Digital Accessibility Updates: What You Need to Know
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Collapse ▲You may have seen recent university updates about new federal digital accessibility requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II. These changes strengthen how accessibility laws apply to public universities, government agencies and other organizations that serve the public.
Read on for a summary of what’s going on, why it matters and how it applies to all of our experts statewide.
What’s Happening
In April 2024, the federal government updated ADA Title II to require that all public websites, apps and digital materials meet accessibility standards that help people of all abilities use them. Accessibility has long been something universities were strongly encouraged to do – and something many of you were already putting into practice.
Now, the federal government is moving from strongly encouraging accessibility to formally requiring it. Nothing new is being added; it’s simply becoming official and enforceable.
NC State, like all large public institutions, must be in compliance by April 24, 2026.
What That Means in Practice
The core concept is simple: it’s all about making our content easier for everyone to see, hear and navigate.
This involves ensuring that all digital materials across NC State programs, services and activities – including Extension – are fully accessible to everyone. That includes all websites, mobile apps, digital documents, online courses and third-party digital tools.
Digital accessibility standards and best practices haven’t really changed, and many will already be familiar. See a few quick examples:
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Add alt text to photos and graphics so people using screen readers know what’s shown.
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Include captions or transcripts for videos and audio clips.
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Use clear headings and simple structure so webpages are easy to follow.
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Ensure ample color contrast between text and background.
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Avoid mouse-only navigation — people should be able to use a keyboard or screen reader.
Learn more about the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Again, none of this is new — it’s just moving from “recommended” to “required.”
Where to Start
The university’s digital accessibility website is a great place to learn what this all means and how to get started. From understanding the fundamentals to guidance on specific types of content, the site has it covered.
We also recommend that you:
- Take this 7-minute training (it’s a video) for a solid overview.
- Consider following up with this 30-minute deeper dive to learn how to apply six core accessibility skills.
- Review Extension IT’s digital accessibility resources page for additional tools and guidance specific to Extension programs and platforms.
- Apply what you learn to your webpages, PDFs, social posts and other digital materials moving forward.
- Read this Extension post on document accessibility checkers for simple (and often free) tools that can help you find and fix accessibility issues in your digital docs – note NC State’s top five web accessibility issues.
These resources will walk through the basics — no tech or design background needed.
The Bottom Line
This isn’t about checking boxes; it’s about helping everyone access the knowledge and resources we share – that’s what Extension is all about.
Ultimately, these are federal requirements that affect all public universities, and NC State will continue guiding colleges and units toward compliance. Likewise, we’ll continue to share updates and support as university plans move forward.
If you have questions or want to schedule a professional development session for your team, please contact Rebecca Sitton, university digital accessibility coordinator, at accessibility@ncsu.edu.