The Center for Learning Innovation (CLI) is committed to empowering the Illinois Tech faculty and staff to create an inclusive and equitable digital learning environment for our students. We play a vital role in creating content that supports diverse learning needs, removes unnecessary barriers, and aligns with accessibility best practices and legal expectations, including ADA Title II, III, and Section 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. This is essential to academic excellence, student success, and our institutional values. Information and resources on digital accessibility support are available on this website.
Understanding Digital Accessibility
Digital accessibility means designing websites, online courses, documents, and multimedia so that all people—including those with visual, hearing, motor, or cognitive disabilities—can access and use them effectively. It ensures compatibility with assistive technologies, clear structure, readable design, and inclusive multimedia. For example, clear structure, captions, alt text, and consistent design benefit not only students with disabilities but also multilingual learners, mobile users, and anyone who prefers organized, flexible formats. By reducing barriers and supporting diverse learning needs, digital accessibility advances equity and helps create a more inclusive academic environment where all individuals can fully engage and thrive.
ADA Title II Compliance
ADA Title II is part of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a landmark civil rights law enacted in 1990. Title II specifically covers state and local government services. While Illinois Tech is a private university, the enforcement of these guidelines is expected to create a “halo effect,” potentially inspiring challenges of all institutions. Ultimately, we have a responsibility to serve our students, regardless of the threat of legal action.
WCAG 2.1 AA Standards
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) provide international standards for making digital content usable for people with disabilities. Level AA is the standard most commonly required in higher education. WCAG 2.1 AA focuses on ensuring content is easy to see, navigate, understand, and use across devices and assistive technologies. Key requirements include sufficient color contrast, alt text for images, clear headings, accessible forms, keyboard navigation, captions for videos, visible focus indicators, and predictable interactions.
Any Exceptions?
ADA Title II has limited exceptions for certain web content which may not need to meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA. Some examples include online content which have not been updated recently or are in a designated place with a label of “archived.”
- Archived content (pre‑compliance and not currently used)
- Pre‑existing social media posts
- Some third‑party content created by non‑employees
- Password‑protected content for students enrolled before compliance date
For more detailed information on these topics, check out the Digital Accessibility 101 Training in Canvas.