IT-3 Accessible Technology

Purpose

Green River College provides equal opportunity to its educational and administrative services, programs, and activities in accordance with federal and state law. Ensuring equal and effective electronic and information technology access is the responsibility of all college administrators, faculty, and staff. This is in accordance with federal and state laws including: the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA); the Amendments Act of 2008; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Section 508 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act as amended; Washington State Core Services RCW 28B.10.910-916; SBCTC Accessible Technology Policy 3.20.30B; and Washington State OCIO Policy 188 – Accessibility.

Scope

This policy applies to the procurement, development, implementation, and ongoing maintenance of instructional, administrative, or communications technologies materials, and content. The policy includes, but is not limited to: websites, online communication, instructional tools, learning management systems and content, electronic and multi-media materials, in use or being evaluated for purchase or adoption by Green River College.

Definitions

Accessible: Individuals with disabilities are able to independently acquire the same information, engage in the same interactions, and enjoy the same services within the same timeframe as individuals without disabilities, with substantially equivalent ease of use.

Disability: A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.

Electronic and information technology (EIT): Includes 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. The term electronic and information technology includes, but is not limited to, the internet and intranet websites, content delivered in digital form, electronic books and electronic book reading systems, search engines and databases, learning management systems, classroom technology and multimedia, personal response systems ("clickers"), and office equipment such as classroom podiums, copiers, and fax machines.

It also includes any equipment or interconnected system or subsystem of equipment that is used in the automatic acquisition, creation, storage, manipulation, management, movement, control, display, switching, interchange, transmission, or reception of data or information. This term includes telecommunication products (such as telephones), information kiosks, Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) transaction machines, computers, ancillary equipment, software, firmware and similar procedures, services (including support services), and related resources.

Equally effective: An alternative format or medium communicates the same information in as timely a fashion as does the original format or medium.

Policy

Green River College is committed to providing comparable functionality, experience, and effective access to all information technology (IT), electronic content and information access for all users. In keeping with its values of inclusivity, access and success, this policy is designed to promote equitable participation and substantially similar functionality for all members of the campus and community at large.

Procedure

The purpose of these procedures is to ensure college administrators, faculty, and staff will develop, purchase, and maintain, hardware and software products, and electronic and information technology (EIT) that are accessible to people with disabilities. This applies to the following areas:

Web Accessibility
Instructional Materials Accessibility
Document Accessibility
Electronic Media Accessibility
Software, Hardware, and Systems Accessibility
Procurement

Information Technology, Student Affairs, Disabilities Support Services, Marketing, Communications and College Relations, and the Business Office, serve as resources to college units in meeting these requirements.

To ensure accessibility of software products, the Business Office requires vendors verify their solution meets or exceeds current accessibility standards by filling out an accessibility checklist (VPAT) and providing a demonstration that includes the accessibility features of their solution. Accessibility compliance will be reviewed by IT or designee(s) of the GRC Accessibility Committee as early in the acquisition process as possible, but no later than implementation. Due to the potential use of these applications by someone with a disability, this requirement will apply to all (new and existing) applications supported by Green River.

For currently enrolled Green River students who have been approved for accommodation, faculty and staff will contact the DSS Program Coordinator for assistance converting materials. The DSS program coordinator works with the instructors and the state approved vendors to facilitate the conversion of existing materials. This includes: