Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires state and local government entities, including public universities like Georgia Tech, to ensure that their websites and mobile applications are accessible to individuals with disabilities.

Under the U.S. Department of Justice’s updated Title II of the ADA regulations, Georgia Tech must ensure that its digital content meets the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA by April 24, 2026.

WCAG is an internationally recognized set of accessibility standards developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) through the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI). These guidelines provide a framework for making digital content more accessible to people with a wide range of disabilities, including visual, auditory, physical, speech, cognitive, learning, and neurological disabilities. 

Tech employee talking while sat at a table with a laptop and screen behind them

Types of Digital Content Affected


Title II explicitly adopts WCAG 2.1 Level AA as the minimum technical standard for digital accessibility and defines the scope of what public entities must make accessible. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Websites and web-based platforms
  • Mobile applications
  • Digital documents (such as PDFs, word processing files, spreadsheets, and presentations)
  • Audio and video content
  • Third-party tools, platforms, and applications used to provide programs or services

If a digital resource is used to communicate information or deliver a program or service on behalf of Georgia Tech, it is generally covered by Title II. 

Understanding WCAG 2.1 Level AA


WCAG 2.1 includes 50 Level A and Level AA success criteria organized around four core accessibility principles: content must be Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust.

Because the Department of Justice has adopted Level AA, Georgia Tech must meet:

  • All Level A requirements, and
  • All Level AA requirements

WCAG 2.1 builds upon WCAG 2.0 and adds additional success criteria that address accessibility for mobile devices, low vision users, and users with cognitive and motor disabilities. Examples of areas addressed include:

  • Device orientation and responsiveness
  • Color and non-text contrast
  • Text spacing and readability
  • Clear labels and instructions for form fields
  • Keyboard access and keyboard shortcuts
  • Visible labels for controls and inputs

These standards help ensure digital content works across devices, assistive technologies, and user needs.

The full WCAG 2.1 guidelines are available through the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). 

W3C WCAG 2.1 Guidelines