Section Six - Accessible Technology

Vision

Create a culture of access for an inclusive learning and working environment, and provide effortless access for all students, faculty, staff, visitors, and the general public to online and electronic resources.

Mission

Assist UNG campuses in making electronic and information technology accessible by developing guidelines, implementation strategies, tools, and resources.

Foster ownership of accessibility across the university community so that accessibility is designed into websites and instruction, rather than addressed in a reactive manner for individual accommodations.

Policy Statement

It is the policy of the University of North Georgia (UNG) to make electronic and information technology resources accessible to all UNG students, faculty, staff, and the general public, regardless of disability. Creating and maintaining accessible technology is an ongoing UNG responsibility and priority.

An interdisciplinary group of faculty, staff, and student(s) will develop and review the Accessible Technology Plan. This Accessible Technology group will include representation from Strategic Communications & Marketing, Distance Education and Technology Integration (DETI), Information Technology (IT), Student Accessibility Services, Academic Affairs, UNG Libraries, and students with disabilities. The Accessible Technology group will also include University Counsel and will be chaired by the ADA Coordinator.

The ADA Coordinator will administer the Accessible Technology Policy with the support of the Accessible Technology group.

Compliance

Compliance with the Plan will be achieved and maintained as follows:

• UNG website compliance will be monitored by Strategic Communications & Marketing.
• Instructional Technology compliance will be monitored by DETI.
• Information Technology compliance will be monitored by IT.
• Compliance with student accommodations and general access will be monitored by Student Accessibility Services.

The ADA Coordinator or designee shall:

• Initiate a review of the policy and its associated standards at least once every five (5) years
•  Initiate and coordinate accessibility audits
• Consult with units on technology access
• Coordinate training on accessible technology
• Review and resolve complaints about the policy
• Propose revisions to the policy as needed for legal compliance
• Grant exceptions to the policy, as appropriate
  • When compliance is not technically possible, or may require extraordinary measures, rare exceptions to the policy may be requested
  • Requests for such exceptions will be made in writing and must be based on issues other than cost alone
  • Requests will be reviewed by the Accessible Technology group, and the group will submit a recommendation to the ADA Coordinator

Definition

Electronic and Information Technology includes information technology and any equipment or interconnected system of equipment that is used in the creation, conversion, or duplication of data or information. The term includes, but is not limited to, web sites, multimedia, and telecommunications products (FAR 2.101).

Supporting Information

This policy establishes minimum standards for the accessibility of electronic and information technology based on Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, the current standard of legal compliance for U.S. government institutions. To be accessible, technology must permit students with disabilities to receive all the educational benefits provided through technology in an equally effective and equally integrated manner. Additionally, people with disabilities must be able to access the information with substantially equivalent ease of use as people without disabilities.

Legal Support

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 794d), as amended by the Workforce Investment Act (P.L. 105-220), August 7, 1998, requires federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities. Additionally, all states that receive funding through the Assistive Technology Act must also comply with Section 508. Since the state of Georgia receives funding under the Assistive Technology Act, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia has determined that all institutions under the Board of Regents fall within the scope of Section 508. Section 508 also requires that individuals with disabilities who are members of the public, and who seek information or services [from a federal department or agency], have access to, and use of, information and data that is comparable to that provided to the public without disabilities.