How schools can start prepping for upcoming ADA Title II updates

The US Department of Justice’s (DOJ) updates to Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) aims to ensure that state and local government services — including public schools and universities — are accessible to people with disabilities in the digital age. For schools, this shift represents both a challenge and an opportunity to modernize how they serve students.

Here’s what education leaders need to know — and how they can start preparing now.

Read our latest whitepaper that offers a roadmap to ADA Title II compliance.

Download here!

Cover of Verbit's ADA Title II whitepaper, showing a man in the top right corner looking at a computer screen.

‘Readily accessible’ content

Title II of the ADA applies to all state and local governments, which includes, among other entities, public schools, community colleges and public universities.

The updated rule, designed to ensure all digital services are ADA-compliant, clarifies the obligations of public education institutions to make their websites and mobile apps “readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities,” including via the use of accessible text, images, sounds, videos, controls, animations and electronic documents. This includes converting pictures and documents so they can be read with assistive technology for individuals with vision loss, adding audio description on videos and providing captions for all live and pre-recorded audio and video for individuals with hearing loss.

It outlines specific requirements, including the adoption of technical standards, for making services, programs and activities offered at schools accessible to the public through the web and mobile apps. Those technical standards, the DOJ said, mimic those outlined in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA, an internationally recognized accessibility standard for web access, to which the department has directed governments and businesses in the past in lieu of its own established guidance.

Although enforcement will not begin until 2026 at the earliest, school leaders should begin taking steps to ensure that their digital presence complies with the new regulations.

What should schools do to prepare?

There are a few steps schools can take to begin preparing for the new regulations.

Audit your digital footprint

Start by identifying and assessing your current digital assets, including websites (at the district-, school- and classroom-levels), mobile apps and Learning Management Systems (LMS) as well as class documents and videos such as handbooks, recorded lectures and webinars. It’s a good idea to work with accessibility experts to evaluate these materials against WCAG standards as a professional audit can uncover common issues like missing alt text, poor color contrast, inaccessible navigation and lack of captions or transcripts on videos.

Prioritize accessibility in video and audio content

Videos and audio files are among the most common accessibility pain points. Schools should ensure that all existing and future content is:

Captioned accurately for students who are Deaf or hard of hearing
Transcribed so that text-based alternatives are available
Audio described when necessary for blind or low vision users

Create an accessibility action plan

Use the results of your audit to build a strategic roadmap that addresses short-term “quick wins” (fixing broken alt text, adding captions to high-traffic videos), medium-term upgrades (updating templates, reformatting PDFs) and long-term changes (training staff, building accessibility into future tech procurement). The plan should include timelines, budgets, tools and responsibilities for accessibility improvements.

Train staff and educators

Accessibility issues can stem from a lack of awareness or training. Schools should conduct regular training for web and IT teams, educators who create and share digital materials and content creators and communications staff.

Engage members of the community

Involve students, families, and community members with disabilities in the planning process and ask questions about practical challenges that compliance checks may miss.

A stack of book and an electronic tablet sit on an empty school desk.

Why accessibility matters beyond compliance

While compliance with the updated ADA regulations is essential, accessibility offers broader benefits, including:

Better learning outcomes: Students learn better with a variety of content formats, including captions and transcripts.
Increased equity: Removing digital barriers ensures that every student has an equal opportunity to succeed.
Enhanced community engagement: Accessible school websites and services improve communication with families, especially those with disabilities.
Future-proofing technology: Building accessibility into your digital systems now prevents costly retrofits later.

Prepare for Title II compliance

The upcoming ADA Title II updates mark a turning point in how schools provide for students in an increasingly digital world. Instead of treating accessibility as a box to check, education leaders should see it as a chance to improve learning experiences for all students.

By starting now — conducting audits, investing in inclusive tools like those offered by Verbit and building a culture of accessibility — schools can meet the requirements ahead of schedule and set the standard for equity in education.

Verbit partners with education institutions nationwide to deliver accessible digital learning experiences through AI-powered captioning, transcription and accessibility solutions. Download our whitepaper on preparing for Title II compliance below or contact one of our experts to learn how we can support your compliance journey.