Digital accessibility for content creators: ADA, Section 508 and WCAG

For content creators, marketing, web/IT, public-sector and education staff: understand ADA Title II, Title III and Section 508, apply WCAG 2.2, and make documents, posts, video and forms usable by everyone.

For: Content creators, communications and marketing staff, web and IT staff, procurement staff, and public-sector and education employees who create or buy digital content

  • 2 contact hours
  • 7 modules
  • 7 interactives
  • 4 job aids
  • Updated October 11, 2026

What you will be able to do

  • Explain who digital accessibility serves and identify the legal requirements that apply, including the ADA Title II rule and its 2026 compliance dates, ADA Title III, and Section 508.
  • Apply the WCAG POUR principles and identify the Level A and AA success criteria, including those new in WCAG 2.2, that apply to common content problems.
  • Create accessible documents, PDFs, emails and social media posts using headings, alt text, descriptive links, adequate contrast and real tables.
  • Provide captions, transcripts and audio description, and design content that works with screen readers, magnification, keyboard and voice control.
  • Test content with automated and manual methods, evaluate vendor Accessibility Conformance Reports, maintain an accessibility statement and feedback process, and escalate barriers appropriately.

Learn what the law requires and how to do the work. You will cover the ADA Title II web and mobile rule, including the one-year extension published in April 2026, Title III for private businesses, and Section 508 for federal agencies and their vendors. Then you will apply the WCAG POUR principles and the success criteria that catch most real problems, build accessible documents and PDFs, write alt text, caption video, make social posts and emails accessible, test with keyboard and screen reader, and evaluate vendor accessibility claims.

This course is for the people who actually create and buy digital content: communications officers, marketers, HR and training staff, web and IT teams, procurement specialists, and staff in state and local government, schools and colleges. No coding is required, though web staff will find practical WCAG detail.

Most digital barriers are created by everyday content decisions, and most can be fixed in seconds at the source. The course clearly separates legal requirements from good practice, uses realistic workplace scenarios, and gives you a pre-publish checklist, a policy starter, a scenario worksheet and a WCAG quick reference.

What you’ll be able to do Monday morning

  1. Use heading styles, alt text and descriptive link text in the next document or email you create.
  2. Run your word processor's accessibility checker and export PDFs with tags instead of printing to PDF.
  3. Add alt text and CamelCase hashtags to your next social post, and edit auto-captions before posting a video.
  4. Tab through one important page or form with the keyboard only and report any barrier you find.
  5. Ask for a current ACR and a keyboard demo before your organization buys new software.

Curriculum

7 modules · 28 lessons · about 2 contact hours

01Why does digital accessibility matter, and who is it for?Free preview14 min
  1. What does 'digital accessibility' actually mean?
  2. Why is accessibility everyone's job?
  3. What is the difference between a legal requirement and good practice?
  4. What does an accessible experience feel like for users?
  • Self-assessment: How accessible are your everyday content habits?

Diagram · In practice checklist · 2-question knowledge check

02What does the law require: ADA Title II, Title III and Section 508?17 min
  1. What does the ADA Title II web and mobile rule require?
  2. Are there exceptions in the Title II rule?
  3. What about private businesses under Title III?
  4. What does Section 508 require?
  • Branching scenario: The county web plan after the extension
  • Sort activity: Legal requirement or good practice?

Diagram · In practice checklist · 3-question knowledge check

03What are the POUR principles and the WCAG criteria you will use most?17 min
  1. How is WCAG organized?
  2. Which success criteria catch the most common problems?
  3. What is new in WCAG 2.2?
  4. How do you think about accessibility for mobile apps?
  • Spot the issue: Spot the WCAG failures in a web form

Diagram · In practice checklist · 3-question knowledge check

04How do you make documents and PDFs accessible?17 min
  1. Why does real structure matter more than appearance?
  2. How do you write good alternative text?
  3. What about color, contrast, fonts and tables?
  4. How do you produce an accessible PDF?
  • Decision tree: Which alt text does this image need?

Diagram · In practice checklist · 3-question knowledge check

05How do you make email, social media and video accessible?16 min
  1. How do you write accessible emails and newsletters?
  2. How do you make social media posts accessible?
  3. What do captions, transcripts and audio description involve?
  4. How should meetings and presentations be run accessibly?
  • Spot the issue: Spot the barriers in a service-change post and email

Diagram · In practice checklist · 2-question knowledge check

06How do people use assistive technology, and how do you test your content?17 min
  1. What assistive technologies do people use?
  2. What can automated testing tools find, and what do they miss?
  3. What simple manual tests can anyone do?
  4. How did Malachi fix his course, and what does the process look like?
  • Matching activity: Match the user need to what it depends on

Diagram · In practice checklist · 2-question knowledge check

07How do you build accessibility into procurement, statements and everyday work?16 min
  1. How do you evaluate a vendor's accessibility claims?
  2. What belongs in an accessibility statement and feedback process?
  3. How do you build accessibility into everyday work?
  4. When should you escalate an accessibility issue?
  • Self-assessment: How accessible are your everyday content habits?

Diagram · In practice checklist · 2-question knowledge check

Final assessment: 23 questions, 70% to pass, then your certificate

Try it now, no account needed

The county web plan after the extension

A branching scenario from this course. Your choices are not saved.

Free sample activity

The county web plan after the extension

You lead web content for a county of 330,000 people. The DOJ has just extended the Title II compliance date to April 26, 2027.

Inside the course

Practice activities

  • Self-assessment1
  • Branching scenario1
  • Sort activity1
  • Spot the issue2
  • Decision tree1
  • Matching activity1

Job aids you keep

  • Accessible Content Pre-Publish ChecklistChecklist
  • Digital Accessibility Policy StarterPolicy starter
  • Accessibility Scenario WorksheetWorksheet
  • WCAG Quick Reference for Content CreatorsReference sheet

Credit and approval status

Certificate of completion

This course awards a certificate of completion for 2 contact hours of instruction. It has not been approved or accredited by IACET, the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP), any licensing board, any state agency or any other accreditor, and it does not provide a professional accessibility certification. Check with your employer, licensing board or professional body whether this course can count toward your training records or continuing education.

Pathways we are pursuing or may pursue include IACET accreditation of our course development process and, if eligible, recognition for IAAP continuing education. No approval exists today; we will show any approval on this page only after it is granted.

Our full approvals list

Questions about this course

Who should take this course?

Anyone who creates, publishes or buys digital content: communications and marketing staff, HR and training teams, web and IT staff, procurement specialists, and employees of state and local governments, schools, colleges and federal contractors. No coding background is required.

Does this course count toward continuing education or an accessibility certification?

You receive a certificate of completion for 2 contact hours of instruction. The course is not approved or accredited by IACET, IAAP or any board, and it is not a professional accessibility certification. Check with your employer or professional body whether it can count toward your training records.

Is the April 2026 deadline extension covered?

Yes. The course explains the Department of Justice's April 20, 2026 interim final rule, which moved the Title II compliance dates to April 26, 2027, and April 26, 2028, without changing the WCAG 2.1 AA standard. Because rules can change, it also tells you how to confirm the current status.

How long does it take?

Plan on about 2 hours, including seven modules, interactive activities, knowledge checks and a 23-question final assessment with a 70% pass mark. You can pause and return at any time.

Is this legal advice for my organization?

No. The course explains what the federal rules say and separates legal requirements from good practice. Your legal counsel or ADA coordinator should decide how the rules apply to your organization, including any exceptions.

Do I need special software for the activities?

No. The manual tests use your keyboard, browser zoom and the screen reader built into your computer or phone. Your word processor's built-in accessibility checker is all you need for documents.

This course is general education and digital accessibility training from CE Courses Hub. It is not legal advice and does not replace your organization's policies, advice from your legal counsel or ADA coordinator, or your licensing board's rules. Completing it earns a certificate of completion for the stated contact hours; it is not approved or accredited by any licensing board, state agency, IAAP or other accreditor unless an approval is shown on the course page. Check with your board, employer or state agency whether this course meets your specific requirement.