Legal Requirements for School Website Accessibility

Public schools and districts are required by law to provide equal access to services, programs, resources and activities for all students, parents and staff members, regardless of disability. The Department of Education Office of Civil Rights (OCR) has interpreted this requirement to include access to information and resources found on the school website. This means that schools and districts must take steps to ensure that content on their websites is accessible to people with visual, auditory, dexterity or cognitive challenges.

There are three sections of the law that schools and districts should be aware of when it comes to website accessibility: Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 and Section 508.