A high-profile legal challenge confirming that the ADA applies to online educational platforms and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs).
Filed in 2015, the NAD lawsuit alleged that Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) violated the ADA by failing to provide accurate and comprehensive closed captioning for the vast majority of their online video lectures, courses (MOOCs), and other digital content.
The suit argued that this lack of accessibility excluded deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals from receiving the educational benefit offered to the general public, thereby violating ADA Title III.
The core question addressed the digital reach of the ADA within the education sector, specifically focusing on publicly available video content.
Both universities reached separate settlement agreements with the NAD, committing to significantly improve the accuracy and timeliness of captioning for their online content.
The settlement established a powerful benchmark for educational accessibility, affirming that free and open digital content created by public institutions is subject to accessibility requirements. It mandates both accuracy and timeliness in captioning.
EDU
COMPLIANCE
Established accessibility standards for online education and MOOCs.
This case is critical for **educational platforms and corporate training providers**. It clarifies that online video content, even if offered for free, must be fully accessible. It emphasizes that **accurate and functional captioning** is a non-negotiable requirement for digital video distribution.