What is Digital Accessibility?
Digital accessibility means creating digital content (including web pages, documents, videos, emails, forms, social media posts, and more) so that people with disabilities can perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with it.
Approximately one in five adults live with some form of disability. Some are permanent, some are temporary. They can affect cognition, mobility, hearing, vision, and—without accessibility considerations—one's independence.
Accessible content ensures that individuals using screen readers, captions, keyboard navigation, and other assistive technologies can fully participate. It’s both a legal requirement and a part of SRJC’s commitment to equity and inclusion.
Benefits for All Users
Easier to Use
Accessible design means clear structure, logical navigation, and consistent formatting — so people find what they need faster, especially when they're busy, stressed, multitasking, or navigating in a language they are not fully comfortable with.
Mobile-Friendly
Flexible layouts and larger touch targets aren't just accessibility features — they're what make websites and documents usable on phones and tablets, where most traffic happens now — more than half of visitors to SRJC's websites are on a mobile device.
Works in Any Environment
Captions and transcripts help more than deaf and hard-of-hearing users — they're essential for anyone without headphones in a loud commute or a quiet shared office, and useful for language learners and anyone reviewing dense material.
Accessible as We Age
Vision, hearing, and dexterity change with age. Adjustable text size and clear visual cues keep content usable for older students, faculty, staff, alumni, and parents.
Faster Sites, Better SEO
Accessible sites tend to have cleaner code — meaning faster load times and stronger search rankings, improving visibility for prospective students and the public alike.
Who Is Responsible?
Everyone who creates digital content at SRJC. This includes:
- Faculty — course materials, syllabi, Canvas pages, lecture slides, videos, documents
- Staff — department web pages, forms, emails, newsletters, flyers, reports
- Administrators — policies, communications, procurement decisions
- Content editors — anyone who updates or publishes content on SRJC websites
What Content is Covered?
The ADA Title II rule applies to all college-related digital content, including:
- Websites and web pages
- Documents (PDFs, Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
- Email communications
- Forms and online applications
- Videos (with captions and audio descriptions)
- Social media posts and graphics
- Mobile apps and other platforms
This applies to all areas of the College, including departments, offices, and student organizations.
SRJC Must Follow Accessibility Laws
- ADA Title II — The Americans with Disabilities Act requires public entities, including community colleges, to make their services accessible. In April 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a new rule under ADA Title II requiring all digital content to meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards. SRJC must comply by April 26, 2027.
- Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act — Requires federal and state entities receiving federal funding to make information technology accessible. California Government Code 7405 extends these requirements to state entities, including community colleges.
- SRJC Board Policy 2.17 — It is the policy of the Sonoma County Junior College District to conform to federal accessibility regulations in the procurement, development, maintenance, and implementation of Information and Communications Technology (ICT).
- SRJC Board Policy 2.17P — All District employees who create content published on District websites, learning management systems, and any other online platforms must ensure that such content is accessible and conforms to current WCAG standards.