Digital Accessibility

13620.1 Policy Statement

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability in programs and activities by public universities receiving financial assistance from the U.S. department of education. Wright State University (“Wright State”) is committed to ensuring that communication with university constituents with disabilities, including students, prospective students, employees, guests and visitors, with hearing, visual and manual impairments, or who otherwise require the use of assistive technology to access information, is as effective as communication with those without disabilities.

The university will ensure that all computer software and systems for public use will permit all persons with disabilities to acquire the same information, engage in the same interactions, and enjoy the same services with substantially equivalent ease of use as those without disabilities.

13620.2 Purpose

All online content other than information to which access is limited by means of a password (restricted online content) must be accessible to university constituents.

13620.3 Definitions

  1. “Official university web page.” An official university web page is any web page created by the university, its departments, colleges, or other administrative offices for the official business of the university.
     
  2. “University-related web page.” A university-related web page is any web page created by or linked from a web page created by faculty, staff, students and/or registered student organizations that are either:
     
    1. Linked from an official university web page;
    2. Stored on one of the university-controlled web servers;
    3. Created in support of university businesses and courses; or
    4. On servers contracted by the university.
       
  3. “Content editors.” Authorized university faculty or staff trained by the Computing and Telecommunications Services (“CaTS”), or the Office of Marketing, or the Center for Teaching and Learning, and the Web Accessibility Coordinator on the online content accessibility standards such that they are approved to maintain a web page.
     
  4. “Faculty.” Authorized faculty who have received training on online content accessibility standards and content management systems.
     
  5. “Online content accessibility training.” Required training for all university personnel who develop content and/or post material on University webpage(s)/portal(s) prior to having authorization to publish online content.
  6. “Web accessibility coordinator.” Staff member authorized to coordinate and implement the online content accessibility policy.

  7. “Online Content accessibility standards.” Wright State’s online content accessibility standards follow W3C web accessibility initiative (“WAI”), WCAG 2.0 AA.

13620.4 Parameters

  1. Each administrative unit, department, or office, through an authorized content editor, is responsible for ensuring that online content is accessible.
     
  2. Content editors may develop and maintain official university web pages and are responsible for their content subject to the following requirements:
     
    1. Software used to develop official university web pages will be limited to packages approved by the Computing and Telecommunications Services (“CaTS”) and the Office of Marketing.
       
    2. Official university web pages must run on CaTS servers or services contracted for by CaTS/Office of Marketing.
       
    3. All official university web pages and related university web pages and all online content must strictly adhere to the online content accessibility standards.
       
    4. The web accessibility coordinator shall provide direction and guidance on standards to be followed for accessibility of all online content. The web accessibility coordinator is responsible for developing and implementing a plan to monitor all university online content for adherence to online content accessibility standards. The web accessibility coordinator is authorized to facilitate the disabling of any online content found to be in violation of the online content accessibility standards.
       
    5. All official and university-related web pages and all online content must adhere to:
       
      1. Applicable copyright laws.
      2. Applicable state of Ohio and federal laws and rules.
      3. Policy 11210 “Responsible Use of University Computing Resources,” (where appropriate).
      4. online content accessibility standards.
         
    6. The use of university symbols (i.e., Wright State word mark, and Wright State logo) and related information should adhere to Policy 12020.

13620.5 Procedures for creating and posting accessible online content

  1. Authorized university personnel may develop and maintain official university webpages and online content.
     
  2. Administrative units, individuals, and organizations requesting ability to place online content on Wright State’s public website must contact the Office of Marketing. Administrative units, individuals, and organizations requesting ability to place online content on Wright State’s learning management system must contact the Center for Teaching and Learning. Administrative units, individuals, and organizations requesting ability to place online content on Wright State’s other web services must contact CaTS.
     
  3. If any online content is determined to be in violation of the parameters in this policy, including the online content accessibility standards, an effort will be made beforehand to discuss the violation(s) with the content editor or faculty and to correct any errors. The web accessibility coordinator has the authority to facilitate the disabling of any online content from the university servers if in his/her discretion such action is necessary.

13620.6 Accessibility Audit

The University will complete an accessibility audit at regular intervals under the direction of the Web Accessibility Coordinator. During the audit, information provided by the University through its online content will be measured against the online content accessibility standards. All problems identified through the audit will be documented, evaluated, and, if necessary, remediated within a reasonable period of time.

13620.7 Accessible Software

Purchasing accessible software compatible with assistive technology. It is the policy of the university to ensure that any IT software and systems purchased by the university to produce publicly accessible online content will meet the online content accessibility standards by producing accessible online content. The software or systems shall permit persons with disabilities to acquire the same information, engage in the same interactions, and enjoy the same services with substantially equivalent ease of use as those without disabilities.