The U.S. Department of Justice has finalized a new rule under ADA Title II that changes the digital accessibility landscape for public institutions. By April 24, 2026, state and local governments serving populations of 50,000 or more, along with all public universities, must ensure their digital properties meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards. For smaller public entities, the deadline extends to April 2027.
For higher education leaders, marketing teams, and compliance officers, this means now is the time to audit, remediate, and future proof your digital ecosystem.
What Is WCAG 2.1 AA?
World Wide Web Consortium publishes the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, known as WCAG.
WCAG 2.1 AA is the technical standard referenced in the DOJ rule. It ensures digital content is:
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- Perceivable: Information can be seen or heard in different ways
- Operable: Interfaces work with keyboard navigation and assistive tech
- Understandable: Content is clear and predictable
- Robust: Compatible with screen readers and evolving technologies
Who Is Affected by the April 24, 2026 Deadline?
Public Universities, State and Local Governments
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- Public entities serving populations of 50,000+ persons: Must achieve WCAG compliance by April 24, 2026
- Public entities serving populations under 50,000 persons and special districts: Must achieve WCAG compliance by April 26, 2027
What Needs to Be Accessible?
The DOJ rule applies broadly across your digital presence. All public facing websites, portals, and mobile applications must conform to WCAG 2.1 AA.
Accessibility extends to:
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- PDFs
- Word documents
- Spreadsheets
- Online forms
- Videos with captions and transcripts
- Audio files
- Social media posts
- Learning management systems
- Admissions portals
If students or prospective students can access it online, it must be accessible.
How We’re Helping Schools Prepare
Compliance cannot be an afterthought. It must be built into your digital strategy from day one.
Here is how we are approaching it.
1. Independent Accessibility Audits
We partner with National Compliance Group to audit customer websites and digital assets.
This provides:
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- Objective third party assessments
- Detailed accessibility gap analysis
- Risk prioritization
- Clear remediation roadmaps
2. Ongoing Monitoring and Remediation
Accessibility is not a one time fix. We work with schools to:
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- Remediate identified WCAG violations
- Ensure new landing pages and campaigns meet standards
- Implement accessible templates and design systems
- Review PDFs and digital documents before publication
Accessibility is embedded into the workflow, not bolted on later.
3. Accessible by Design Development Standards
We hold our internal standards to WCAG 2.1 AA guidelines, including but not limited to:
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- Proper heading structure
- Alt text for images
- Keyboard navigability
- Sufficient color contrast
- Labeled form fields
- Accessible CTAs and buttons
This protects enrollment funnels, landing pages, and AI powered digital tools from introducing new risk.
Compliance Is Protection
The 2026 deadline may feel distant, but it is not, especially for large institutions managing hundreds of webpages, years of archived PDFs, legacy systems, and multiple subdomains that all must be reviewed and remediated for compliance.
Our commitment to compliance is simple:
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- Hold a high standard
- Partner with experts
- Protect our customers
- Build digital systems that are accessible to every student
Whether you are already working with us or evaluating your compliance strategy, the next 12 months will determine how exposed or protected your institution is. We’re here to help.
Book a compliance strategy call today and move forward with confidence.