Advancing Accessibility: Building Readiness for 2026 and Beyond

Digital accessibility is no longer optional—it’s essential to equity, inclusion, and student success. Across the United States, nearly 29% of adults live with at least one disability, yet only about a third disclose it to their school or employer. At the California Community Colleges, just 4% of students engage with reactive accessibility services, underscoring the need for proactive, systemwide solutions.

To close this gap, the CCC Accessibility Center, part of the CCC Technology Center, developed the Accessibility Capability Maturity Model (ACMM)—a framework that helps colleges assess their current practices, create improvement plans, and embed accessibility into every part of campus operations.

More than 41 colleges and 7 multi-college districts are already participating, with at least 17 more scheduled for the Spring 2026, coinciding with the target systemwide readiness date. The ACMM’s three-step cycle—Assess, Plan, Implement—supports continuous progress toward full digital inclusion while ensuring compliance with Section 508, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and student success.

“Accessibility is about more than compliance—it’s about creating a foundation where every student can learn and succeed,” said Dawn Okinaka, Director of the CCC Accessibility Center. “Through the ACMM, colleges are gaining the structure and support they need to make accessibility part of their everyday practice.”

For executive leadership, the ACMM represents both a compliance imperative and a strategic opportunity—reducing institutional risk while advancing Vision 2030 goals for equity and inclusion. For faculty and staff, it provides a framework for supporting student success, equipping them with the knowledge and tools to ensure every student has equal access to learn.

With a systemwide goal of full adoption by 2030, and the next round of college assessments underway, now is the time for leaders to act. Early participation helps colleges strengthen compliance readiness, protect institutional integrity, and ensure accessibility becomes a sustained part of campus culture.

Learn more or reserve your spot in Cohort 4, beginning fall 2026:

Accessibility Capability Maturity Model (ACMM)
Contact: acmm@ccctechcenter.org