Digital accessibility removes barriers so everyone can access information and complete tasks on web pages, electronic documents, and online media.
All digital content actively used for University business must be accessible and conform to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), in compliance with the Department of Justice final ruling on Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Title II Subpart H of the ADA requires actively used digital content to conform to WCAG 2.1 Level AA. The deadline for compliance with this federal law has been extended to April 26, 2027—meaning the Department of Justice will not impose financial penalties under that rule until next year. However, ODU's commitment, efforts and obligation to provide accessible digital content will continue.
Accessible By Design
Our responsibility to create accessible content does not end at a compliance deadline.
This is an institutional milestone for the University to be proactive about digital accessibility. By integrating accessibility into our standard operating procedures, we improve our digital infrastructure and ensure that the University's collective expertise is available to the widest possible audience. This is an investment in the quality, reach, and resilience of our institutional mission, and each faculty and staff member plays a part.
This isn't about doing more work; it's about doing our best work.
Does this apply to me?
If you create digital content in your role at the University, you are responsible for making that content accessible. Digital content includes, but is not limited to:
- Web pages
- Course content
- Online forms
- Electronic documents, such as Word documents, PDF files, or PowerPoint slide decks
- Video
- Digital versions of physical University publications, such as a digital flip book of the alumni magazine
- Mobile apps used to access ODU services
- Social media posts, including reposts of other's content, in accounts that represent the University or a department/office at the University
Individuals who are responsible for selecting technology that will deliver digital content for the University must make sure that technology is accessible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Digital content includes two broad groups: web content and information and communication technology.
Web content includes (but is not limited to):
- text,
- images,
- videos,
- sounds,
- controls,
- animations, and
- conventional electronic documents, including PDFs.
In practical terms, anything put into a digital space must comply with Title II accessibility requirements. Examples include:
- Web pages, both public and password-protected
- Documents such as PowerPoint, Word, or PDF files
- Email, including attachments
- Course content, such as:
- Canvas pages, assignments, discussions, quizzes, etc.
- Documents added to a course or linked to from a course
- Instructional tools or content
- Publisher content
Information and communication technology (ICT) refers to the websites or mobile apps that deliver web content and make it possible to participate in classes or University business. The controls, navigation, appearance, and other characteristics of these websites and apps must also meet accessibility requirements set by Title II of the ADA. The requirements are the same for technology that is purchased, developed, maintained, or acquired by the University, and for technology obtained, provided, developed, or maintained by third-party vendors on behalf of the University.
There are limited situations where content is exempt from Title II accessibility requirements:
- Archived web content and legacy documents (e.g., PDFs, Word files, or spreadsheets) created before the deadline are exempt only if they are stored in a dedicated archive area, remained unedited, and are kept strictly for reference or record-keeping.
- Important: This exception does not apply to any legacy materials that remain actively used, shared or required for current business. If an older document is still part of an active process or service, it must be updated to meet Title II accessibility requirements.
- Third-party posts, such as public comments on a University social media post or student-created content submitted for class.
- Password-protected, individualized documents, like a personal tuition bill PDF in a secure account.
- Older social media posts created before the compliance deadline.
Even when an exception applies, the University may need to provide the information in an accessible way if a person with a disability requests it.
Accessibility is a shared responsibility. Rather than falling on any single department or individual (as this is a large-scale federal requirement), maintaining an equitable digital environment requires a coordinated partnership between faculty, staff, and the University.
To meet federal mandates effectively, we lean on a collaborative division of labor. This structure preserves content creators' specialized expertise while ensuring the University provides robust, scalable tools to sustain a compliant environment.
| Responsibility | Strategic Owner | Operational Role |
|---|---|---|
| Content Compliance | Content Owners & Originators | Ensuring all digital assets (media, documents, PDFs, email) meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards. |
| System Procurement/Development | Software point of contact(s) | Evaluating, acquiring, and/or developing and maintaining software that meets federal accessibility standards prior to institutional adoption. |
| Platform Infrastructure | University | Providing and maintaining core systems (Canvas, Zoom, YuJa) that are natively capable of hosting accessible content. |
| Professional Development | University | Delivering the training, tools, and remediation workflows necessary to verify and sustain compliance. |
| Individualized Accommodations | Office of Educational Accessibility (OEA) | Managing clinical documentation and providing individualized support for specific student accommodation requirements. |
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are an internationally recognized standard for making web sites, applications, and other digital content more accessible to people with disabilities.
- 2.1 refers to WCAG version 2.1 published in June 2018.
- Level AA refers to a specific level of conformance to WCAG.
WCAG operates on four principles known as POUR:
- Perceivable: Information and user interface components must be presentable to users in ways they can perceive.
- Operable: User interface components and navigation must be operable.
- Understandable: Information and the operation of the user interface must be understandable.
- Robust: Content must be robust enough that it can be interpreted by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies.
(Source: WCAG 2.1)
Title II of the ADA designates WCAG 2.1 Level AA as the technical standard for digital accessibility. You can explore more information about Title II of the ADA and why WCAG 2.1 Level AA was chosen as the technical standard in this ADA Fact Sheet.