Meet accessibility standards across every student-facing digital platform
VPAT documentation, WCAG audits, and remediation for LMS platforms, admissions portals, assessment tools, and EdTech products. From course content to online exams to parent communication — the scope of what must be accessible is broad and complex.
Trusted by teams across regulated and public-sector environments
The Challenge
Why education can't ignore digital accessibility
OCR Enforcement Risk
The Office for Civil Rights has hundreds of pending cases at elementary, secondary, and post-secondary schools — a quarter of every discrimination case investigated by the OCR is related to web accessibility. Larger, more established institutions face the highest exposure.
Funding & Contract Risk
Funding, contracts, and government programs can be revoked when digital properties aren't accessible. Federal grants increasingly require demonstrated accessibility compliance.
Student Exclusion
An estimated 48 million Americans — 19% of the population — have a disability. Inaccessible LMS platforms, course materials, and assessment tools directly prevent equitable access to education.
Procurement Gatekeeping
School districts and universities require VPATs before purchasing software. EdTech vendors without procurement-ready documentation are excluded from RFPs and procurement consideration entirely.
Regulations & Standards
Which accessibility standards apply to education
Standard
Applies
Section 504
Prohibits disability discrimination in federally-funded education programs
ADA Title II
Public educational institutions must ensure accessible digital services
Section 508
Applies to EdTech procured by federal agencies or federally funded institutions
IDEA
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act — requires accessible educational materials
WCAG 2.2 AA
Referenced standard for web-based education platforms and LMS systems
EN 301 549
European accessibility standard for EdTech sold internationally
Common Issues
Accessibility barriers we frequently find
LMS Content Accessibility
Learning management systems with inaccessible course content, quizzes, and discussion forums that exclude students with disabilities.
Assessment & Testing Tools
Online testing and assessment platforms that don't provide accessible alternatives or accommodations for students with disabilities.
Interactive Learning Objects
Simulations, virtual labs, and interactive content that rely solely on mouse interaction or visual cues without alternatives.
Document & Form Accessibility
Syllabi, handouts, and educational materials published as inaccessible PDFs without proper structure or alternative text.
Admissions & Registration Portals
Enrollment, registration, and financial aid systems with form controls and workflows that are not keyboard or screen reader accessible.
Video & Multimedia Content
Lecture recordings, instructional videos, and multimedia content lacking accurate synchronized captions and audio descriptions.
Mobile Education Apps
Native apps for student access that lack proper accessibility labels, touch target sizing, and navigation structure.
Student Analytics Dashboards
Student performance dashboards and analytics tools that convey information only through charts and color coding.
Our Services
How we help education
Education Platform Audit
WCAG 2.2 AA manual and automated testing of LMS platforms, admissions portals, assessment tools, and EdTech applications.
VPAT 2.4 International Edition
Procurement-ready VPATs for EdTech vendors selling into school districts, university consortia, and federal education agencies.
Remediation Support
Developer-ready guidance for making complex educational interfaces accessible, with specific code patterns and ARIA techniques.
Training & Capacity Building
Training for content creators, instructional designers, and developers on building accessible educational experiences from the start.
Success Story
EdTech Platform Unlocks University Procurement
Challenge
An EdTech company's LMS product was consistently rejected by university procurement teams due to an outdated, self-assessed VPAT that didn't cover their latest features.
Solution
ADACP conducted a full platform audit covering all student-facing workflows, produced an evidence-backed VPAT, and provided remediation guidance for critical issues.
Outcome
The platform was approved by a consortium of 12 universities and secured a multi-year licensing agreement.
45
Workflows tested
156
Issues documented
12
Universities approved
$1.8M
Contract value
Compliance Checklist
Accessibility checklist for education
- LMS course content is navigable by keyboard and screen reader
- Assessment tools provide accessible alternatives and accommodations
- Video content includes accurate synchronized captions
- All downloadable documents meet PDF accessibility standards
- Interactive learning objects have keyboard and non-visual alternatives
- Admissions and registration workflows are fully accessible
- Mobile apps meet platform accessibility guidelines
- Data visualizations include text-based alternatives
- Authentication is accessible without relying on visual-only challenges
- Error messages are clearly associated with relevant form fields
- Content supports text resizing without loss of functionality
- VPAT is current and covers all student-facing features
How We Work
Our process for education
- 01
Workflow Mapping
We map critical student workflows, identify testable features, and align scope to procurement and compliance requirements.
- 02
Comprehensive Audit
Manual and automated testing of all student-facing flows against WCAG 2.2 AA, documenting findings with severity and remediation priority.
- 03
VPAT Production
Evidence-backed VPAT covering all applicable criteria, formatted for education procurement and consortia review.
- 04
Remediation Guidance
Developer-ready recommendations with specific code patterns, ARIA techniques, and educational content guidelines.
- 05
Verification & Maintenance
Re-testing after fixes, VPAT updates, and ongoing support to maintain compliance as the platform evolves.
Why ADACP
Why choose ADACP for education
EdTech Specialization
We've audited LMS platforms, assessment tools, virtual classrooms, and student information systems. We understand the unique challenges of educational technology.
Procurement Consortia Expertise
We're familiar with HECVAT, VPAT review processes used by university consortia, and the specific documentation requirements these groups evaluate.
Procurement-Ready Documentation
Our VPATs are formatted and detailed to satisfy university procurement consortia, school district IT reviews, and federal grant requirements.
Content Accessibility Expertise
Beyond platform testing, we assess content accessibility — course materials, educational documents, and interactive learning objects — ensuring full coverage.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Do universities require VPATs for EdTech procurement?
What happens when an OCR complaint is filed against a school?
Do you work with accessibility procurement consortia?
Why can't automated tools alone ensure compliance?
What about accessibility for online learning platforms?
How does Section 504 affect educational institutions?
Resources
Related resources for education
Ready to make your education platform procurement-ready?
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