dbs Electronic and Information Technology (EIT) Accessibility Policy

Policy Statement

dbs Software and Services (dbs) is committed to ensuring equal access to information that is presented electronically. As part of this commitment, digital content should be accessible to everyone, including individuals with physical, sensory or cognitive impairments, with or without the use of assistive technology. dbs will make its best efforts to comply with accessibility requirements as follows:

Applicable Standards

All EIT must conform to the minimum standards adopted by dbs:

• Web Accessibility Standards
• Digital Content Accessibility Standards
• Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
• Standards for hardware accessibility (e.g., scanners)

Archived Electronic and Digital Information

Archived electronic and digital content is not required to meet accessibility standards, but dbs could provide an accessible version of archived web content or an equally effective, alternative means of accessing the content upon request. Individuals who wish to access inaccessible archived web content must contact dbs and request access. An dbs representative will process the request to access archived materials within five business days. dbs will either provide an accessible version of the archived materials or reasonable accommodations that will afford equally effective, alternative access to its content.

Exceptions

There may be specific instances where compliance is not possible or would constitute an undue administrative or financial burden, or where it would create a fundamental alteration.

Background

This policy is in accordance with federal and state laws, regulations, and policies requiring accessibility and equal access for individuals with disabilities. These laws and policies include the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and others.

Applicability

This policy:

• Applies to all dbs departments
• Applies to all EIT, including online content, electronic documents, software, and hardware, whether created internally by dbs or its partners.
• Expects that dbs and its employees, partners, and stakeholders will make reasonable efforts to ensure that EIT is accessible to everyone

This policy does not apply to individual web pages published by employees, or non-dbs organizations that are not hosted by dbs and do not conduct dbs-related business.

Definitions

Accessible

Able to be used by all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, with or without assistive technology.

Archived Web Content

Web content that: (1) is at a minimum five years old; (2) is maintained exclusively for reference, research, or recordkeeping; (3) is not altered or updated after the date of archiving; and (4) is organized and stored in a dedicated area or areas clearly identified as being archived.

Assistive Technology

Any software or hardware that allows access to information or content for individuals with disabilities. Examples include special input devices (e.g., head or foot mouse, speech recognition), screen-reading software, and screen magnifiers.

Electronic and Information Technology (EIT)

Information technology and any equipment or interconnected system or subsystem of equipment that is used in the creation, conversion, or duplication of data or information. EIT includes, but is not limited to, information resources such as internet and intranet websites, content delivered in digital form, search engines and databases, learning management systems, classroom technologies; web, computer and mobile-based applications allowing for interaction between software and users; and services employing information technology and telecommunications equipment.

Equally Effective Alternative Access

An alternative format or medium that communicates the same information in as timely and effective a fashion as does the original format or medium. For interactive or service pages, equally effective means the end result is accomplished in a comparable time and with comparable effort on the part of the requestor. To provide equally effective alternative access, alternatives are not required to produce the identical result or level of achievement for persons with and without disabilities, but must afford persons with disabilities equal opportunity to obtain the same result, to gain the same benefit, or to reach the same level of achievement, in the most integrated setting appropriate to the person’s needs.

Fundamental Alteration

A change so significant that it affects the essential nature of the instruction, program, or activity provided.

Undue Administrative or Financial Burden

A significant disruption, expense, or difficulty posed by the provision of accessible information technology.

Web and Digital Content

The textual, visual, or aural content that is encountered as part of the user experience on websites, applications, software, email, social media, etc. It may include, among other things, text, images, sounds, videos, and animations. For purposes of this policy, web content also includes forms and documents accessible through dbs websites.

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)

A series of standards developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) that promotes usability and best practices to ensure web access for individuals with disabilities. WCAG provides a common definition for accessible content.

Responsibility

President, Vice Presidents, Directors, Department Heads

• Ensure that EIT in their areas complies with the dbs accessibility standards.

Development and other technical personnel

• Develop new and redesigned websites, forms, documents, videos, and other content on public-facing university websites that are accessible and conform to dbs Accessibility Standards.
• Test websites for accessibility prior to their launch or significant modification.
• Test existing websites for accessibility, and ensure that inaccessible web/digital content, forms, documents, videos and other online content published prior to the date of this policy are remediated or replaced.
• Provide reasonable accommodations to individuals who request access to inaccessible archived web/digital content. This may include remediating inaccessible content or providing content in reasonably convenient and equally effective alternative accessible formats.