On April 24, 2024, the Department of Education (DOE) introduced new web accessibility rules under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which prohibits discrimination in public and private programs that receive federal funding. These rules will officially take effect on June 24, 2024, and they require all public entities with populations of 50,000 or more to follow the new regulations by April 24, 2026.
As a result, the U of I System office and each university are working to ensure that all online services, programs, and activities meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1. The goal is to make sure everything is accessible from the start, without relying on separate alternatives. This ensures that people with disabilities can access web content and mobile apps quickly, easily, independently, privately, and equally.
In response to the DOE update, AITS immediately began to analyze and assess in-house applications built by, and maintained by AITS, to identify how this regulation update would impact AITS and end-users. We found XXX total applications and identified risk and usage factors to prioritize our teams focuses appropriately. We also began a process of working with our supported vendor products to inform them of the Title II updates and to work with them to move towards compliance.
See below more details about our in-house applications and vended applications.
Content from Jane
We will want a list of AITS apps and a status (Is in a SharePoint list currently)
Will provide standard stat info on Websites (SOSS), KBs (HelpDesk), and Dashboards (DS)
Efforts to manage vendor product accessibility involve structured communication, evaluation, and remediation to ensure compliance with accessibility standards and support decision-making.
We will provide a list of vended applications with a status (is in a SharePoint list currently)
Vendor Communication and Document Management
A Title II accessibility letter is sent to vendors, and all related documents, such as ACRs and VPATs, are stored in a shared Box folder accessible to product managers. Product managers maintain current accessibility documents from vendors’ websites as needed.
Product Review and Support
Product managers are the primary contacts for vendor questions regarding Title II. If further assistance is needed, Procurement or designated project managers provide support. After receiving vendor documentation, product managers request QA to review the product, supplying necessary documentation and potentially demos or use cases.
Testing Results and Accessibility Remediation
Upon QA review, the Product Risk and Options Report is completed. If remediation is required, product managers collaborate with vendors to ensure changes before April 2026, develop accessibility roadmaps with alternative access plans, or configure in-house solutions. If compliance is unattainable, options include creating temporary Equally Effective Alternative Access Plans, exploring replacements, accepting modifications, or accepting risk, with final recommendations submitted to the SOARC and Digital Risk Council for review and risk acceptance.