News from the office of the provost concerning Title II
SUNY Geneseo is working towards creating an accessible community for everyone
Photo courtesy of SUNY Geneseo/Wikimedia Commons
SUNY Geneseo has announced new steps toward improving accessibility across campus in response to recent updates to Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as per their online news center. These changes, outlined in the campus-wide update, reflect a broader institutional commitment to ensuring that all students, faculty, and staff can fully participate in academic and campus life.
According to Geneseo’s website, “The changes, announced in April 2024, require colleges and universities to ensure all digital content meets accessibility standards by April 2026.” To add further context, the article also states, “This includes making adjustments to web content to improve readability and to make the content accessible via various assistive technologies, such as a screen reader or text-to-speech tools.”
On the Geneseo website, Title II is defined within Geneseo’s responsibility as a public SUNY. It emphasizes that all programs, services, and activities, whether in-person or online, must be accessible to individuals with disabilities. To quote Geneseo’s website directly, complying with Title II for SUNY Geneseo includes, “ensuring that all digital content—including all content for online classes, digital content for in-person courses, content from publishers, student-submitted content, third-party platforms, and social media channels—meet the specified technical standards.”
Title II of the ADA is a federal civil rights provision that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities by public entities. As stated on ADA.gov, Title II “requires state/local governments to give people with disabilities an equal opportunity to benefit from all of their programs, services, and activities.” This includes public colleges and universities like SUNY Geneseo, meaning that accessibility must extend to classrooms, online learning platforms, and institutional resources.
These updated Title II regulations place a strong emphasis on digital accessibility. Public institutions are now required to ensure that online content meets specific technical standards, like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA. These standards are intended to remove barriers for individuals who rely on assistive technologies such as screen readers or captioning systems.
SUNY Geneseo has been preparing for these changes slowly over time. According to information from the college’s Electronic and Information Technology (EIT) Accessibility webpage, the institution has taken multiple steps to prepare for this turnover in compliance with Title II. These include steps such as “Assessing and updating campus-wide digital accessibility training,” which would provide training to staff, students, and faculty on accessibility. Another step notes that preparation will also include “Assessing web content using campus-wide tools such as Siteimprove automated website scanning system, Ally accessibility tool in Brightspace, etc.”
Geneseo creating an approach to these new regulations by developing training programs, increasing awareness among faculty and staff, and evaluating existing digital content shows a commitment to equality with its students and faculty. These preparations also reveal an aim to ensure a smooth transition to full compliance with federal standards by the deadline of April 2026, according to Geneseo’s website.
Ultimately, as the college notes itself, “SUNY Geneseo is successfully working towards creating an accessible community for everyone,” reinforcing that accessibility is a central institutional goal. The article also highlights that “The Title II changes to the ADA impact many areas, and everyone should want to create an environment that is equitable for all,” showing that this effort extends beyond compliance and into a shared responsibility by all involved. By continuing to implement initiatives and expand accessibility practices, the college is not only preparing for federal requirements but also strengthening its commitment to ensuring that all members of the campus community can fully participate and succeed. As Geneseo states, “Building skills to improve digital accessibility is pivotal for everyone, including students. Anyone considering working in education, law enforcement, libraries, social services, public administration, and more should consider educating themselves on digital accessibility.”