Accessibility Statement

Federal Context

The U.S. Department of Justice updated Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), establishing clear accessibility requirements for public programs and services. These changes apply to all state and local government agencies, including DPI, and require compliance by April 2026.

Title II ensures that all members of the public — parents, educators, students, and community members — can access public programs and services equally, regardless of ability.

Agency Guidance

For in-depth guidance, refer to the Agency Guidance on Digital Accessibility. For shorter answers to frequently-asked questions, refer to the FAQs below.

FAQs

What digital content does Title II cover at DPI?

Title II applies to public-facing digital content and systems, including:

  • Websites and web-based applications

  • Online forms and tools

  • Documents such as PDFs, Word files, slide decks, and spreadsheets

  • Videos and audio content

  • Communications shared electronically with parents or the public

  • Content provided through vendors or contractors must also meet accessibility standards if DPI controls or publishes it.

What technical standards must be followed?

DPI content must meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA, a widely recognized set of standards for digital accessibility. These guidelines provide specific success criteria to make web content usable for individuals with a range of disabilities.

Who at DPI is responsible for compliance?

  • IT Staff: Inventory and update all public-facing web-based systems.

  • Content Owners and Managers: Collectively responsible for ensuring documents, SharePoint content, forms, and multimedia meet accessibility standards.

  • Leaders and Supervisors: Support their teams, ensure training is completed, and use the guidance document to implement best practices.

Does Title II apply to internal staff systems?

Title II covers public programs and services, so purely internal tools may not be required to meet these standards. However, adopting accessibility best practices internally is encouraged to:

  • Facilitate equitable access for staff

  • Prepare materials for potential public use

  • Promote a culture of accessibility across the agency

Do classroom materials need to accessible?

Yes, if materials are shared digitally with students, families, or the public. This includes:

  • Slide decks, handouts, and online assignments

  • Videos and audio recordings

  • Learning platforms and online instructional tools

Materials should be accessible even if no student with a disability is currently enrolled. Specialized schools or programs (e.g., for students who are deaf, hard of hearing, or blind) still need to ensure content is usable by all intended users.

What about parent communications and portals?

All digital content used to communicate with parents or guardians is covered, including:

  • Online forms and applications

  • Parent portals or dashboards

  • Newsletters, letters, and program notices

  • Videos or recorded presentations shared with families

Accessible Communications include:

  • Documents that work with screen readers and keyboard navigation

  • Clear headings and structure

  • Images with meaningful alternative text

  • Videos with captions and audio with transcripts

  • Sufficient color contrast and readable fonts

Title II requires proactive accessibility, even if a parent has not requested an accommodation.

Does this apply to third-party tools or apps?

Yes. Any vendor system, portal, or application used to provide DPI services must meet accessibility standards. When limitations exist, alternative access must be provided. Accessibility is also considered in procurement and vendor evaluations.

What does “accessible” mean for documents and multimedia?

  • Documents: PDFs, Word files, spreadsheets, and slide decks should have proper headings, alt text for images, readable formats, and logical navigation.

  • Multimedia: Videos should have captions and audio should have transcripts. Online systems should support keyboard navigation and screen readers.

What happens if DPI does not comply?

Non-compliance could result in complaints, federal investigation, legal action, required corrective measures, and could jeopardize federal funding tied to civil rights and accessibility requirements. Beyond legal and financial risk, lack of accessibility can harm public trust and limit equitable access to DPI programs and services.

Will DPI staff receive support?

Yes. DPI will provide:

  • Mandatory training to ensure staff understand Title II expectations and how to implement them in their work

  • A guidance document (Accessibility Guide Version 1) explaining accessibility concepts, when they apply, and practical steps for creating accessible materials

  • Tools and resources for common content types such as Office documents, web content, and multimedia

  • Ongoing updates as DPI progresses toward the April 2026 compliance deadline

What should teachers know?

  • Teachers creating digital classroom materials (slides, handouts, videos, online assignments, learning platforms) need to ensure accessibility.

  • Materials must be accessible even if no student with a disability is currently enrolled.

  • Teachers are not expected to remediate every past file immediately; focus on content that will continue to be used or shared.

  • Accessible materials benefit all students, including those using assistive technologies or alternative formats.

How does this support families?

  • Accessible parent communications and portals ensure:

  • Parents with disabilities can participate fully in programs and services

  • Families can access information independently, without relying on others

  • DPI communications are clearer, usable, and inclusive for all users

What are the exceptions?

Web content that meets all four of the following points would not need to meet WCAG 2.1, Level AA:

  • The content was created before the date the state or local government must comply with this rule, or reproduces paper documents or the contents of other physical media (audiotapes, film negatives, and CD-ROMs for example) that were created before the government must comply with this rule, AND

  • The content is kept only for reference, research, or recordkeeping, AND

  • The content is kept in a special area for archived content, AND

  • The content has not been changed since it was archived.

What are the basics?

Use built-in accessibility checkers:

Many tools the DPI uses already include accessibility checks.

  • In Microsoft products (Word, PowerPoint, Excel), open your document and click the “File” tab, select “Info” from the left menu, click “Check for Issues” and choose “Check Accessibility.” The Accessibility Checker pane will open on the right side of the screen and organize issues into three categories:

    • Errors: Content that makes the document inaccessible

    • Warnings: content that may be difficult to understand

    • Tips: suggestions to improve accessibility

  • Run the accessibility checker before sharing or finalizing a document and after making major edits.

Do a keyboard check:

Use the “Tab” key on your keyboard to move through content. Make sure that you can reach all links, buttons and form fields, see where the focus indicator is on the screen, and complete tasks without using a mouse. If you get stuck, it is likely there is an accessibility issue. Check color and text readability: Ensure text is easy to read and not too small. There are many online contrast checkers that help you confirm that color contrast meets requirements. The DPI recommends you use the free WebAIM color contrast checker.

Yes. Any vendor system, portal, or application used to provide DPI services must meet accessibility standards. When limitations exist, alternative access must be provided. Accessibility is also considered in procurement and vendor evaluations.