Website Accessibility for Colleges: From Risk to a Practical Work Plan

Make student access the starting point

A student should be able to find a program, read an application requirement, and complete an inquiry form. Accessibility work starts by reviewing whether people can complete those tasks using different devices and assistive technologies.

This article has been revised to remove earlier lawsuit totals and outcome claims that were not supported by cited evidence. It does not present a statistical review of 2025 litigation.

Use the current requirements

For public institutions, the DOJ’s Title II web rule identifies WCAG 2.1 Level AA as its technical standard, subject to the rule’s provisions and exceptions. The April 2026 interim final rule extended the compliance dates. Consult the DOJ’s interim final rule and your institution’s legal team for applicability.

Give each finding an owner

Organize findings by affected template or content type, user impact, responsible team, and verification method. A shared template fix can improve many pages, while an inaccessible document may require separate editorial work.

Review forms, navigation, headings, alternative text, captions, and documents. Include manual assessment alongside automated checks. A tool’s grade does not cover every accessibility requirement.

Keep a record of the work

Document what was reviewed, what changed, and how the change was checked. Retain unresolved issues with owners and next steps. Documentation supports coordination and accountability; it does not guarantee protection from complaints or legal action.

Keep accessibility part of publishing

Give editors usable guidance and check new templates and content before release. Repeat reviews after major changes and when users report difficulty.

Explore College Inbound’s accessibility services for scoped review and remediation. For ongoing governance tooling, GuardGrid is available as a separate platform and subscription. Contact us to discuss your website and priorities.