Access GCCCD

WCAG 2.1 Level AA

Understanding ADA Title II and WCAG 2.1 Level AA

Digital accessibility helps ensure that everyone, including people with disabilities, can access and use our digital information, services, and resources. Two important elements guide this work: the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

ADA Title II: The Legal Requirement

Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act requires public entities, including public colleges and universities, to provide people with disabilities equal access to their programs, services, and activities.

In April 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice published a rule establishing specific technical accessibility requirements for state and local government websites and mobile applications. The rule adopts WCAG 2.1 Level AA as the technical standard for covered digital content.

WCAG 2.1 Level AA: The Technical Standard

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 are internationally recognized accessibility standards developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). They provide measurable criteria for making digital content accessible to people with a wide range of disabilities.

WCAG is organized around four principles, commonly called POUR:

  • Perceivable: People must be able to perceive information, such as through text alternatives for images and captions for videos.
  • Operable: People must be able to navigate and interact with content, including using a keyboard.
  • Understandable: Information and navigation must be clear, readable, and predictable.
  • Robust: Content must work reliably with different technologies, including assistive technologies such as screen readers.

In short: ADA Title II establishes the legal obligation to provide access. WCAG 2.1 Level AA provides the technical criteria used to measure accessibility for covered web content and mobile applications.

What's Changing in 2027?

Although public entities have long been required to provide equal access under the ADA, the 2024 rule establishes a specific, enforceable technical standard for covered websites, web content, and mobile applications.

On April 20, 2026, the Department of Justice extended the compliance deadlines:

  • April 26, 2027: Public entities with populations of 50,000 or more.
  • April 26, 2028: Public entities with populations below 50,000 and special district governments.

These deadlines do not eliminate existing ADA obligations. Public entities must continue to provide equal access and effective communication, including addressing accessibility barriers when they arise.

What Does This Mean for GCCCD Employees?

Digital accessibility is a shared responsibility. Employees who create, edit, publish, purchase, or manage digital content all have a role in supporting access.

This includes:

  • Creating accessible documents, presentations, webpages, and forms.
  • Providing meaningful alternative text for informative images and captions for videos.
  • Using descriptive headings, meaningful links, and accessible formatting.
  • Reviewing existing digital content to determine what should be updated, replaced, or retired.
  • Considering accessibility when selecting or purchasing digital tools and services.
  • Assigning responsibility for maintaining accessible content over time.

Our goal is not simply to meet a deadline. It is to make accessibility part of how we work every day.

Additional Resources