Digital Accessibility at UNMC

ADA Title II Rule

The Department of Justice issued accessibility guidance as a rule under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act: "Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability; Accessibility of Web Information and Services of State and Local Government Entities."  Title II of the ADA ensures that anyone with a disability has equal access to state and local government services such as public education, and it covers the accessibility of web content and digital applications.

UNMC must comply with this new rule by April 24, 2026.  Significant effort is needed before the deadline to remediate existing digital content and to train content managers and faculty members to create accessible content.  

Accessibility at UNMC is a shared responsibility.   We will work together to eliminate barriers to accessibility, ensuring an equitable experience for all.

What's In the Title II Update?

This rule provides clarification to the ADA's mandate of effective communication by setting a clear accessibility standard for digital content and tools. This accessibility standard is compliance with  Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 Level AA  with limited exceptions.  

Included in the requirements are:

Public-facing websites.
Course materials and academic content.
Digital documents and forms.
Mobile applications.
Social media.
Videos, podcasts and photos.
Employment and Human Resources documents.

Why Is This Important?

Previously, there were no explicit standards for digital accessibility under Title II, and there was a lack of clarity about the scope of digital content and services covered by Title II. In practice, this led to an accommodation over accessibility approach that did not provide equal access. Alternatives and workarounds for inaccessible technology are no longer considered sufficient.

What Does This Mean for Us?

All digital content posted by anyone at UNMC is expected to meet digital accessibility requirements before being posted. 

This includes UNMC websites and course materials posted on Canvas. It also applies to content from third-party vendors like textbook companies and other learning applications used by instructors.

What Happens If We Don't?

If a complaint is made, the appropriate federal agency starts an audit process that includes assessing whether proper structures are in place (personnel & policies/procedures that most people follow) for accessibility.

The federal government is also running random audits of universities, even without specific complaints. In either case, if the university is found out of compliance, a full audit will be conducted and a remediation plan required, which will be closely monitored over time. If progress isn’t made, the matter will be referred for litigation, which may involve a penalty. 

What Are We Doing?

 Accessibility work at UNMC is organized on three fronts:

Academics and curriculum design, led by Jane Meza, PhD, interim vice chancellor of Academic Affairs.
Websites and web applications, led by Information Technology DevOps and the Department of Strategic Communications web team.

What Can You Do?

Attend accessibility training that will be offered for web content managers. Faculty members should take advantage of training and resources offered to them through Academic Affairs.

Resources for Faculty | Accessibility Services at UNMC | Accessibility Statement