.1 Level AA.

More information about Title II can be found on the ADA.gov website (link opens in a new window).

What Are "Digital Assets?”

  • University websites and portals
  • Course materials
  • Online course platforms (e.g., Canvas, Blackboard)
  • PDFs, Word documents, and PowerPoints shared by faculty
  • Video and audio content (lectures, tutorials)
  • Mobile apps
  • Digital forms, registration systems, and admissions materials
  • Email communications

What is the timeline for making digital content accessible?

The university has until April 26, 2026 to reach WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance, according to the timeline set forth by the Department of Justice.

Key Requirements Under ADA Title II:

Equal access for individuals with visual, hearing, cognitive, or motor disabilities.​

Covers all digital content, including:​

  • Websites & Mobile apps​
  • Learning Management Systems (e.g., Canvas, Blackboard)​
  • Digital documents (e.g., PDFs, Word docs, PowerPoints)​
  • Videos, audio, and multimedia​
  • Email communications​

1. Websites & Mobile apps

  • Must be perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust.
  • Be sure the user interface (UI) has sufficient color contrast (4.5:1), keyboard accessibility, clear focus indicators, with compatibility for screen readers & screen magnifiers.

2. Learning Management Systems (e.g., Canvas, Blackboard)

  • Interactive content (quizzes, discussions, assignments) must be navigable by keyboard.
  • All images require alt text, media must have captions/transcripts, and headings should be structured logically for screen reader navigation.
  • Timed activities must provide adjustable time limits or alternatives.

3. Digital documents (e.g., PDFs, Word docs, PowerPoints)

  • PDFs must be tagged and structured for accessibility.
  • Word/PowerPoint files must use built-in heading styles, list structures, descriptive hyperlink text, and sufficient color contrast.
  • Tables should include headers identified in markup for assistive technologies.

4. Videos, audio, and multimedia

  • Captions are required for all pre-recorded video with audio.
  • Transcripts are required for audio-only media.
  • Audio description should be provided when important visual information is not conveyed in the audio.​

5. Email communications

  • Emails should use accessible HTML (proper headings, semantic lists, descriptive links).
  • Attachments should meet accessibility requirements (e.g., tagged PDFs, structured Word/PowerPoint files) and have descriptive file name.
  • Ensure color contrast when highlighting text and avoid using color alone to convey meaning.

Who is responsible for making content accessible?

Accessibility is a university-wide effort. Ensuring that content is accessible is not just an IT or compliance issue—it’s a shared responsibility across all departments and part of our mission at UIC. Whether you’re creating course materials, updating a webpage, sending out a newsletter, or designing a document, accessibility should always be a priority.

Faculty & Instructors

Create accessible course content.

IT & Web Admin Teams

Audit and update public-facing and internal documents, websites, and applications.
Where applicable, design, develop, and support accessible web applications.

HR & Admin Offices

Make forms, policies, and employment documents accessible.

Are there any exceptions for ADA Title II?

Title II includes limited exceptions for certain web content that does not have to meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA.​

Examples of exceptions include content that:

  • are in a destinated location clearly labeled as “archived”;​
  • have not been updated recently.

Frequently Asked Questions

Resources