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Digital Accessibility Policy

1. Policy Statement

Digital accessibility is the design of web-based information and environments to help people with various disabilities not be impeded or otherwise unable to partake in the use of a service, product, or function.

The proposed policy ensures that faculty and staff across the University are aware of and educated on the need for ADA Compliance and are properly trained to deliver accessible web content.

This policy is to ensure accessibility for web content that is, created by, attached to, or hosted on the University web pages or related digital products. The University of Hartford strides to reach Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 level AA, the benchmark set for Higher education

2. Reasons for the Policy

The University of Hartford is committed to providing accessible web-based information and technology-mediated learning materials to students, staff, faculty, and external audiences, ensuring that all campus web content, web pages, and communications are in ADA Compliance for persons with disabilities.

  1. The Digital Accessibility Policy is a new proposal covering University business and academic activities, of web-based information and communications to meet the legal standards for ADA Compliance.
  2. Accessibility to the web is of critical importance to people with disabilities around the world, including people with auditory, cognitive, physical, neurological, and visual disabilities, and is also important to those with accessibility needs due to aging.
  3. Providing accessible web content benefits people who do not have disabilities but who are experiencing situational barriers. For instance, when accessing the Web from devices with small screens or in low bandwidth situations, or when experiencing barriers due to language or literacy levels, accessibility solutions can also support improved access.
  4. Following the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2, The University of Hartford will meet its legal obligations as defined by The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990/2008 (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
  5. ADA Compliance supports the mission of the University of Hartford, adhering to the Vision, Values, and Civility Statements. The betterment of society, community values of support and encouragement, accomplishment, and inclusive, and empathetic behaviors, stated in our Mission and Vision.

3. Equity and Inclusion Affirmation

ADA Compliance supports the statement that the University of Hartford welcomes diverse individuals without regard to ability, learning disabilities, or physical ability, the goal of the Inclusive Excellence and Belonging (IEB)* Statement.

Decisions and updates on this policy will be made yearly based on the Input of the following groups from across campus:

  • Office of Marketing and Communication (rules and compliance measures)
  • Faculty Center for Learning Development (faculty and academic issues)
  • Information Technology Services (purchasing and technology issues)
  • Office of Inclusive Excellence and Belonging (issues brought to their attention)
  • Access-Ability Services (student and academic issues)
  • Harrison Libraries (purchasing and services)

Updates will be made based on changes to ADA Compliance laws, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines (ATAG), digital services, new technologies, and user agents added to the University's digital presence. Updates to the policy will be made upon evaluation of faculty and staff training, and any issues brought to the attention of Office of Marketing and Communication, Faculty Center for Learning Development, Harrison Libraries, Accessibility Services, Harrison Libraries, or Information Technology Services.

The policy will be reviewed on or before January 30 of each year.

*Formerly known as the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

4. Policy Impact

This policy internally will impact all areas creating, editing, or developing web content or web pages for University business and academic activities and User-agent applications. It also applies to any units developing, buying, subscribing, or renewingweb-based information or services related to University business and academic activities

Supporting Units:

  • ATTL–Academic Technology, Teaching, and Learning (promotion)(training)(collaborator)
  • OMC–Office of Marketing and Communication (promotion)(training)(collaborator)
  • ITS–Information Technology Services (purchasing)(collaborator)
  • Procurement (purchasing)
  • HRD–Human Resources Development (promotion)
  • Academic Deans (promotion)
  • IEB–Office of Inclusive Excellence and Belonging (promotion)
  • Access-Ability Services (promotion)(collaborator)
  • Harrison Libraries (purchasing)(collaborator)

All faculty and staff are required to:

Learn the importance of web accessibility and support services and efforts to make the University ADA compliant

Accessibility collaborator will:

Stay compliant with all federal, web, and digital policies and laws

Web and digital content contributors will:

Make web content and course material accessible to all users

Information Technology Services and Procurement will:

Move toward and favor products goods and services that support accessibility

5. Definitions

ADA compliance

Short for the Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design. That means all web content and web-based information must be accessible to those with disabilities.

Authoring tool

Includes WYSIWYG web page editing tools, content management tools, development tools for applets, scripts, or applications, non-text media (e.g. video, audio, images) editing tools, social media content authoring tools (e.g. blogs, wikis, social networks).

Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines (ATAG)

Accessibility requirements for web authoring tools, including software and services used to produce web content, for example, HTML editors, content management systems (CMS), or online forums. ATAG guidelines outline both how to make the tools accessible and also how the tools can be built to help create more accessible content.

Legacy Web-based information

Web-based information or services created, adopted, or modified before the establishment of this policy.

User agent

Includes browsers, media players, and applications that render web content.

User Agent Accessibility Guidelines (UAAG)

Accessibility requirements for web browsers, media players, and some Assistive technologies that process and present web content to users.

University business and academic activities

Refers to activities that students, faculty, staff, and/or visitors must perform to effectively participate in a program, service, or activity offered by the university.

Web Accessibility

This means websites, tools, and technologies are designed and developed so that people with disabilities can use them.

Web content

Includes electronic documents, websites, services, and applications delivered via the web.

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2

Accessibility requirements for web content, including text, images, audio-visual materials, and the code used for structure, style, and interactions.

Web-based information

Includes Web pages, Web content (hypertext, videos, documents, images, audio files, etc.), Web-based applications, online instructional content, services, and resources, including those developed by, maintained by, or offered through third-party vendors or open sources.

Web pages

Includes both Web pages and websites used to conduct university business and academic activities.

6. Compliance Measures

W3C Web Accessibility Initiative provides the latest standards for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 requirements.

Current ADA Compliance reference Guidelines and success criteria:

Federal Accessibility Regulations

This proposal recommends a new policy to keep the University compliant with federal regulations concerning accessibility in higher education following these US Related laws:

  • The American Disabilities Act (ADA), provides broad nondiscrimination protection in employment, public services, and public accommodations (including many areas of college and universities), for individuals with disabilities.
  • Section 504, Rehabilitation Act of 1973, prohibits discrimination based on disability in programs conducted by Federal agencies, in programs receiving federal financial assistance, in federal employment, and in the employment practices of federal contractors.
  • Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, requires Federal electronic and information technology to be accessible to people with disabilities, including employees and members of the public.
  • Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, requires telecommunications products and services to be accessible to people with disabilities to the extent access is "readily achievable," meaning easily accomplishable, without much difficulty or expense.
  • 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA) The CVAA makes sure that accessibility laws enacted in the 1980s and 1990s are brought up to date with 21st-century technologies, including new digital, broadband, and mobile innovations.

7. Procedures for Implementing

  1. Support from officers and deans to promote ADA compliance
  2. Resources materials, training, and guidance for meeting Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 will come from ATTL, OMC
  3. ITS considers ADA compliance in the developing, buying, subscribing, or renewing web content, user agents or services
  4. Accessibility coordinators will keeps current on ADA Compliance laws and updates the policy
  5. Input from supporting units and changes to ADA Compliance recommendations are reviewed, incorporated into the policy, and updated yearly

Tools used for accessibility compliance 

  • Site Improve (website)
  • Cascade CMS (website)
  • YouTube (video)
  • Kaltura (video)
  • Voice Over (screen reader)
  • Narrator’s Voice (screen reader)
  • Wave–Browser add-on (web page spot checker)
  • Web content, creation programs (built-it Accessibility checker)
  • User Agent Accessibility Guidelines (UAAG)

Maintaining ADA Compliance

  • Training will be built during the 2023-2024 academic year
  • Promotion and training for accessibility will begin Spring semester and continue into the Fall
  • The policy should be included in the MAPP and Staff Employment Manual
  • Compliance will be encouraged by Deans, ATTL, HR, ITS, and OMC
  • Training will be offered by ATTL and OMC
  • All personnel delivering Web content for University business and academic activities and contributing to the university website are recommended to be trained in accessibility
  • ADA compliance will be considered when purchasing, renewing, developing, or implementing of new technology, software, or applications associated with the University website
  • Once a year this policy will be updated by the accessibility coordinators with input from contributing areas and reviewed by The Information Technology Executive Council (ITEC)

Community Efforts

  • The promotion of accessibility compliance will emphasize helping students and the greater community
  • A video will be added to the HRD and/or IEB training along with a statement of support for accessibility to be signed by employees (Suggestion for compliance video—W3 schools)
  • Re-training and refresher training will be updated as needed

Academic Content

Support for academic activities and associated web content will be provided by ATTL.

  • The accessibility policy and commitment to the policy must come from the top down: Provost Office > Deans > Department Chairs > Faculty and Staff
  • Initial content contributor training will be in the form of an online medium, which includes a set of videos and readings educating faculty and staff on the following:
    • The University of Hartford’s Commitment to Accessibility
    • Federal and state rules, regulations, and laws
    • ATTL recommended learning, How to make content accessible (Training Materials)
    • FAQs from faculty/staff
    • Access-Ability Services resources for students, faculty, and staff
    • ATTL Accessibility resources

Website Content

Support for University business and associated web content will be provided by OMC.

  • The policy and commitment to the policy must come from the top down: ITEC > OMC > MCM > All web content contributors
  • Initial content contributor training will be in the form of in-person or online training, which includes a dedicated webpage and documents educating faculty and staff on the following:
    • The University of Hartford’s Commitment to Accessibility
    • Federal and state rules, regulations, and laws
    • OMC individual training on creating accessible content
    • Tools and assistance to check and ensure compliance
    • ATTL Accessibility resources

8. Responsibilities

Leadership

  • The Provost’s Office will be responsible for supporting the message and endorsing accessibility compliance
  • The Provost’s Office is responsible for the addition of an appendix to the FPM
  • Deans will be responsible for encouraging faculty compliance training within their college
  • OMC will be responsible for encouraging compliance training for non-academic areas and web services
  • ITEC is responsible for general oversight and approval of updates to the policy

HRD and IEB*

  • Inclusion of an accessibility video into HRD and or IEB training along with a statement of support for accessibility to be signed by employees
  • Changing the SEM accordingly
*Formerly known as the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

ITS and Accessibility-Services

  • ITS Will consider accessibility when purchasing, renewing, developing, or implementing new technology, software, or applications
  • ITS and Access-Ability Services will provide recommended updates as needed

ATTL and OMC

  1. Promote support for training for Academic Content, University business web pages, and areas that do not report to Deans
  2. Provide solutions and remediation for accessibility issues
  3. Responsible for delivering the training materials or in-person training
  4. Accessibility leads will update the policy and report any issues or make recommendations

Supporting Units

  • ATTL, OMC, ITS, IEB, Harrison Libraries, and Access-Ability Services will provide feedback annually to an accessibility coordinator in regards to any issues, changes, usage, or new technologies in order to update the policy

Digital Accessibility Coordinator

  1. Stays current on changes made to accessibility guidelines or ADA Compliance
  2. Prepare and provide accessibility training and guidance
  3. Promotes web accessibility awareness internally
  4. Respond to user inquiries related to web accessibility
  5. Organize ongoing assessment of the accessibility of websites, content, services, and applications identified as in scope
  6. Gather accessibility feedback and compliance updates, make suggested updates to the policy, and submit to ITEC

9. Training and Education

Training will be ongoing and adjusted to meet W3C Recommendations Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2. web-based information produced for, attached to, or hosted on the University of Hartford website or related digital products, will meet ADA Compliance.

  1. A video will be added to the IEB training along with a statement of support for accessibility to be signed by employees to teach the basics of Accessibility
  2. All faculty and staff who are delivering web-based information to the university website are recommended to be trained in accessibility
  3. Training is available and a curriculum will be built during the 2023-2024 academic year
  4. Training and training materials will be offered by ATTL and OMC

Academic Activities

Support for academic activities and web content will be provided by ATTL.

Initial content contributor training will be in the form of an online medium, which includes a set of videos and readings educating faculty and staff on the following:

  1. The University of Hartford’s Commitment to Accessibility
  2. ATTL recommended learning, How to make content accessible (Training Materials)
  3. Access-Ability Services resources for students, faculty, and staff
  4. ATTL Accessibility Resources
  5. Re-training and refresher modules will be included every three years or updated as compliance rules change

University Business Web Pages

Support for University business, non-academic web pages, and associated web content will be provided by OMC.

Initial content contributor training will be in the form of in-person or online training, which includes a dedicated webpage and documents educating faculty and staff on the following:

  1. The University of Hartford’s Commitment to Accessibility
  2. OMC individual training on creating accessible content
  3. Tools and assistance to check and ensure compliance
  4. ATTL Accessibility Resources
  5. Re-training and refresher training will be required every three years or updated as needed

10. Effective Dates

  1. The University is committed to ensuring all of our websites and web applications, conform to all Level AA success criteria of W3C Web Accessibility Initiative WCAG 2.2. This applies to both customer-facing web pages and internal content areas.
  2. New Web-based information produced by our organization will meet our policy standard by January 2024. Content will be reviewed upon submission or adaptation to the website, and checked using accessibility tools.
  3. All existing legacy web-based information published before the effective date of this policy will either be archived or modified to conform to WCAG 2.2 Level AA success criteria. Web content hosted on the University of Hartford public websites will be addressed no later than June 2024.
  4. All internal content management systems (CMS) and web content authoring tools will conform to ATAG Level AA success criteria by January 2024. Where websites, services, or applications allow users to generate content, the interfaces provided will conform to ATAG Level AA.
  5. This policy does not stipulate any particular technology or design approach. The aim is to maximize access to and use of the University of Hartford websites and applications by people with disabilities.

Exclusions

Legacy Web-based information that has been archived is not subject to the standards referenced in this policy.

Specific requests can be made for access to archived content by any individual with a disability, that content will be made available in a suitable format within 10 business days. Where it is not technically possible to make the content available, the individual should agree on a suitable alternative. The department or team responsible for the creation of the content is responsible for making it accessible.

Accessibility Policy Effective Date

The University of Hartford will review this policy on or before January 30 of each year.

  • This policy will go into effect on January 30, 2024
  • Factors that could delay implementation include a lack of resources to purchase training software or a lack of support from Officers or Administrators
  • Dates are subject to change upon the yearly review of this document

Last Revised on: October 8, 2023

Accessibility Related Areas

Contacts

Web Content and Accessibility Issues
Myrani Alvarado, Director of Web and Digital Strategy, OMC
rosado@hartford.edu

Course Materials and Documents
Bevin Rainwater, LMS Administrator & eLearning Designer, Adjunct Instructor, ATTL
rainwater@hartford.edu

Access-ability Services
Tracy Lopez, Director, Access-Ability Support Services
tlopez@hartford.edu