Richard West Assistive Technology Advocacy Center (ATAC) Hosts Key Sessionon ADA Title II Updates and Classroom Accessibility

[Mercer Community College, West Windsor Township, NJ, October 1, 2024] The Richard West Assistive Technology Advocacy Center (ATAC) of Disability Rights New Jersey (DRNJ), New Jersey’s federally funded assistive technology project, has partnered with New Jersey’s Department of Labor and Workforce Development to ensure that assistive technology is more accessible to individuals with disabilities across the state. In its ongoing mission to eliminate barriers, ATAC recently hosted a pivotal session titled, “New ADA Title II Updates: How Accessible is Your Classroom?” led by Janet DeSenzo, CTC Academy Technology Coordinator and Assistive Technology Specialist, at their New Jersey Assistive Technology & Community Living Summit.

The session provided critical insights into the new ADA Title II ruling, which mandates that all state and local government agencies, including educational institutions, ensure their web content and mobile applications are accessible to all, regardless of disability. The session emphasized the importance of adhering to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 standards to evaluate digital materials for accessibility.

DeSenzo presented actionable steps for educators and administrators to review their classroom tools and materials for accessibility using the POUR (Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, Robust) framework, and encouraged a collaborative approach by forming Accessibility Project Teams to divide tasks among IT departments, curriculum leaders, and accessibility specialists.

“This is not just a special education issue,” DeSenzo stated. “Every school and district needs to ensure their digital resources, including websites, parent portals, and curriculum materials, are accessible. While the task may seem daunting, schools can leverage built-in tools and resources from organizations like CAST and AEM to meet these requirements.”

The ADA Title II ruling affects a wide range of public entities, including schools, libraries, police departments, and hospitals. The compliance timeline is determined by population size: municipalities with fewer than 49,000 residents have until April 2027 to comply, while those with 50,000 or more must comply by April 2026. Schools are encouraged to start assessing their web content and classroom tools now to ensure compliance with accessibility standards.

As part of the session, educators were provided with an accessibility checklist aligned with POUR principles to guide the creation of accessible classroom materials, including visual, motoric, auditory, and cognitive supports. Educators were also introduced to the accessibility features built into popular platforms like Chromebooks, Windows, and iOS devices.

CTC Academy depends on the generosity of individuals, corporations and foundations to support our mission. Raised funds provide enhanced programs, adaptive equipment, expansion of facilities and programs and extracurricular activities for our children and their families.

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