Web Accessibility 

Adhering to web accessibility guidelines when developing your online and lecture course will benefit all students including those with visual, hearing, mobility and learning disabilities.

Required by Federal Law:

“Requiring use of an emerging technology in a classroom environment when the technology is inaccessible to an entire population of individuals with disabilities… is discrimination prohibited by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) unless those individuals are provided accommodations or modifications that permit them to receive all the educational benefits provided by the technology in an equally effective and equally integrated manner.”  Source: 6/29/2010 Dear Colleague letter sent to every college and university president. http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-20100629.html

Definition of Accessible:

“Accessible” means a person with a disability is afforded the opportunity to acquire the same information, engage in the same interactions, and enjoy the same services as a person without a disability in an equally effective and equally integrated manner, with substantially equivalent ease of use. The person with a disability must be able to obtain the information as fully, equally and independently as a person without a disability. Although this might not result in identical ease of use compared to that of persons without disabilities, it still must ensure equal opportunity to the educational benefits and opportunities afforded by the technology and equal treatment in the use of such technology. (Office of Civil Rights in the Resolution agreement with South Carolina Technical College System, 2/18/13)