Accessibility Capability Maturity Model (ACMM)
The California Community Colleges Accessibility Center is proud to introduce the Accessibility Capability Maturity Model (ACMM), which takes the broad concept of accessibility and breaks it down into achievable goals and milestones so colleges and districts can drive accessibility forward. The ACMM mitigates risk through iterative improvement and proactively addresses Office of Civil Rights (OCR) settlement requirements in a manageable timeline based on campus resources. The ACMM also aligns with Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility efforts outlined in the CCC Vision for Success.
Importance of the ACMM
To truly embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion, and to meet the civil rights requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in providing everyone equal access, the CCC system must transition our efforts from primarily being reactive (Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act) to proactive (Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act). Section 508 is a federal law that provides guidelines on how to provide proactive accessibility without the need for disclosure. It is a planned, ongoing effort that involves the entire institution.
Folding Section 508 accessibility into all processes and procedures also aids in driving CCC Colleges, Districts, and the system toward the CCC Vision of “Making sure students from all backgrounds succeed in reaching their goals and improving their families and communities, eliminating achievement gaps once and for all.”
The ACMM is the first step towards measuring and implementing accessibility processes and procedures in the CCC system. By creating a framework where administrators, staff and faculty work together to improve accessibility within the current college/district structure, we can remove institutional obstacles for students, faculty, staff, and guests with disabilities and foster a feeling of community belonging.
ACMM benefits to College/District
Determining an accessibility baseline within the context of the ACMM will allow colleges and districts to develop and continuously revise a plan to ensure proactive, iterative improvement across a variety of processes and procedures while addressing potential barriers for students, faculty, staff, and the general public. The milestones contained within the ACMM are based on Office of Civil Rights settlement agreements with other higher education institutions and conversations our experts have had directly with the Department of Education Office of Civil Rights. The Accessibility Center team can be leveraged as a resource to provide guidance and best practices across the goals and milestones outlined in the ACMM.
Timeline and Participation
The systemwide ACMM pilot has concluded as of Fall 2023. If your college is interested in participating in the ACMM, we are scheduling into Fall 2024, dependent on grant funding. Interested colleges/districts will need executive support for consideration. Executive support is generally considered at the Vice President level or higher.
Districts or colleges interested in learning more about the ACMM or participating in an implementation should reach out to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..