Web Page Accessibility

REG 04.25.05

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1. Introduction

North Carolina State University (hereinafter, NC State) is required to provide reasonable access to its educational services, programs and activities in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, and North Carolina state law (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 168A-7). Accordingly, official NC State web pages and online instructional material should be accessible to disabled persons where possible, or a reasonable alternative accommodation should be offered.

This regulation provides the procedures by which NC State will meet its obligations to provide accessible Web content.

2. Definitions

2.1 Official NC State Web Page is any NC State administrative, departmental or course Web page used to deliver content for administrative, departmental or course use.

2.2 An NC State Web Developer is anyone who develops or maintains official NC State Web Pages, including but not limited to faculty, staff, students, volunteers and outside contractors.

2.3 Accessible Web Content is Web-based information and services designed according to standards that enable use by a wide range of individuals, browsers and output devices. It does not exclude people with disabilities from access to information or participation in activities being presented.

3. Policy Statement

3.1 NC State is committed to making all official Web content and other electronic information associated with university administration, services, courses or instruction programs and activities conform to widely accepted Web accessibility standards and requirements.

3.2 NC State Web Developers are expected to present currently used Web-based information and services in formats that conform to these standards and requirements.

3.3 Where Web-based information cannot be made accessible within the meaning of disability law, the NC State Web Developer and/or sponsoring department may be required to make a “reasonable accommodation” for qualified persons with a disability who request accommodation and where the accommodation will not create an undue hardship or result in a fundamental alteration of the service, program, or activity.

4. Procedures

4.1 NC State Web Developers designing Web content for all official Web pages must consider accessibility issues during initial development. For all new Web pages and revisions to currently used Web pages, NC State Web Developers must meet the Web Accessibility Standards identified within the (Federal) Access Board's Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Standards (36 CFR Part 1194, hereinafter, the Access Board Standards). Information Technology Accessibility Services maintains a Web site with the current set of standards and priorities for implementation.

4.2 NC State Web Developers must bring their currently used pages into conformance with the standards by the start of the spring 2007 semester. NC State Web Developers are encouraged to fix accessibility problems before this deadline.

4.3 All departments must implement periodic review of all currently used Web content under their control. Information Technology Accessibility Services provides tools and training.

4.4 NC State will support its Web Developers in meeting the requirements of this regulation. Information Technology Accessibility Services, in cooperation with other departments, provides Web accessibility consultation, training and resources.

5. Exemptions

5.1 Web pages are exempt from this policy if:

Compliance is not reasonably attainable with current technology, or the content or curriculum cannot be effectively delivered in an accessible format

5.2 Even where the content or curriculum cannot be effectively delivered in an accessible format, NC State Web Developers must consider alternative formats and delivery during the design process. While the learning experience is not required to be identical, NC State Web Developers should design Web pages to be as accessible as can reasonably be attained with current technology.

5.3 NC State Web Developers are not responsible for the accessibility of external sites (i.e., non-official NC State Web pages) to which their Web pages are linked. However, they are encouraged to make a good faith effort to select sites that are accessible.

6. Non-compliance with Regulation

6.1 The Office of Equal Opportunity and the Information Technology Division are responsible for coordinating issues regarding the accessibility of official NC State Web pages. Any persons experiencing accessibility problems on an official NC State Web page should notify the Office of Equal Opportunity.

6.2 As the Office for Equal Opportunity becomes aware of accessibility problems relating to a particular Web page, it will contact the Information Technology Division. The Information Technology Division will notify the relevant NC State Web Developer(s). The Web Developer(s) must work with the Information Technology Division to either (1) correct the identified accessibility problems in a timely fashion, or (2) justify why their page(s) should be exempt as per Section 5.

6.3 If the NC State Web Developer fails to provide a response to the Information Technology Division's inquiry or does not address accessibility problems in a timely fashion, the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor, in consultation with an accessibility compliance team if necessary, may direct the removal of non-exempt inaccessible Web content from service.