Title II of the ADA

William & Mary is approaching the Title II implementation as an institution-wide effort grounded in collaboration, shared responsibility and continuous improvement.  

Our work is mainly coordinated through three dedicated Digital Accessibility Working Groups, formed in 2024, which have helped us build long-term capacity across the university.  

1. Teaching, Learning and Working Programs  
   Focused on instructional content, Blackboard, course materials, training and faculty support.  
   
2. Web, Social Media and Mobile Content  
   Focused on university websites, digital communications, and mobile platforms.  
   
3. Administrative and IT Systems and Purchasing  
   Focused on enterprise systems, procurement processes, vendor accessibility, and technology infrastructure.  

Expert-led groups oversee digital accessibility in workflows. The Digital Accessibility Leadership Team, formed by executive sponsors and campus leaders, supports decisions and strategies on digital accessibility. 

All digital accessibility efforts are coordinated across our three working groups to ensure consistent progress. While these groups were created for support and strategy, it is important to remember that ensuring accessibility is also every individual’s responsibility.  

Support, Resources & Implementation  

Our teams provide structured support to all units of the campus community, including: 

• Multiple training options, including individual sessions, open labs and on-demand learning  
• Digital Accessibility request or review  
• Tools like Adobe Pro for making accessible content  
• Individual consultations for faculty and staff  
• Departmental outreach and roadshows 
• Contracted web accessibility tools and guidance  
• Procurement standards and vendor accessibility review processes  

W&M’s digital accessibility website serves as the central hub for guidance, events, tools, and reporting pathways. Faculty and staff are encouraged to regularly access available resources and engage in ongoing learning opportunities.  

Across William & Mary, faculty are demonstrating a strong and growing commitment to digital accessibility. Hundreds of faculty and staff members have attended trainings, departments have engaged in accessibility outreach initiatives, participated in focused improvement efforts, and strengthened collaboration with campus partners to support inclusive course design. 

That commitment is reflected in measurable progress. Over the past year, engagement with Blackboard accessibility tools has led to a more than 90% increase in content fixes and nearly a 30% increase in conversion rates for accessibility improvements. As a result, over 800 courses have been improved, with more than 14,000 accessibility fixes implemented. In a significantly shorter reporting window this academic year, faculty have already surpassed previous improvement benchmarks, demonstrating sustained momentum and deeper engagement with accessible course design.  

If you are a faculty member who is unsure where to begin, reviewing your Blackboard accessibility score is a practical first step. Open labs and consultations are available to help interpret results and identify manageable improvements.  

Digital accessibility extends beyond the classroom. Staff are helping to shape an accessible digital future through website management, digital communications, document creation, procurement processes, and the administration of university systems. 

Across administrative and operational units, accessibility practices are increasingly embedded into workflows and standards. Engagement continues to grow, with more departments seeking guidance, requesting reviews, and incorporating accessibility into planning conversations. As with instructional content, our emphasis remains on steady progress over perfection.  

Students are essential partners in strengthening digital accessibility at William & Mary.  

Digital accessibility is most effective when it is shaped by the experiences of the community it serves. Student perspectives and feedback play an important role in this process. Students are encouraged to communicate accessibility needs with faculty, collaborate with peers, and connect with Student Accessibility Services and other campus partners to ensure barriers are identified and addressed. Open dialogue and shared engagement help inform improvements and support the university’s broader goals of inclusion. 

Steady, collaborative progress will remain the foundation of William & Mary’s approach, both in preparation for the compliance deadline and after. This work is ongoing, and I will continue to share updates as we make progress toward the April 2026 compliance deadline and beyond. 

Members of the university community are encouraged to seek guidance, ask questions, and take advantage of available resources. Consultation, training, and support services are available to assist with next steps.