Accessibility Laws and Why They Matter
Now that you understand what accessibility is, let’s talk about the laws and standards behind it — and why they matter for all of us at CHCP. Accessibility isn’t just a best practice; it’s a legal requirement and a moral commitment to making sure every student can fully participate in learning.
START
Accessibility Laws and Standards
There are several key laws and guidelines that shape how we make our online courses accessible:
Together, these laws mean that our digital classrooms are legal spaces, just like physical ones. If a student can’t access an announcement, syllabus, or video, it’s as serious as if a classroom door were locked.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act
WCAG 2.1
Understanding the ADA
The ADA is built on one key idea: effective communication. That means colleges must ensure that students with disabilities receive information as effectively as everyone else. In the digital world, that includes making sure our course content can be read, seen, or heard through assistive technology. The ADA doesn’t just apply to buildings — it applies to everything we post and share online as instructors.
Click here for a few common ADA violations in online education.
Consequences for Non-Compliance
When institutions fail to meet accessibility standards, the impact is both legal and practical. Institutional consequences include:
- Investigations by the Office for Civil Rights (OCR).
- Loss of eligibility for federal grants and student financial aid.
- Legal settlements, fines, and negative publicity that can harm the school’s reputation.
Practical consequences include:
- Students being excluded from course participation.
- Lower course evaluations and reduced student retention.
- Instructors spending far more time later re-creating or fixing inaccessible materials.
In short — building accessibility from the start saves time, money, and frustration for everyone.
Who Enforces Accessibility?
Several agencies and offices hold institutions accountable:
- The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) oversees accessibility in education.
- The Department of Justice (DOJ) enforces federal disability laws, including the ADA.
- Within CHCP, our Head Compliance Officer, Bill Kohlhoff, leads internal oversight and ensures we meet these standards.
But compliance isn’t just Bill’s job — it’s everyone’s responsibility. Each instructor is a content creator, and every piece of content we post reflects our institutional commitment to accessibility.
Why This Matters for CHCP
At its heart, accessibility is about equity — giving every student a fair opportunity to learn and succeed.
It’s also a condition for federal funding and accreditation, and a mark of professional excellence in higher education.
When we create accessible content, we:
- Improve usability for all learners — including those using mobile devices, learning English, or juggling work and family.
- Make our materials look cleaner, more professional, and easier to navigate.
- Reduce the need for future fixes.
Accessibility isn’t extra work — it’s better work that benefits both students and instructors.
Accessibility Laws and Why They Matter
As CHCP instructors, we’re not just meeting legal requirements — we’re creating inclusive learning environments where every student has a chance to succeed.
By applying these standards, we honor our mission, support our students, and strengthen the quality of education we deliver.
HOME
Recommended Resources
ADA.gov – Americans with Disabilities Act Overview
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act
U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR)
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1)
U.S. Access Board – ICT Standards and Guidelines
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act – This specifically applies to electronic and information technology, ensuring that digital tools, websites, and documents are usable by everyone.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Titles II and III protect the rights of individuals with disabilities and require colleges to ensure equal access to programs, services, and communication.
Here are a few common ADA violations in online education:
- Course materials that can’t be read by screen readers
- Videos without captions
- Images or graphics without alt text
- Documents that use low-contrast colors or decorative fonts that make text unreadable
WCAG 2.1 – The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines are the technical standards we follow to make online materials accessible. These cover things like color contrast, readable text, captions, and keyboard navigation.
WCAG 2.1
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 – This law prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in any program that receives federal funding, including CHCP.
Accessibility Laws and Why They Matter
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Accessibility Laws and Why They Matter
Now that you understand what accessibility is, let’s talk about the laws and standards behind it — and why they matter for all of us at CHCP. Accessibility isn’t just a best practice; it’s a legal requirement and a moral commitment to making sure every student can fully participate in learning.
START
Accessibility Laws and Standards
There are several key laws and guidelines that shape how we make our online courses accessible: Together, these laws mean that our digital classrooms are legal spaces, just like physical ones. If a student can’t access an announcement, syllabus, or video, it’s as serious as if a classroom door were locked.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act
WCAG 2.1
Understanding the ADA
The ADA is built on one key idea: effective communication. That means colleges must ensure that students with disabilities receive information as effectively as everyone else. In the digital world, that includes making sure our course content can be read, seen, or heard through assistive technology. The ADA doesn’t just apply to buildings — it applies to everything we post and share online as instructors.
Click here for a few common ADA violations in online education.
Consequences for Non-Compliance
When institutions fail to meet accessibility standards, the impact is both legal and practical. Institutional consequences include:
- Investigations by the Office for Civil Rights (OCR).
- Loss of eligibility for federal grants and student financial aid.
- Legal settlements, fines, and negative publicity that can harm the school’s reputation.
Practical consequences include:- Students being excluded from course participation.
- Lower course evaluations and reduced student retention.
- Instructors spending far more time later re-creating or fixing inaccessible materials.
In short — building accessibility from the start saves time, money, and frustration for everyone.Who Enforces Accessibility?
Several agencies and offices hold institutions accountable:
- The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) oversees accessibility in education.
- The Department of Justice (DOJ) enforces federal disability laws, including the ADA.
- Within CHCP, our Head Compliance Officer, Bill Kohlhoff, leads internal oversight and ensures we meet these standards.
But compliance isn’t just Bill’s job — it’s everyone’s responsibility. Each instructor is a content creator, and every piece of content we post reflects our institutional commitment to accessibility.Why This Matters for CHCP
At its heart, accessibility is about equity — giving every student a fair opportunity to learn and succeed. It’s also a condition for federal funding and accreditation, and a mark of professional excellence in higher education. When we create accessible content, we:
- Improve usability for all learners — including those using mobile devices, learning English, or juggling work and family.
- Make our materials look cleaner, more professional, and easier to navigate.
- Reduce the need for future fixes.
Accessibility isn’t extra work — it’s better work that benefits both students and instructors.Accessibility Laws and Why They Matter
As CHCP instructors, we’re not just meeting legal requirements — we’re creating inclusive learning environments where every student has a chance to succeed. By applying these standards, we honor our mission, support our students, and strengthen the quality of education we deliver.
HOME
Recommended Resources
ADA.gov – Americans with Disabilities Act Overview
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act
U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR)
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1)
U.S. Access Board – ICT Standards and Guidelines
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act – This specifically applies to electronic and information technology, ensuring that digital tools, websites, and documents are usable by everyone.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Titles II and III protect the rights of individuals with disabilities and require colleges to ensure equal access to programs, services, and communication.
Here are a few common ADA violations in online education:
WCAG 2.1 – The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines are the technical standards we follow to make online materials accessible. These cover things like color contrast, readable text, captions, and keyboard navigation.
WCAG 2.1
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 – This law prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in any program that receives federal funding, including CHCP.