Benetech’s Compliance Support Overview

Benetech is a nonprofit technology organization dedicated to fostering education equity through accessible solutions. With over 25 years of expertise, we are proud to support educational institutions in their efforts to meet the requirements of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Our mission is to provide scalable solutions that ensure equitable access to education for all students, regardless of ability. 

 Below, we highlight the key resources that Benetech offers to assist districts in creating inclusive learning environments. 

Key Resources 

1. Bookshare 

Bookshare is the world’s largest accessible eBook library for people with print disabilities, providing over 1.3 million titles in formats such as audio, large print, braille, and more. Schools and students with qualifying disabilities can access Bookshare for free through a partnership with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs. 

Key Features: 

• Unlimited access to a vast collection of publisher-quality eBooks. 

• Customizable reading experience (audio narration, text-to-speech, high-contrast modes, and digital braille). 

• Available reading apps to support diverse learning needs. 

By offering these materials, Benetech ensures that students who are blind, have low vision, or have learning disabilities can access critical educational resources in a format that works best for them. 

2. Bookshare+ 

Bookshare+ is an AI-powered inclusive learning platform designed to meet the needs of students of all abilities. It transforms any learning material into accessible formats, ensuring that all students—regardless of disability—can engage with their education in a way that supports their learning style. Into accepted accessible format that in gauges with their respective learning style. 

Key Features: 

• Converts content like paper worksheets, Google Docs, and LMS materials into accessible formats. 

• Enables students to customize their experience, including listening to text, reading along with highlighted words, enlarging text, and accessing image descriptions. 

• Supports STEM content, converting complex elements like equations, graphs, and scientific diagrams into accessible materials. 

• Free Bookshare Reader app for student use, featuring assistive reading tools and an interactive AI chatbot for enhanced learning. 

Bookshare+ empowers educators to provide tailored, accessible content, promoting inclusion and compliance with ADA Title II. 

3. BASE (Benetech Accessibility Services for Education) 

The Benetech Accessibility Services for Education (BASE) offers expert consulting services to help schools and universities navigate ADA Title II requirements. With over 25 years of digital accessibility expertise, we provide technical assistance, training, and resources to ensure educational institutions meet accessibility standards. 

Key Features: 

• ADA Title II consulting to assess current accessibility practices and identify areas for improvement. 

• Training programs for educators and staff on best practices for creating accessible content. 

• Tools to help schools create actionable plans to improve accessibility and inclusivity. 

Benetech’s CAL program guides schools in enhancing their accessibility practices and creating environments where all students can succeed. 

4. Global Certified Accessible (GCA) / Born Accessible Resources 

Global Certified Accessible (GCA) is Benetech’s independent certification program, empowering publishers to meet global accessibility standards. This certification ensures that educational materials meet accessibility requirements for students with disabilities. The GCA program also promotes Born Accessible content, meaning digital content is created with accessibility in mind from the outset. 

Key Features: 

• Comprehensive evaluations of digital content to ensure compliance with accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1, Section 508, etc.). 

• Publisher guidance for remediation and establishment of accessible workflows. 

• Ongoing support to maintain accessibility, including annual renewals and quality checks. 

• Publishers who achieve GCA certification can proudly display the GCA seal as a symbol of their commitment to accessibility. 

The GCA program helps ensure that educational content is not only accessible but also sustainable and compliant with ADA Title II. 

Strategic Partnerships 

Benetech works closely with a variety of partners to provide comprehensive accessibility solutions for educational institutions. We collaborate with publishers, education technology companies, and organizations like VitalSource and RedShelf to ensure that learning materials are accessible and meet the needs of all students. Through these partnerships, we assist schools in building accessible inventories of materials, helping districts save time and resources in the procurement process, while ensuring compliance with Title II of the ADA. 

Conclusion 

Benetech’s comprehensive suite of tools and services help to equip school districts and universities to meet the challenges of ADA Title II compliance. From accessible eBooks and AI-powered learning platforms to expert consulting and publisher certification programs, we are committed to supporting educational institutions in fostering inclusive, accessible learning environments. By leveraging Benetech’s resources, schools can ensure that all students, regardless of ability, have the equitable access they deserve. For more information or to partner with us, please reach out to Benetech directly.