Incorporating principles of universal design in the development, acquisition, and implementation of IT and related resources helps the Institute ensure that these resources (documents, web pages, information, and services) are accessible to the broadest possible audience.

Individual web pages published by students, employees or non-Institute organizations that are hosted by the Institute and which do not conduct Institute-related business are encouraged to adopt the accessibility standards contained in this policy, but fall outside the jurisdiction of this policy.

Definitions:

Applicability:

This policy applies to all IT resources that are acquired, developed, distributed, used, purchased or implemented by or for any Institute unit and used to provide Institute programs, services, or activities, including but not limited to:

1. Web Pages

a. All new web pages and Revised Web Pages, website templates, and website themes must comply with the Institute’s Accessibility Standards.
b. All new and Revised Web Pages must indicate in plain text a method for users having trouble accessing the page to report that inaccessibility.
c. Legacy Pages determined by the publishing department or unit to be of the highest priority in providing Institute services online (core institutional information) shall comply with the Institute’s Accessibility Standards.
d. Unless an exception applies and is appropriately documented, for any Legacy Web Page or any other web page that for any reason does not comply with the Institute’s Accessibility Standards, the Institute will, upon request, convert or render the non-compliant web page so as to meet the Institute’s Accessibility Standards or will provide to the requestor access to the web page’s information in manner that is equally effective as the original page.

2. Electronic Documents

This policy and the Institute Accessibility Standards apply to all electronic documents.

3. Multimedia

This policy and the Institute Accessibility Standards apply to all multimedia.
 

Exemptions:

1. Legacy Web Pages, Legacy Documents, and Legacy Multimedia are not required to comply with Institute’s Accessibility Standards unless

• specifically requested by an individual with a disability (though units are encouraged to identify and improve the accessibility of Legacy Pages even in the absence of specific requests),
• significant and substantial revisions to the web pages, documents, or multimedia are undertaken after the creation of the original, or
• the nature or function of the web page, document, or multimedia is determined by the creating department to be essential to the purpose of the department or program.

2. Undue burden and non-availability may qualify as an exemption from this policy when compliance is not technically possible, or is unreasonably burdensome in that it would require extraordinary measures due to the nature of the IT or would alter the purpose of a web page. The conclusion of undue burden or non-availability is an institutional decision to be made by the Institute’s Office of Equity and Compliance Programs in consultation with the affected unit(s) and others with relevant perspective or expertise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an individual in need of an accommodation to access the program, service or activity shall request the same of the Institute’s ADA Coordinator or IT Accessibility Coordinator.

3. IT resources specific to a research or development process in which no member of the research or development team requires accessibility accommodations may be exempt. In such cases, the lead investigator must document that, upon inquiry, no member of the research or development team identified as requiring an accommodation.
 

Purchasing:

In order to ensure accessibility of IT products, Institute officials responsible for making decisions about which products to procure must consider accessibility as one of the criteria for acquisition. This is especially critical for enterprise-level systems or technologies that affect a large number of students, faculty, and/or staff. Considering accessibility in procurement involves the following steps:

1. Vendors must be asked to provide information about the accessibility of their products as required by the Institute’s Computer Technology Request (CTR) process.
2. The information provided by vendors must be valid and measured using a method that is reliable and objective.
3. Those making procurement decisions must be able to objectively evaluate the accessibility of products and to scrutinize the information provided by vendors.

Assistance with ensuring that appropriate contractual language is included in all IT purchasing documents may be obtained through the Institute’s Purchasing Office.
 

Compliance:

The Institute’s ADA Coordinator is responsible for overseeing compliance with regard to state and federal laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability and require reasonable accommodation. Questions or concerns regarding compliance with this policy, or complaints of discrimination, should be directed to the ADA Coordinator, who contact information is contained below.

Questions regarding the Institute’s Accessibility Standards, resources, and other technical matters may be addressed to the Institute’s IT Accessibility Coordinator, who contact information is below.

To report an accessibility issue or non-compliance with this policy, please email gtaccessibility@gatech.edu.