Schools & Accessibility Compliance: ADA, RGAA, and EU Directives
Accessibility is no longer optional for educational institutions. From ADA Section 508 in the United States to RGAA in France and the EU Web Accessibility Directive across Europe, schools and universities face increasing legal obligations to make educational materials accessible to students with dyslexia and other reading disabilities. Here is what you need to know.
The legal landscape for educational accessibility
Accessibility legislation has expanded significantly over the past decade. What was once a matter of best practice has become a legal requirement in most developed countries. For educational institutions, this means that providing course materials only in formats inaccessible to students with disabilities is increasingly a compliance risk.
Dyslexia affects approximately 10% of the population. In a class of 30 students, statistically 2–3 will have dyslexia. Many more may have ADHD or other reading-related challenges. Providing accessible educational materials benefits all of these students — and is legally required in most jurisdictions.
Major accessibility regulations by region
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) + Section 508
The ADA Title II and Title III require that educational institutions provide equal access for students with disabilities. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act specifically requires that electronic and information technology used by federal agencies (and institutions receiving federal funding, including most universities) be accessible. This includes documents, PDFs, and course materials distributed digitally. ADA compliance for education is enforced by the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR).
RGAA — Référentiel Général d’Amélioration de l’Accessibilité
The RGAA (Référentiel Général d’Amélioration de l’Accessibilité) is the French national standard for web and digital accessibility. Based on WCAG 2.1, the RGAA applies to all public sector bodies in France including schools, universities, and publicly funded educational organizations. Version 4 (current) requires AA compliance, which includes requirements for text accessibility and document readability. Private educational institutions serving the public are also increasingly expected to meet these standards.
EU Web Accessibility Directive (WAD) + EN 301 549
Directive 2016/2102 (the EU Web Accessibility Directive) requires all public sector websites and mobile applications in EU member states to conform to WCAG 2.1 Level AA, as specified in the European standard EN 301 549. This applies to all EU member states, including Germany, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, and all other EU countries. Educational institutions that are public bodies — which includes most state schools and universities — must comply. The directive explicitly covers documents and files available for download, including PDFs and course materials.
EAA — Directive 2019/882 (in force from June 2025)
The European Accessibility Act extended accessibility requirements beyond public sector bodies to include private sector entities in certain sectors. While the EAA focuses primarily on consumer products and services, its provisions affect publishers, ed-tech companies, and digital learning platforms serving European users. Organizations providing e-books and digital educational materials are explicitly within scope.
WCAG 2.1 — Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
The W3C’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 form the technical basis for most national accessibility standards. WCAG 2.1 Level AA is the target for most regulatory compliance. Relevant criteria for dyslexia include: 1.4.4 (Resize text — text must be resizable to 200% without loss of content), 1.4.8 (Visual presentation — line spacing, letter spacing, and contrast requirements), and 1.3.1 (Info and relationships — semantic structure of documents).
Country-specific laws schools are actually searching for
The framework directives above set the floor. What schools in specific countries face day-to-day are the national laws — often more specific, with tighter deadlines and clearer enforcement mechanisms. These are the laws that drive budget approval for accessibility tools.
BITV 2.0 — Barrierefreie-Informationstechnik-Verordnung 2.0
Germany’s federal accessibility standard for information technology. BITV 2.0 is binding for all federal public bodies and state-level institutions, including schools and universities. It mandates WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance for all digital materials, including downloadable documents and course PDFs. Schools that provide scanned PDFs without OCR text layers are not compliant. Converting materials with DysFont produces BITV 2.0–compatible accessible documents automatically. DysFont compliance check: ✓
Legge 170/2010 — Nuove norme in materia di disturbi specifici di apprendimento in ambito scolastico
Italy’s landmark dyslexia-specific law, enacted in 2010, is one of the most explicit in Europe. It requires schools to: (1) formally identify students with specific learning differences (DSA — disturbi specifici di apprendimento), (2) provide personalized educational plans (PDP), and (3) supply accessible versions of educational materials. The law specifies that accessible materials must be provided within 3 days of a student request. Schools that rely on manual reformatting cannot realistically meet this timeline. DysFont converts any PDF in under 60 seconds. DysFont compliance check: ✓
Equality Act 2010 — Educational Provisions
Post-Brexit, the UK Equality Act 2010 remains the governing law for educational accessibility. Schools, colleges, and universities have a duty to make “reasonable adjustments” for disabled students — and providing documents in accessible formats is explicitly within the scope of reasonable adjustments. Unlike Italy’s law, there is no specific timeline, but courts and the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) have found that delayed responses (weeks, not days) constitute unreasonable failure to adjust. Converting materials with DysFont on demand — within minutes — provides a clear, documented reasonable adjustment. DysFont compliance check: ✓
Tijdelijk besluit digitale toegankelijkheid overheid
The Netherlands transposed the EU Web Accessibility Directive through this decree, requiring all public sector bodies (including all state-funded schools and universities) to meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA. All downloadable materials — including PDFs — must be accessible. Schools must publish an accessibility statement and provide a feedback mechanism for students who cannot access materials. DysFont-converted documents meet the readability requirements of this standard. DysFont compliance check: ✓
The compliance ROI for schools
Legal risk is a budget unlocking event. When schools understand that Legge 170/2010 requires a 3-day response window, or that BITV 2.0 compliance audits are increasing, procurement decisions become significantly easier. DysFont converts any document in under 60 seconds — turning a compliance liability into a solved problem.
What do these laws require for dyslexic students?
While none of these regulations specifically mandate the use of dyslexia fonts, they create obligations that in practice require accessible document alternatives. Key requirements include:
Core accessibility obligations for educational materials
- Text must be readable by assistive technologies (screen readers, TTS software)
- Users must be able to adjust font size without loss of content
- Scanned PDFs must either provide OCR text layer or be accompanied by accessible versions
- Line spacing, letter spacing, and word spacing must be adjustable without loss of content
- Color contrast must meet minimum ratios (4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text)
- Reasonable accommodations must be provided upon request for students with documented disabilities
Dyslexia-specific accommodations: what to provide
Educational institutions are increasingly expected to provide the following for students with documented dyslexia:
- Alternative versions of text documents in accessible formats (dyslexia font PDFs, EPUB, plain text)
- Longer time for reading-based assessments
- Access to text-to-speech software during exams and coursework
- Course materials in EPUB format where possible (more flexible than PDF)
- Accessible lecture notes that meet WCAG contrast and font size guidelines
Providing a dyslexia-font version of key documents is a practical, low-cost way to demonstrate that you are actively supporting students with dyslexia, not just responding reactively to individual requests.
Practical compliance checklist for educators
- All PDFs distributed to students contain real, searchable text (not scanned images)
- Scanned PDFs have OCR text layers applied before distribution
- Core course materials are available in EPUB or HTML format in addition to PDF
- Font sizes in distributed documents meet the 12pt minimum (ideally 14pt)
- Line spacing is 1.5× or greater in core documents
- Alternative font versions of key materials are available on request
- The institution’s digital platforms and LMS meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards
- Staff are trained on accessibility requirements and how to create accessible materials
- There is a documented process for students to request accessibility accommodations
- Accessibility statements are published on the institution’s website
Using DysFont for institutional compliance
DysFont offers a practical, scalable solution for educational institutions that need to provide accessible document alternatives. Key use cases include:
Batch PDF conversion for course materials
University libraries and course coordinators can use DysFont to create dyslexia-friendly versions of core reading lists and course packs. These converted versions can be stored alongside original documents in the institution’s learning management system (LMS) and made available to students with accessibility needs.
OCR processing of archival materials
Many educational institutions maintain archives of older materials that exist only as scanned PDFs. DysFont’s built-in OCR makes it straightforward to convert these to searchable, accessible documents. See our OCR guide for details on the process.
On-demand student self-service
Institutions can direct students to DysFont to convert their own materials, reducing the burden on accessibility offices. Students with dyslexia can independently convert any PDF they receive to their preferred font, without waiting for institutional support.
Publisher and content partnerships
Educational publishers and ed-tech companies serving European markets can use DysFont to provide accessible format alternatives as part of their compliance with the European Accessibility Act.
Need accessible versions of your educational PDFs? Convert to dyslexia-friendly fonts instantly — free, no signup required.
Try DysFont free →Compliance beyond fonts: a holistic approach
While font accessibility is important, full compliance requires a broader approach. The most effective institutions combine:
- Accessible document creation (using heading styles, proper structure, alt text for images)
- Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles in course design
- Training for staff on creating accessible materials in Word, PowerPoint, and PDF
- A dedicated accessibility office with clear request procedures
- Regular accessibility audits of digital platforms and materials
Tools like DysFont address one specific, practical need — accessible font versions of existing documents — within a larger accessibility framework.
Frequently asked questions
Is my school legally required to provide dyslexia-friendly documents?
In most jurisdictions, yes — at least upon request from students with documented disabilities. In the US (ADA/Section 504), EU (WAD/EN 301 549), and France (RGAA), public educational institutions must provide accessible formats of materials. The specific requirements vary by country and institution type.
What is RGAA conformité for educational institutions in France?
French public educational institutions (schools, universités, établissements publics) must publish an accessibility statement (déclaration d’accessibilité) and meet RGAA 4 criteria. This includes making digital documents (PDFs, course materials) accessible, with scanned documents requiring OCR text layers.
Does the EU accessibility directive apply to private schools?
The EU Web Accessibility Directive currently applies only to public sector bodies. However, the European Accessibility Act (from June 2025) extends requirements to private sector organizations in certain sectors. Private educational institutions serving the public should proactively prepare for broader requirements.
Can DysFont help with ADA compliance in US universities?
DysFont can help universities provide accessible format alternatives for documents, which is one component of ADA/Section 504/508 compliance. However, full ADA compliance requires a comprehensive accessibility program — DysFont is one practical tool within that broader effort.
How do I provide accessible educational materials efficiently?
The most efficient approach is proactive: convert core course materials to accessible formats at the start of term, rather than waiting for individual requests. Store both the original and accessible versions in your LMS. Use DysFont for PDF and EPUB conversions, and ensure any new materials are created with accessibility in mind from the start.
What is BITV 2.0 and does it apply to my school in Germany?
BITV 2.0 (Barrierefreie-Informationstechnik-Verordnung) is Germany’s federal IT accessibility standard. It applies to all federal public bodies and is adopted by most Länder (state) governments for their public institutions, including schools and universities. It mandates WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance for all digital materials, including downloadable PDFs. If your institution receives federal or state funding, BITV 2.0 almost certainly applies to you.
What does Italy’s Legge 170/2010 require for document accessibility?
Legge 170/2010 requires Italian schools to provide accessible educational materials to students with diagnosed learning differences (DSA). The law’s 3-day response requirement means schools cannot rely on slow manual reformatting — they need a fast, reliable conversion tool. DysFont converts any PDF to an accessible format in under 60 seconds, making same-day compliance straightforward.
Does the UK Equality Act still apply post-Brexit?
Yes. The Equality Act 2010 remains fully in force in the UK. Post-Brexit, the UK has its own version of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines and accessibility legislation that runs parallel to (and often mirrors) EU requirements. Schools in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland all have “reasonable adjustment” obligations for disabled students, explicitly including document accessibility.