Alert: Changes are coming to ADA Title II. Learn more about the ATI's Digital Content Accessibility Action Plan (DCAAP)!

By April 24, 2026, George Mason University must ensure all its websites and mobile apps comply with ADA Title II and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA - making digital content accessible for everyone, including people with disabilities. Click the link below to learn more about the ATI's plan for this effort!Read more
Assistive Technology Initiative

Textbook Accessibility Levels

Contact the Accessible Text Coordinator

Jennifer Brown
Accessible Text Coordinator

Assistive Technology Initiative
MS: 6A11
Voice: 703-993-4329
Fax: 703-993-4743
ati@gmu.edu

Structure in textbook file makes it easier for screen readers and other assistive technologies to read and navigate a document. The following Accessibility Levels are provided by ATI based on quality of files provided by the publishers, individual scanned materials and individual accessibility needs.

AL1 – Accessibility Level 1Stack of books with computer mouse

  • Automated
    • Auto Tags
    • OCR (Optical Character Recognition)

AL2 – Accessibility Level 2

  • Manual: Includes all of Level 1 plus:
    • Chapter Headings + Additional Heading levels as necessary
    • Linked Table of Contents
    • Bookmarks
    • Lists

AL3 – Accessibility Level 3

  • Manual: Includes all of Levels 1 and 2 plus:
    • Alternative text for all meaningful images
    • Structured tables
    • Descriptions for complex images (as needed)
    • Accessible Math (as needed)