From Awareness to Action: A Five-Phased Approach to Web Accessibility

Editor’s Note (Updated April 2026): At the time of publication, the ADA Title II compliance deadline was April 24, 2026. The U.S. Department of Justice has since extended the deadline to April 26, 2027. While this extension provides additional time, institutions are strongly encouraged to maintain momentum and continue advancing accessibility efforts to ensure meaningful progress ahead of the new deadline.

Current data shows a significant web accessibility gap across the California Community College system. While many colleges rely on automated scanning tools, these tools detect only about 25–35% of accessibility barriers, leaving the majority of issues undiscovered. 

At the same time, accessibility efforts often focus solely on public-facing websites, despite the ADA Title II rule applying broadly to learning management systems (Canvas), student portals, social media channels, third-party tools, and outsourced services that students depend on every day.

Recognizing that meaningful compliance takes time, the CCC Accessibility Center is guiding colleges through a five-phased approach designed to steadily improve accessibility as institutional capacity grows.

• Phase 1: Inventory and Training. Build comprehensive inventories of websites and digital assets and provide training to faculty and staff who work on websites.
• Phase 2: Optimizing Automated Scanning. Fully utilize tools like Pope Tech to catch basic accessibility issues.
• Phase 3: Implementing Manual Testing. Establish processes for human evaluation of websites to catch the 65-75% of errors that automated tools miss.
• Phase 4: Standardize Remediation. Create a standardized triage process to fix issues efficiently, prioritizing content that impacts the most users.
• Phase 5: Communicate Your Efforts. Integrate end-user feedback mechanisms for reporting barriers and publish public statements to demonstrate your commitment to accessibility.

By approaching accessibility as a phased, system-wide effort, colleges can move beyond surface-level fixes and build sustainable practices that align with the intent of the ADA Title II update. The goal isn’t instant perfection. It’s steady, measurable improvement that expands access for all students over time.

Contact the Accessibility Center to learn more: accessibility@ccctechcenter.org