3354-2-59-05 Accessible Technology Policy

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Policy Number:	3354:2-59-05
Title:	Accessible Technology Policy Date Approved by the Board of Trustees: 6/6/2019 Updated & Approved:
Related Procedure

Purpose
Lakeland Community College is committed to providing equal access and equal opportunities for all its constituencies; students, faculty guests, visitors and all members of the College community. The provision of information electronically is central to carrying out this commitment. Accordingly, the purpose of this Policy is to demonstrate Lakeland's commitment to equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities including access to services, programs, and activities that Lakeland delivers through web-based, digital, and emerging technologies.
Definitions
1. "Equally effective alternate access," with respect to electronic and information technology, means an alternative format, medium, or other aid that timely and accurately communicates the same content as does the original format or medium, and which is appropriate to an individual's disability. To provide equally effective alternate access, Lakeland shall provide appropriate auxiliary aids and services as necessary to afford individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to obtain the same result, gain the same benefit, or reach the same level of achievement, in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs, but Lakeland need not ensure that qualified individuals with disabilities achieve the identical result or level of achievement as individuals without disabilities. Nothing in this policy requires Lakeland to take any action that results in (1) a fundamental alteration in the nature of a service, program, or activity or (2) an undue hardship. Lakeland will, nevertheless ensure, to the maximum extent possible, that qualified students with disabilities receive the benefits or services provided by Lakeland.
2. "Fundamental alteration" means a change to a service, program, or activity that alters an essential aspect of the service, program, or activity, which includes academic courses or technology. While not required under this policy to undertake actions that would constitute a fundamental alteration to a service, program, or activity, Lakeland will take any other action that would not result in such an alteration, but would nevertheless ensure that, to the maximum extent possible, qualified individuals with disabilities receive the benefits or services provided by Lakeland.
3. "Legacy Pages" means web pages created and published before Fall Term 2020.
4. "Timely" and "timeliness" mean access in enough time for the person with the disability to have an equal opportunity to obtain the same result, to gain the same benefit, or to reach the same level of achievement as persons without disabilities. Web Content Accessibility Guidelines ("WCAG") refers to standards for web content accessibility that have been developed by the World Wide Web Consortium ("W3C"), an international community where member organizations, a full-time staff, and the public work together to develop Web standards. For purposes of this Policy, Lakeland utilizes WCAG version 2.0, level AA when determining web content accessibility.
Requirements
1. Web Content
  Beginning Fall Term 2020, all new and redeveloped web pages, web applications, and web content, created by Lakeland, on websites and subdomains used for Lakeland's academic divisions, academic departments, and administrative offices shall conform to WCAG 2.0 AA. In addition, for all websites and subdomains used for Lakeland's academic divisions, academic departments, and administrative offices, all web pages, web applications, and web content that were created and published on or before Fall Term 2020 shall be made to conform to WCAG 2.0 AA by Fall Term 2021. Legacy Pages shall be made accessible upon request. Any requests for exceptions for specific content should be directed to the Accessible Technology Coordinator.
2. Digital Instructional Material
  Beginning Fall Term 2020, all new and redeveloped academic content housed on Lakeland's Learning Management System (LMS) used for student instruction shall conform to WCAG 2.0 AA. In addition, all current academic content housed on Lakeland's LMS that were created and published prior to Fall Term 2020 shall be made to conform to WCAG 2.0 AA by Fall Term 2021. The college will adopt an Accessible Technology Policy Implementation Plan in order to successfully convert all academic content to conform to WCAG 2.0 AA.
3. Textbook and Course Material Accessibility
  Lakeland will provide individuals with disabilities who register with the Student Accommodation Center (SAC) equally effective communication of curricular materials (e.g., textbooks, workbooks, articles, compilations, presentations, collaborative assignments, videos, and images or graphical materials including applicable Legacy Pages) converted to alternate formats. In selecting texts and book-length course materials, including any supplementary digital applications or content provided by the publishers of such texts and book-length course materials, Lakeland academic departments will consider the availability of materials in accessible electronic formats, such as:
  1. the DAISY Consortium's Digital Accessible Information System DAISY Standard and the International Digital Publishing Forum's EPUB3 specification for digital publication and documents;
  2. WCAG 2.0 AA and the W3C's Web Accessibility Initiative Accessible Rich Internet Applications Suite ("WAI-ARIA") 1.0 for web content;
  3. the W3C's Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines ("ATAG") 2.0 for web authoring tools;
  4. the W3C's Guidance on Applying WCAG 2.0 to Non-Web Information and Communications Technologies ("WCAG2ICT") and Section 508-1194.21 for non-web software and content;
  5. the W3C's Mathematical Markup Language ("MathML") 3.0 for materials incorporating digital mathematical and scientific notation;
  6. the Braille Authority of North America's ("BANA") Guidelines and Standards for Tactile Graphics (2010) and the BANA Guidelines for the Production of Braille Materials through the Use of Braille Production Software (2007) for hard copy braille;
  7. and any successors to the standards listed.
4. Student Lifecycle Critical Transactions
  Lakeland-created content, websites, and applications that Lakeland uses for completion of critical or important transactions in the student lifecycle (e.g., websites and materials used for registering for classes, paying bills, obtaining transcripts) ("Critical Transactions") or to complete required training shall conform to WCAG 2.0 AA. Third party content, websites, or applications used for Critical Transactions or training shall either conform to WCAG 2.0 AA or Lakeland shall provide equally effective alternate access to qualified individuals with disabilities until such time that conformance can be achieved.
5. Procurement
  All web technology or software that Lakeland procures for use by its students shall conform to the relevant accessibility standards, cited in (B)(5) above, as long as the technology is commercially available, and its purchase does not result in undue financial and administrative burdens or a fundamental alteration. If a product is available and meets some, but not all, of the relevant accessibility standards, Lakeland will procure the product that best meets the standard, unless its purchase would result in undue financial and administrative burdens or a fundamental alteration.
6. Complaint Resolution Process
  1. Each Lakeland web site, including legacy pages, must provide, in plain text, a method for users who may have trouble accessing the content, as follows:
    1. Use a link named "Technology Accessibility Help" which hyperlinks to the webpage http://www.lakelandcc.edu/accessibility
    2. The page at http://www.lakelandcc.edu/accessibility will include contact information, including an email address and telephone number that puts the user in touch with someone responsible for the online content that can respond in a timely manner.
    3. College community members are encouraged to seek informal resolution to technology accessibility barriers by using the instructions on the Technology Accessibility webpage at http://www.lakelandcc.edu/accessibility.
  2. Students who believe they have been denied appropriate disability-related technology accommodations, including appropriate auxiliary aids and services, may file a complaint pursuant to Lakeland Procedure IS59-03, Procedure for Resolving Instructional Disputes Involving Students with Disabilities.
  3. Other College community members who believe they have been denied appropriate access to information technology, including webpages and videos created by Lakeland, may file a complaint with Lakeland's ADA Coordinator, pursuant to Lakeland Procedure SS64-01, ADA Complaint Procedure for Non-Instructional Issues.