Transcript Importance of Accessibility - E

Importance of Accessibility
Student Access Center
Ann Pearce
Importance of Accessibility
• Providing accessible content to students in a timely
manner is important because of:
– Required legal guidelines
– Benefits it provides to diverse learners
– Responsibility to provide an equitable education to all
students
Laws and Policies
• Institutions of higher education are under the
obligation to meet the requirements of the following
laws and regulations.
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Rehabilitation Act, Sections 504 and 508
Americans with Disabilities Act as Amended
Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act
Kansas Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
Kansas State Course Accessibility Standards Policy
Rehabilitation Act, Sections 504 &508
• Rehabilitation Act of 1973
– First legislative effort to provide access rights to people
with physical and cognitive disabilities
– Section 504 prohibits discrimination by employers and
organizations that receive federal funding
– Section 508 was added in 1998 barring any federal
government from creating any electronic and information
technology that is inaccessible
– As Kansas State University is a federally funded institution,
we are obligated not to discriminate and to create and use
accessible technology
Americans with Disabilities Act as Amended
• ADAA
– People with disabilities have an equal opportunity to
participate in programs, services, and activities
– Title II – communications must be as “effective as
communication with others” [28 C.F.R. ss 35.160 (a)]
– Title III – addresses accommodating people with
disabilities in all public facilities
Telecommunications Act, Section 255
• FCC Information on the Act
– access-board.gov has a brief overview
– Telecommunication devices must be designed and
fabricated to be accessible
– Telecommunications technology that is purchased for
student use, especially that which is required for student
programs, must be accessible
– There are no provisions for damages, although complaints
are filed with the FCC
Kansas Web Content Accessibility
Guidelines
• Information Technology Policy 1210
– The purpose of the policy is to define accessibility
requirements for all State of Kansas internet, intranet, and
extranet websites, web services, and web applications
including those developed internally, by contract, or
purchased products
– “6.1 All Entity websites, web services, and web
applications shall be accessible to and usable by
individuals with disabilities in accordance with federal and
state law”
Kansas State Course Accessibility
Standards Policy
• Course Accessibility Standards Policy
– “Many of the courses offered at Kansas State University
use technology to enhance course delivery, both oncampus and through distance learning (referred to as
eLearning). The United States Department of Education,
Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has stated that eLearning must
be designed and delivered in such a way that all students,
including students with disabilities, have equal access to
course content.”
Other Reasons for Accessibility
• Course content that is accessible is often easier for
all students to use (Universal Design)
– Accessible PDF files are searchable
– Accessible videos allow ESL students access to the printed
word if they are still working on verbal skills
– Accessible Word documents are easier for you to change in
the future thanks to style sheets
Add Accessibility from the Start!
• It is far easier to build accessible content during the
creation phase rather than add in accessibility as a
retrofit once a student needs accommodations.
• All students deserve content in a timely manner;
don’t let students fall behind while making files
accessible.