Policy 5.8 - Website Accessibility

Date: March 18, 2019

Supersedes:
None

Purpose

This policy document describes the College’s policy to ensure that content on the College’s website complies with the accessibility requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (“Section 504”) and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“Title II”).

Section 504 and its implementing regulation at 34 C.F.R. Part 104 prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability by recipients of Federal financial assistance. Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“Title II”) requires that people with disabilities have an opportunity equal to that of their nondisabled peers to participate in the College’s programs, benefits, and services, including the College’s website, except where doing so would impose an undue burden or create a fundamental alteration. The purpose of this Policy is to ensure that new content on the SCCC website complies with Section 504 and Title II.

Policy

Consistent with the requirements of Section 504 and Title II, it is the policy of the College to make content on the College’s website accessible to individuals with disabilities, including all newly added or updated content (“New Content”).

Pursuant to this Policy, the College’s Chief Information Officer and/or his/her designee is directed to implement and maintain the Plan for New Content (the “Plan”), which describes the procedures required to evaluate all New Content for compliance with the W3C’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA, the Web Accessibility Initiative Rich Internet Applications Suite (WAI-ARIA) 1.1 for web content, and/or other substantially similar standards in effect at the time (collectively, “Accessibility Guidelines”). The Plan shall include procedures for providing equally effective alternative access in cases where compliance with Accessibility Guidelines would impose a fundamental alteration or undue burden. The Plan shall be posted on the College’s website in the same general location as other content and materials relating to website accessibility, including the College’s Website Accessibility Notice.

The Plan shall be reviewed annually by the Chief Information Officer and/or his/her designee(s) to ensure that the Plan continues to meet the requirements of Section 504 and Title II. In the event that the Plan is deemed to be non-compliant, the Chief Information Officer and/or his/her designee(s) shall update the Plan promptly and submit the updated plan to the Office of the President for approval. Once approved, the updated plan shall be posted to the College’s website.