Governor Mikie Sherrill • Lt. Governor Dr. Dale G. Caldwell

Digital Accessibility

Digital accessibility refers to how easily people with disabilities can access, understand, and use a digital resource. 

This page provides information on:

  1. N.J.S.A. 18A:36-35.1: School website compliance
  2. Guidelines and standards for web accessibility
  3. Resources for learning about digital accessibility
  4. Tools for evaluating accessibility
  5. Laws on accessibility

N.J.S.A. 18A:36-35.1

N.J.S.A. 18A:36-35.1, passed on January 18, 2022, requires Internet websites and web services of school districts, charter schools, renaissance schools, and the Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf to be accessible to persons with disabilities. Schools must submit a statement of assurance to the New Jersey Department of Education every two years, which attests that its internet website or web service complies with Level AA of the current version of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.

N.J.S.A. 18A:36-35.1e defines Internet website or web service as “any webpage, website, web service, online curriculum, or online third party or open educational resource product made available to enrolled students or the public.”

Guidelines and Standards for Web Accessibility

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) is a set of standards for making web content more accessible to people with disabilities. The current version of WCAG is WCAG 2.2.

General Accessibility

  • Introduction to Accessibility: This page, from digtal.gov, provides an overview of why accessibility matters.
  • National Center on Accessible Educational Materials (AEM): The National Center on Accessible Educational Materials for Learning at CAST provides technical assistance, coaching, and resources to increase the availability and use of accessible educational materials and technologies for learners with disabilities across the lifespan.
  • Plain Language: This website, from Plain Language Action and Information Network (PLAIN), provides information on plain language laws and requirements, plain language guidelines, examples of plain language, and links to training classes.

Web Accessibility

  • Accessibility Fundamentals Overview (W3C): This page provides information for getting started with accessibility.
  • WebAIM: WebAIM (Web Accessibility in Mind) is a nonprofit organization based at the Institute for Disability Research, Policy and Practice at Utah State University. They have a plethora of resources on web and document accessibility.

Automated Testing

While automated testing has its benefits, there is no automated tool that can identify 100% of barriers. Even if an automated tool detects no errors, the site might still have significant barriers for people with disabilities. Consequently, pair automated testing with manual testing and/or user testing with people with disabilities.

Browser Extensions

Some browser extensions that check for conformance with WCAG or Section 508:

  • ANDI: Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Safari
  • axe: Chrome, Edge, and Firefox
  • WAVE: Chrome, Edge, and Firefox

Quick tip: WAVE is generally the easiest for non-developers to use. ANDI and axe are geared more towards developers and accessibility auditors/testers.

Color Contrast Checkers

There are numerous color contrast checkers. The following are two samples:

PDF Accessibility Checkers

PDF software like Adobe Acrobat Pro has a built-in accessibility checker. However, to do automated testing for conformance with PDF/UA (Universal Accessibility) standard, third-party tools can be helpful.

Refer to the N.J.S.A. 18A:36-35.1 section for information on New Jersey's law on the accessibility of school websites and web services.

Americans with Disabilities Act

Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was updated in 2024 to include specific requirements about how to ensure that web content and mobile applications (apps) are accessible to people with disabilities. The new rule specifies conformance to Level A and AA of WCAG 2.1. (Fact Sheet: New Rule on the Accessibility of Web Content and Mobile Apps Provided by State and Local Governments).

Section 504

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act "is a federal law designed to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities in programs and activities that receive Federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Education (ED)."

Section 508

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requires that information and communication technology (ICT) developed, procured, maintained, or used by federal agencies conform to the accessibility guidelines. In general, Section 508 requires conformance to Level A and AA of WCAG 2.1

Page Last Updated: 05/29/2026