Web Accessibility Policy (MARCOM 700-001)

1.0 Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to affirm Baker College’s commitment to making our website accessible to all users, regardless of disability. This policy establishes the minimum standards for web content to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations. It also reflects the College’s intent to eliminate potential barriers to access, and to reflect and support our guiding principles, including integrity, inclusiveness, and social responsibility.

2.0 Definitions

Web Accessibility - the process of ensuring websites are designed and developed so that people with disabilities can perceive, understand, navigate, interact with, and contribute to the same services as individuals without disabilities, with substantially equivalent ease of use.

Web Content - refers to any part of a website, including text, images, forms, and multimedia, as well as any markup code, scripts, and applications.

Web Content Accessibility Standards - official guidelines and recommendations Baker College uses to make web content accessible.

Web Content Creator - the person who is creating Web Content to be added to the website. May include Baker College employees or third-party vendors contracted by the College.

Web Content Publisher - the person responsible for uploading Web Content and/or adding the content to a webpage. May include Baker College employees or third-party vendors contracted by the College.

3.0 Scope

This policy is applicable to all Web Content Creators and Publishers who submit and/or edit content on a site owned or maintained by Baker College.

4.0 Policy Statement

Web Content Accessibility Requirements

Baker College complies with the spirit and requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), as amended by the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA).

Discrimination based on disability is prohibited by college policy and local and federal laws. The college is committed to providing equal educational and employment opportunities for all website users, regardless of disability.

Web Content Accessibility Standards

Web Content Creators and Web Content Publishers are expected to ensure that content created to add to the website meets the following accessibility guidelines at the time of publishing:

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) Level AA

5.0 Procedures

Making Content Accessible

Web Content Creators and Publishers are expected to utilize appropriate software and tools to confirm content is accessible before publishing. Different tools may be needed depending on the type of content. Any issues or errors should be resolved before the content is published.

6.0 Responsibilities

Web Content Creators and Web Content Publishers

It is the responsibility of Web Content Creators and Web Content Publishers to ensure web content is accessible before it’s published by following the guidelines defined in this procedure.

Web Accessibility Coordinator

It is the responsibility of the Web Accessibility Coordinator to periodically test the College’s website and ensure accessibility guidelines are being followed for Web Content. If the content was published prior to the creation of this policy, the Web Accessibility Coordinator must flag the content for review and assist with making it compliant.

It is the Web Accessibility Coordinator’s responsibility to monitor, respond to, and resolve tickets submitted via the Report a Web Accessibility Issue form.

Users

Website users are encouraged to notify Baker College of any barriers or issues they encounter using the Report a Web Accessibility Issue Form.

7.0 Citations & Related Information

Document A: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Standards

Document B: World Wide Web Consortium Web Accessibility Initiative (W3C WAI)

Document C: Report a Web Accessibility Issue Form