AA/14/AS/07/Ad Hoc - Web Accessibility Plan

Effective June 15, 2007

Resolved: The Academic Senate of California State University, Stanislaus endorses the attached Web Accessibility Plan; and be it further
Resolved: The attached Web Accessibility Plan will become effective on June 15, 2007; and be it further
Resolved: That the endorsed Web Accessibility Plan be sent to the Office of the Chancellor.
Rationale: The California State University has an ongoing commitment to provide access to information resources and technologies to individuals with disabilities. This commitment is articulated in the January 2005 Executive Order 926, the CSU Board of Trustees Policy on Disability Support and Accommodations.

In January 2006, the CSU launched the Accessible Technology Initiative (ATI) in order to develop the work plan, guidance, and resources to assist campuses in carrying out the accessible technology provisions of EO 926. Priority one of the ATI is Web Accessibility and each campus is required to develop and implement a Web Accessibility Plan by June 15, 2007. The attached plan is therefore provided to ensure equal access for individuals with disabilities and to meet this requirement.

Policy

California State University, Stanislaus is committed to ensuring that all information, materials and resources provided through web-based content shall be accessible to all individuals with disabilities.

This policy is established as a means to provide equal access and to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The need for web accessibility is further underscored by California Government Code 11135, which applies Section 508 requirements to the CSU.

Definition

“Accessibility” - Websites, web applications and digital content must be designed and maintained in a manner that will allow a person with a disability to navigate and extract the available information as effectively as a non-disabled person.

Procedures

The Office oflnformation and Technology (OIT) will provide regular trainings and information updates to those campus individuals that are responsible for developing and maintaining websites. OIT will also provide regular communications to the campus community related to web accessibility requirements. Resource information will be made available to faculty and staff on-line, and through other venues such as workshops. The Academic Technology Committee may also serve as a resource for faculty and the campus. A significant focus will be on ensuring that new websites and new web content comply with these requirements by incorporating accessibility in the design and authoring process.

Individual departments will be responsible for the remediation of web content that does not meet accessibility requirements. Departments will most likely need to prioritize as to what content will have highest priority for remediation. On a regular basis OIT will review web content for compliance with the requirements. The initial focus will be on reviewing ”Administrative” web pages that are most likely to be accessed by people with disabilities. Each department will also be responsible for providing web content in an alternate format (i.e., printed hardcopy, MP3, etc.) during the period of remediation when requested by a person with a disability. Content provided in an alternate format will be provided in a timely manner to ensure equal access for the individual. The Office of Disability Resource Services is available to assist in the provision of web content in alternate formats as needed.

Information will be gathered and maintained annually on web accessibility compliance based on the reviews conducted by OIT. This information will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the Web Accessibility Plan.

Responsibilities

OIT, in consultation with appropriate faculty governance, deans and administrators, will have primary responsibility for ensuring campus compliance with web accessibility requirements. Each department will be responsible for understanding the web accessibility requirements and ensuring that those requirements are met. It is the University’s responsibility to provide sufficient resources, support and training to campus individuals responsible for web content development and maintenance to ensure compliance.

Related Policies and Procedures: Executive Order 926. Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Rehabilitation Act of 1973. California Government Code 11135.

Review History: Approved by the Academic Senate on May 8, 2007. Approved by President Shirvani on May 31, 2007.

Academic Affairs Division has the primary responsibility for this policy.

Attachment(s): AA/14/AS/07/Ad Hoc - Web Accessibility Plan

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