Meeting the ADA Title II Digital Accessibility Requirements

The Importance of Making Websites Accessible

"The Web is fundamentally designed to work for all people, whatever their hardware, software, language, location, or ability. When the Web meets this goal, it is accessible to people with a diverse range of hearing, movement, sight, and cognitive ability." (W3C opens a new window)

Web accessibility is a fundamental part of complying with the updated ADA Title II guidelines, which require that public entities like Mason provide equal access to digital content for individuals with disabilities. According to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA, which serve as the standard for ADA compliance, websites must include features such as alternative text descriptions for images, accurate and synchronized captions and audio descriptions for videos, clear and meaningful hyperlink text, and proper labeling of form elements (i.e., search fields, buttons, textboxes, etc.) for screen readers. These measures ensure that all users, regardless of their abilities, have an equitable experience on Mason's digital platforms.

Projected Timeline (Public-Facing Websites): Jan 2025 - Aug 2025
Strategic Focus: Digital content (i.e., images, hyperlinks, tables, documents, audio/video content, form elements, etc.) hosted on Mason's public-facing websites (i.e. Drupal, WordPress).