On April 24, 2024, the Department of Justice updated its regulations for Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The final rule sets specific requirements for making web content and mobile applications (apps) accessible to people with disabilities.
What does this mean for BC faculty?
Digital content in online and hybrid courses needs to be accessible and inclusive for all learners according to The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Version 2.1, Level AA (includes Level A). Full compliance with the rule must be achieved by April 26, 2026. This gives BC faculty less than a year to meet the requirements for all online and hybrid courses they teach. Bellevue College has a variety of tools available to instructors for ensuring accessibility in your courses. In addition to these self-access tools, Interactive eLearning has implemented key strategies to assist faculty and ensure that Bellevue College is prepared.
Summary
- All digital content in online and hybrid courses must be accessible and inclusive.
- Standard: WCAG 2.1 AA (includes Level A)
- Deadline: April 26, 2026
Fact Sheet: New Rule on the Accessibility of Web Content and Mobile Apps
What can I do now to prepare?
Start using reference course shells
You have been issued reference course shells for each course that you teach. These shells allow you to create a clean, accessible version of your course that you can use when transferring your content to a new course shell. This avoids the accumulation of duplicate files and unnecessary clutter when copying courses quarter to quarter.
Learn more about reference shells and course concludes:
- What is the purpose of course reference shells?
- Canvas Course Concludes: What, How, Why Now, and What Should I Do?
Try out UDOIT in your courses
UDOIT scans your Canvas courses, identifies issues, and provides guidance to improve accessibility with ease. This is the most powerful accessibility tool instructors have access to, and it’s highly recommended that instructors use this tool regularly to ensure accessibility in their courses.
Learn more about UDOIT in this video created by Interactive eLearning for Month of Microlearning 2025.
Access customized checklists created by Interactive eLearning
Interactive eLearning has created several checklists to help guide your work when making your course content accessible. These checklists follow best practices and are calibrated to WCAG 2.1 AA standards.
- Canvas Accessibility Checklist
- MS Word Accessibility Checklist
- PDF Accessibility Checklist
- MS PowerPoint Accessibility Checklist
- Video Accessibility Checklist
- Math Accessibility Checklist
- MS Email Accessibility Checklist
Sign up for accessibility coaching with an instructional designer
Interactive eLearning provides personalized support via 1-on-1 accessibility coaching sessions. Schedule a 1-on-1 virtual or in-person session with one of our instructional designers—we can answer questions, provide micro-training, give demos, or even guide you through a particular accessibility challenge you are facing.
Participate in one of our GAME professional development offerings
In response to the new Title II rule, Interactive eLearning has created a professional development strategy, Guidance for Accessible Materials in Education (GAME), to focus our efforts on training faculty and providing workshop time to ensure that our courses are accessible and inclusive for everyone.
Byte-Sized PD sessions on accessibility (May/June 2025)
Explore more resources on our Accessibility in Canvas page
Visit our Accessibility in Canvas page to explore more information and resources for making your course content in Canvas and beyond accessible for all your learners.
Last Updated May 16, 2025