This policy addresses the responsibilities and processes for Stanford’s electronic content and accessibility for individuals with disabilities. Stanford is committed to making its electronic content accessible to its students, faculty, staff, and all other individuals with disabilities participating or engaging in the programs and activities of the University.
Applicability: This policy is applicable to all Stanford University academic, administrative, and research units that develop, use, maintain, or procure electronic content used in conducting University business.
Policy Statement: Stanford University electronic content is to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0, Level A and Level AA standard. Where conformance with this standard is not technically feasible or would result in a fundamental alteration of the nature of the services provided through the electronic content, the University will engage with the individual to provide an equally effective alternative.
When an individual 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.
Alternative access to electronic content that, while not required to produce the identical result or level of achievement, affords an individual with a disability 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 individual’s needs.
An individual who has one or more physical or mental impairments that substantially limits one or more major life activities.
Electronic information and data, as well as the encoding that defines its structure, presentation, and interactions, that accesses, displays, or transmits University or student information within the Stanford University domain or are used in the programs or activities of the University. Examples include, but are not limited to: websites; web- and mobile-based applications; audio and video media; and electronic documents.
As it relates to equally effective alternative access to electronic content, timely means that the individual with a disability receives access to electronic content in reasonable time frame that meets the needs of the individual based on the circumstances.
Defined as current and prospective Stanford students, applicants for admission, Stanford staff and faculty, and other participants in the University's programs and activities.
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20/) version 2.0, Level A and Level AA (“WCAG 2.0 A/AA”) are technical standards for web content accessibility developed by the World Wide Web Consortium.
Oversight of this policy is delegated to the head of a specific subdivision of the University governance structure (“department”), such as a Dean, Department Chair, Administrative Department head, Vice President, Vice Provost, or Principal Investigator (“lead”). This individual is responsible for compliance with all University policies relating to the accessibility of electronic content owned, used, or otherwise residing in their department.
The lead may designate another University employee either internal or external to the department to manage and address the accessibility of electronic content residing in said department.
The designated person will:
A temporary exception to this policy may be requested through the Office of Digital Accessibility. Exception requests must include a detailed description as to why conformance with the Policy is not technically feasible or would result in a fundamental alteration of the nature of the services provided through the electronic content. An exception request granted for specified electronic content is for a limited duration and will be reviewed on a periodic basis.
Techniques for achieving accessibility, technical guidance, and best practices for electronic content are available from the Office of Digital Accessibility. Such assistance may include, but is not limited to, website scanning and monitoring, manual code review, user testing with assistive technologies, accessibility tools and procedures for evaluating websites and web-based applications, accessibility solutions for mobile applications, and training and best practices for electronic content accessibility.
Addressing the accessibility of electronic content is an ongoing process. Upon being notified of an accessibility issue with electronic content, a University employee must promptly:
If the Office of Digital Accessibility, in consultation with the University representative responsible for the electronic content, determines that the electronic content cannot be made accessible, or that doing so would constitute a fundamental alteration of the nature of the services provided through the electronic content, the Office of Accessible Education (for academic-related issues) or Diversity and Access Office (for non-academic-related issues) will engage in an interactive process with the User about alternative methods for providing the information or service in an equally effective alternative manner.
In the event that an equally effective alternative manner cannot be provided or the User is not satisfied with the results, they may contact the ADA/Section 504 Compliance Officer at the Diversity and Access Office by telephone at (650) 723-0755 or by email at disability.access (mailto:disability.access@stanford.edu)@stanford.edu (mailto:disability.access@stanford.edu) for assistance in resolving the issue.
The Office of Digital Accessibility, or other person designated by the President, shall be the primary contact for the interpretation, monitoring, and implementation of this policy.