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ARTICLE · 07 JUNE 2023

OCR And DOJ Send A Message To Higher Ed: Make Your Websites Accessible

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A recent "Dear Colleague" letter issued jointly by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Office of Civil Rights of the Department...

United StatesAccounting and Audit
John Egan
John Egan
Dov Kesselman
Dov Kesselman
Ashley S. Jenkins
Ashley S. Jenkins
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A recent "Dear Colleague" letter issued jointly by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Office of Civil Rights of the Department of Education (OCR) places colleges and universities on notice of recent enforcement activities under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504) directed at digital accessibility. Referencing recent consent decrees entered into between OCR and more than 50 institutions of higher learning in just the last year, the Letter sends a clear message that institutions should meaningfully address the accessibility of their online properties and communications.

The Letter describes the increasing reliance by colleges, universities, and post-secondary institutions on not only their own websites, but also third-party social media and third-party platforms like YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts, to deliver services, programs, and activities. It cites broad obligations

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