Digital Accessibility
Accessibility for all Documents on the Web Site

:

What is Digital Accessibility and
why does it matter?​​

  • Digital Accessibility

    This site is a resource for content owners to learn how to make documents accessible since this is a legal requirement and part of NCDOT's responsibility to the public. Accessibility isn't just a one-time procedure but any ongoing process. This includes looking at existing content as well as making sure anything new that is uploaded is accessible moving forward.​​


  • What is Digital Accessibility?

    Digital accessibility means making websites, apps, and downloadable documents usable by everyone, including people with disabilities.

    ​It helps ensure that people who use assistive technology can access information.

    Some examples are:

    • Alt-text for images
    • Structured content using headings
    • Text is readable for everyone (color contrast, font choices)
      ​​

    ​Why? It's the law (and it's the right thing to do)

    The U.S. Department of Justice issued a final rule to revise the regulation implementing title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to adopt specific technical accessibility standards for all services, programs, and activities offered by State and local government entities to the public through web and mobile applications. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Version 2.1, Level AA is the technical standard for state and local governments’ web content.
    ​L​earn more visit ADA.gov

    ​The compliance date for North Carolina state government is April 24, 2026.
    What State and Local Governments Need to Know​​

    Why it Matters: Everyone should be able to access information and services, regardless of disability. When digital content isn't accessible, people feel frustrated, excluded, or discriminated against. You create a better experience for all users when you design with accessibility in mind. Accessibility standards such as clear layouts, readable text, form labels, and consistent navigation make the web better for everyone.


    How? Help Guides, Training & Resources

    Digital Accessibility for all Files ​Checklist​
    ​​This checklist will help you to ensure all Digital Accessibility requirements are met before you upload/submit a file for posting to the web.

    Videos and I​nstuctions on how to fix accessibility issues:

    • ​​Resources for Excel Ac​cessibility

    NCDIT Accessibility Hub, ADA Site & NCDOT Policy

    • ​​ NCDIT Accessibility Hub
      North Carolina is committed to the accessibility of information technology. These resources, checklists, and best practices help you learn and meet accessibility standards.
    • NCDIT Digital Accessibility Resources​
      Resources to help you meet Digital Accessibility
    • DIT Digital Accessibility Usability Standard
      This standard offers guidance for designing and delivering websites and digital services to prioritize a digital-first public experience. It outlines statutory requirements, clarifies mandates, and expands on best practices for the state's digital assets.
    • ​​ ADA Fact Sheet​​​
      New Rule on the Accessibility of Web Content and Mobile Apps Provided by State and Local Governments.
    • ​​ ​ADA summary of the Exceptions ​​​
      Exceptions: In limited situations, some kinds of web content do not have to meet WCAG 2.1, Level AA.
    • ​​ Section ​508 Electronic Documents​​​​
      Federal and State agencies are mandated by Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act to ensure that all documents are accessible to individuals with disabilities.
    • NCDOT: Accessibility Policy​​​​
      The N.C. Department of Transportation strives to ensure that websites are accessible to individuals with disabilities.​​​

  • Digital Accessibility Screen Reader Software

    ​Would you like the software that can read your digital accessibility documents?  Here is the NCDOT approved software - NV Access (NVAD).

    Go to the ServiceNow portal and find the Software Request form.  In the drop down type NVAD.

    Click to learn more about NV Access (NVAD)​

  • Contact an Expert​

    NCDOT

    DOT Accessibility Question Portal
    Use this form to send questions about the upcoming US DOJ ADA Digital Accessibility compliance deadline - April 24, 2026. DOT, IT and legal teams will review submitted questions and provide responses as they are available.​

    DOT Digital Accessibility Support Requests​
    Use this form to get support for remediating key documents for ADA digital compliance standards. Submit requests for accessibility support by identifying the specific files, sites, site collections, or document libraries that need updates.


    NCDIT​

    Contact an Expert for Accessibility Help​


    ​Join the DIT Digital Accessibility Community of Practice and MS Teams Channel​​

    The N.C. Digital Accessibility Community of Practice (A11y CoP) is a group dedicated to advocating for the needs of people with disabilities and creating a culture of accessibility-minded technical professionals.

    Once your join Here's what you can expect: 

    ​Meeting Invite: You will receive invitations to upcoming A11y CoP meetings. 
    Our Teams Channel: Join our Microsoft Teams channel for ongoing communication and collaboration. 

    ​

    Office Hours - DubBot & PDF​

    ​DubBot Office Hours – Thurs. at 11 AM

    Need help understanding your accessibility report, assigning and managing remediation tasks, adjusting notification frequency, or running manual tests in DubBot? Join our weekly office hours for quick guidance and answers to any questions you have. Drop in, bring your challenges, and we’ll walk through them together.
     


    PDF Accessibility Open Office Hours - Tues. at 3 PM 

    Need help improving the accessibility of your PDFs or understanding remediation steps? Join us for PDF Accessibility Office Hours. It’s a great time to ask questions and get guidance. 

    For those interested in the PDF Accessibility office hours, open the attached meeting file to add the meeting series to your calendar. ​

  • ​Quick Tips​

    ​
    • Outdated files must be removed.​ Check your files and delete any that are old or outdate​d.
    • Download & store files somewhere that is not open to the public and delete those files from the public site. Drafts should be stored in non-public locations.
    • ​Web pages are preferred over PDFs when possible. If the pdf content can be made into a web page consider making it that way instead of keeping the pdf.
    • For files that will be on the public site use the help guides to make all your PDFs, Word, Excel and any files in a Zip file accessible.
    • Use Word, PowerPoint, and Excel’s built-in accessibility tools before converting to PDF.  After exporting, you’ll still need to run Adobe Acrobat’s accessibility checker before uploading.​
    • All documents must pass accessibility checks before uploading. Starting January 2026 you’ll need to attest to this before uploading any files to a public site.
    • What to do with all those PDFs - click here for best practices, tips, & exceptions to the law.​
    • ​Exceptions: In limited situations, some kinds of web content do not have to meet WCAG 2.1, Level AA - ADA Fact Sheet ADA summary of the Exceptions.​​​
      ​
Was this page helpful?