Information Technology Accessibility Policy

Policy

Purpose:

To ensure that all students, faculty, staff, and members of the public with disabilities can effectively access services, communications, and content made available with information technology (IT) resources on behalf of the University of Kansas.

Applies to:

This policy applies to all faculty, staff, schools, colleges, units, divisions, and controlled affiliates that create, manage, or disseminate services, communications, and content using information technology resources on behalf of the University of Kansas.

Campus:

Edwards

Lawrence

Juniper Gardens

Parsons

Yoder

Topeka

Policy Statement:

Inclusion is one of the core values of the University of Kansas. Our goal is to create a campus climate that is digitally accessible to all. The University of Kansas must work to provide individuals with disabilities access to the same services and content that are available to individuals without disabilities, including services and content made available through information technology (IT) resources. This work requires proactively addressing digital accessibility barriers to ensure that individuals with disabilities, including but not limited to individuals with vision and hearing impairments, color vision impairments, cognitive impairments, learning disabilities, and mobility impairments, have meaningful access to IT resources.

Requirement of Information Technology Resources

IT resources that are procured, developed, or undergo substantial revisions by the University of Kansas after the effective date of this Policy must provide substantially similar functionality, experience, and information access to individuals with disabilities as it provides to individuals without disabilities.

Examples of IT resources covered by this policy include:

Websites;
Web-based communications, including social media posts;
Mobile applications;
Software systems;
Electronic documents;
Videos and multimedia materials;
Training and instructional materials;
Polling software and devices (e.g., I-Clickers);
Computers and other computing devices;
Digital content, data, files, or products;
Other computer files that are accessible to the public;
Information kiosks and directory boards;
Telephones; and
Digital signs.

Other types of IT resources may be included as technology advances.

Exclusions or Special Circumstances:

Recognizing that in rare situations it may not be possible to achieve IT accessibility, requests for exceptions shall be submitted to the IT Accessibility Manager (accessibility@ku.edu).

IT resources published by students, employees, or non-university organizations that are within the University’s domain but do not conduct core University-related business are outside the scope of this policy.

Contact:

Human Resource Management
1246 West Campus Rd.
Lawrence, KS 66045
785-864-4946
accessibility@ku.edu

Approved by:

Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor

Approved on:

Thursday, June 23, 2022

Effective on:

Friday, July 1, 2022

Review Cycle:

Annual (As Needed)

Background:

KU is required under federal and state laws to make its digital content accessible to individuals with disabilities. Accessible digital content means that all new technology systems, services, or applications either procured or developed have been designed, developed, or procured to be usable by, and therefore accessible to people with disabilities, including those who use assistive technologies.

Keywords:

ADA, accessibility, accessibility software, software, IT, Information technology, disability, usability

Change History:

06/23/2022: New Policy Published in Policy Library.

Academic Categories:

Assistance with Disabilities

Information Access & Technology Categories:

Information Access

Information Technology

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Information Technology Accessibility Policy