Institutional Accessibility Policies — PS 26 & PS 31

Regulatory Context and Purpose

  • Institutional Policy Framework
    • The university maintains formal policies that translate federal disability law into day-to-day rules.
    • Key federal references (implied):
    • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
    • Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
    • Section 508 (for information & communication technology procured by the federal government)
    • Goal: ensure that all institutional activities, services, and employment practices remain inclusive and legally compliant.

Policy Statement (26)(26) – Institution-Wide Accessibility Mandate

  • Scope
    • Applies to every university activity, program, public service, transportation platform, public accommodation, information-technology system, and all employment practices.
  • Core Duties
    • Guarantee that physical and digital environments are free of barriers.
    • Hold each academic and administrative unit accountable for accessibility.
  • Key Take-aways
    • Serves as the umbrella policy; every other accessibility guideline must align with PS (26)(26).
    • Embeds accessibility into university culture rather than treating it as an add-on.
  • Practical Implications
    • Staff must proactively consider accessibility when planning events, purchasing software, hiring, or redesigning web pages.
    • Non-compliance can expose the institution to legal risk, financial penalties, and reputational harm.
  • Ethical / Philosophical Angle
    • Promotes equity and the social model of disability: barriers—not impairments—restrict participation.

Policy Statement (31)(31) – Digital Resources & Content Accessibility

  • Title: “Digital Resources and Content Accessibility.”
  • Purpose & Minimum Standards
    • Sets baseline requirements for the accessibility of all digital resources and content published, purchased, or used by the university.
    • Aligns institutional content with WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) and other federal benchmarks.
  • Definitions Section (Highlights)
    • Digital Resource: any software, platform, database, or electronic learning tool.
    • Digital Content: web pages, PDFs, slide decks, multimedia, course materials, etc.
  • Reporting Requirements
    • Units must submit periodic compliance reports outlining:
    • Inventory of digital assets
    • Accessibility testing results
    • Remediation timelines and progress
  • Responding to Accessibility Requests
    • Clear workflow: receive request → triage urgency → remediate or provide alternative format → document the resolution.
    • Exception Process: permits temporary exemptions if
    • No accessible alternative exists and
    • The unit documents undue burden considerations.
  • Examples / Scenarios
    • A faculty member uploads scanned articles: must add OCR + tagging.
    • A department licenses a new simulation tool: must ensure keyboard navigation and screen-reader compatibility.

Relationships Between PS (26)(26) & PS (31)(31)

  • PS (26)(26) = high-level, all-encompassing accessibility mandate.
  • PS (31)(31) = specific to digital assets; provides operational detail.
  • Compliance with PS (31)(31) inherently supports PS (26)(26); failure on (31)(31) jeopardizes overarching compliance.

Real-World Relevance & Best Practices

  • Universal Design: adopting standards that benefit everyone (e.g., captions help language learners and noisy-environment viewers).
  • Procurement Checklists: include accessibility criteria in RFPs to avoid retrofitting costs.
  • Training & Culture: ongoing workshops for faculty/staff to create accessible documents by default.
  • Continuous Improvement Cycle
    1. Audit existing digital assets.
    2. Prioritize high-impact items.
    3. Remediate & document.
    4. Reassess annually.

Key Terms & Quick Definitions

  • Accessibility Request: user’s formal indication that content or technology is not usable.
  • Undue Burden: significant difficulty or expense that might justify a temporary exception.
  • Alternative Format: transcript, braille, audio description, etc.
  • WCAG Levels: A, AA (minimum target for most institutions), AAA (enhanced).

Exam Pointers

  • Be able to distinguish the scopes of PS (26)(26) vs. PS (31)(31).
  • Remember the reporting requirement of PS (31)(31) (inventory + remediation plan).
  • Understand federal laws that give authority to these policies.
  • Cite at least two practical examples of compliance actions (e.g., captioning videos, alt-text for images).