The ADA refers to the Americans with Disabilities Act, a landmark federal civil rights law passed in 1990 that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in various areas of public life, including employment, state and local government services, public accommodations, transportation, and telecommunications. Its goal is to ensure that individuals with disabilities have the same opportunities and access to services and programs as everyone else.

UNMC IT Academic Technologies has developed an ADA Training Course to detail many of the issues, topics, and solutions to help faculty and staff be successful in remediating course content to address the Americans with Disability Act.

Additionally, an "All Things Accessibility" series of meetings has been set up to discuss topics, challenges, and resolutions as an open forum for Q&A. These meetings are hosted in the UNMC Faculty Commons, located in Whittson Hall, 6th Floor. Zoom connectivity is also available. This is also a great way to get engaged and learn from others. Reach out to Julie Gregg to be added to the calendar invitations.

Background

What's in the ADA 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, including internal and external websites, digital documents, and mobile applications, by requiring compliance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 Level AA with limited exceptions.

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, in part because of delays due to on-the-fly remediation. In short, alternatives and workarounds for inaccessible technology will no longer be considered sufficient.

What Does this Mean for Us?

All digital content posted by anyone at the university is expected to meet digital accessibility guidelines before being posted. This includes all websites (both public and internal facing) as well as course materials posted on Canvas. It also applies to social media posts as well as content from 3rd 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 monetary penalty.

What Are We Doing?

NU has created a working group to address the changes to ADA’s Title II for digital accessibility by assessing and reviewing UNMC's current practices and procedures, providing recommendations for updates and identifying areas of need for compliance including purchases, processes and personnel. The creation of this course is part of those actions to help prepare faculty and staff to address needs within curricular materials.