Overview

On April 24, 2024, the Department of Justice (DoJ) established a requirement that all state and local programs under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act make their web and mobile applications accessible to individuals with disabilities. 

This ruling applies to Penn State.  It includes all of our websites, Canvas courses, videos, online textbooks, third-party technology tools, etc.

Previously there was no established standard for web and mobile applications. The new requirement establishes WCAG 2.1 AA as the standard.  This ruling requires that our materials meet that expectation by April 24, 2026.

For more information about what this means, visit the DoJ Ruling Overview on the Commonwealth Teaching website.  You may also want to attend an information session offered by Penn State Accessibility.

If you would like to consult with an instructional designer about your course, please reach out to Andrew Pron at amp8076@psu.edu.  Watch for more resources coming about how to comply with the rule!Note: You can find a deeper dive into the ruling on the Penn State Accessibility website: DoJ Rule High Level Summary.