As educational games continue to reshape classrooms, questions around accessibility are becoming more urgent – and more complex. Developers and educators alike must navigate a patchwork of federal laws that shape how accessible these tools must be for learners with disabilities. Here’s a breakdown of the major policies that impact accessibility obligations for digital learning games, and what each means for your educational game portfolio.
Section 508 requires that federal agencies make their electronic and information technologies accessible to individuals with disabilities. Originally written with websites and documents in mind, Section 508 is increasingly relevant to digital games. However, its current structure doesn’t fully account for the interactive, challenge-based design of educational games. Advocates are calling for updated guidelines that recognize how games differ from traditional content – and how they can still meet accessibility standards through flexible, inclusive design.
The ADA prohibits discrimination based on disability in both public and private sectors, including educational institutions. That means schools and edtech providers must ensure that all students, regardless of ability, can access the digital learning tools provided. While the ADA covers educational games under its broader mandate, it doesn’t yet offer specific guidance tailored to interactive or game-based content, leaving developers with a duty to interpret accessibility in creative, user-focused ways.
IDEA guarantees students with disabilities access to a free and appropriate public education, which includes access to educational technology like digital games. Games used in classrooms must provide accommodations – such as audio descriptions, adjustable difficulty, or input alternatives – so that students with disabilities can participate meaningfully in gameplay-based learning activities. For developers, that means accessibility is a fundamental requirement in any public education context.
The ESSA encourages schools to use innovative tools, including educational games, to support personalized learning and improve student outcomes. But this flexibility comes with a catch: those tools must be accessible to every student. ESSA effectively ties federal support for educational technology to a school’s ability to serve all learners, including those with disabilities.
While the CVAA is primarily focused on communications technology and digital video, it establishes a broader precedent for accessible digital experiences. As games become more social and networked, their overlap with CVAA-regulated content grows. For educational games with chat functions, video content, or streamed lessons, CVAA offers a glimpse into future regulatory expectations, especially around captions, screen reader compatibility, and interface accessibility.
The Road Ahead
There’s no question that educational games are a powerful tool for inclusive learning. But without clearer guidance and stronger policy alignment, accessibility remains uneven, and adoption of these standards is a real challenge. If your organization is currently navigating the transition to standards like Section 508, we’re here to help. We’ve already partnered with Fortune 500 companies to modernize the accessibility of their existing digital content with our proprietary tools, and as deadlines get closer, momentum is picking up. Contact us for a free consultation, but don’t wait too long – we’re booking up fast!