Compliance Requirements & Deadlines
- What is the deadline for digital accessibility compliance?
Appalachian State University must comply with WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards by March 2026, per the U.S. Department of Justice’s final rule under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
- What is Policy 909 and how does it relate to me?
Policy 909: Digital Accessibility outlines App State’s institutional commitment and legal obligation to ensure all digital content is accessible. It applies to all university constituents and third-party partners who distribute or publish digital materials as part of university business.
- What does “WCAG 2.1 Level AA” mean?
WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) 2.1 Level AA is a set of internationally recognized standards that ensure web content is perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. Level AA includes requirements like keyboard navigation, descriptive link text, alt text for images, and sufficient color contrast.
- What happens if we don’t comply by March 2026?
Failure to meet the compliance deadline could result in legal consequences, loss of federal funding, reputational damage, or complaints filed with the Office for Civil Rights. But more importantly, noncompliance means denying equal access to students, employees, and community members.
Roles & Responsibilities
- Who is responsible for compliance at App State?
Everyone. While key oversight comes from the Office of Access & Opportunity: Disability Resources (ODR), Information Technology Services (ITS), and University Communications (UComm), all faculty, staff, departments, and units that create, manage, or share digital content are responsible for ensuring that content is accessible.
- How do I appoint or find out who my unit’s Digital Accessibility Liaison is?
Unit heads (chairs, directors, deans) are responsible for appointing a liaison. If you’re unsure who serves in that role in your area, contact Matt Sauthoff in the Office of Access & Opportunity: Disability Resources (ODR) at sauthoffm@appstate.edu.
- What if I contract a vendor for a website or digital service?
All vendors must meet accessibility requirements. When initiating contracts, work with Procurement to ensure appropriate language is included, and request a VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template) to assess compliance.
Scope of Accessibility
- What types of content need to be accessible?
Under Policy 909, all university digital materials must be accessible, including:
- Websites and webpages
- PDFs, Word documents, and presentations
- Instructional materials in AsULearn
- Videos and multimedia content
- Forms and surveys (e.g., Google Forms, Qualtrics)
- Procurement-related digital products or services
- Mobile applications
- New social media posts (those posted after the compliance date April 24, 2026)
- Is this just about people with disabilities?
No. While the primary goal is ensuring access for people with disabilities, accessible content benefits everyone. It improves mobile usability, search engine optimization, clarity of content, and reduces cognitive load for all users.
Tools, Processes & Monitoring
- How do I know if my content is accessible?
Use built-in accessibility checkers in Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat, Google Suite and your web content management system (Drupal). For broader assessment, App State is deploying a real-time monitoring tool (e.g., Silktide) to help units evaluate and improve accessibility across websites.
- What if I don’t know how to fix accessibility issues?
You’re not alone, and you’re not expected to do it without support. Use the training opportunities provided (including LinkedIn Learning), attend workshops, and reach out to your Digital Accessibility Liaison or to one of the project leads listed in the Contact Information section for help.
Training & Skill Building
- Where can I learn how to make a PDF or Word doc accessible?
LinkedIn Learning offers several courses—such as Creating Accessible PDFs—and campus workshops are available throughout the year. Additionally, Microsoft, Adobe and Google all include built-in accessibility tools that guide you through remediation.
- If I’m a faculty member using AsULearn, what do I need to do?
Ensure all course materials (readings, videos, handouts, etc.) are accessible. Use captions for media, readable fonts, structured headings, and descriptive link text. If you’re unsure, connect with Academic Technologies or ODR for training or course review support.
Help & Support
- Where can I get help?
Visit the Resources and Support section for a full list of tools, checklists, training, and contact information for assistance.