Web Accessibility Compliance Guidelines

Federal Law (the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act) mandates that RSCCD must provide access to its programs and services to all qualified individuals. These laws are intended to remove barriers that prevent interaction with, or access to websites, by people with disabilities. Therefore, all parts and functions of the RSCCD website must be accessible to individuals with disabilities, unless there is a compelling and legally justifiable reason not to do so.

The purpose of these Web Accessibility Guidelines is to ensure that Rancho Santiago Community College District provides equal access to all district programs, services, and activities delivered through information technology. Unless an exemption applies according to the applicability and timeline specifications in this document, all  departments, programs, and services shall abide by these guidelines.

If a web page or website is found to be out of compliance, the site owner or page author will be notified that changes need to be made. These changes should be made in a timely manner. If not, the appropriate administrator/supervisor will be notified.

Applicability

These guidelines apply to all web pages developed, used, purchased, or implemented by or for any RSCCD unit and used to provide district programs, services, or activities through websites or web-based applications, including the following.

Web Pages and Associated Web-based Applications

  • All new and revised College websites and web pages published on or after the effective date of these guidelines must comply with WCAG 2.0 Level AA.
  • All new and revised web pages must indicate in plain text a method for users having trouble accessing the site to report that inaccessibility. This could be in the form of contact information on the bottom of the web page.
  • When a unit with identified high priority accessibility issues is contacted and offered technical assistance, the unit must cooperate to make their web pages consistent with WCAG 2.0 Level AA. Units will be notified if their pages have been deemed high priority and will be provided technical assistance, as needed. High priority pages will be identified by:
    • The top 20% of web pages most frequently visited as defined by the SiteImprove analytics.
    • Pages required for participation, funding, disability-related services, and other key pages needed by people with disabilities not already in the top 20%.
    • Other pages determined to be of the most importance in providing district services online (core institutional information).

Electronic Documents and Images

  • All documents and/or images created or obtained that are disseminated through the RSCCD website after the effective date of these guidelines.
  • Electronic documents and/or images created or obtained prior to the effective date of these guidelines and that are disseminated on a web page must comply according to the time frames specified for web page requirements.

Multimedia

  • Any multimedia created or obtained, and disseminated on a web page after the effective date of these guidelines.
  • Multimedia created or obtained prior to the effective date of these guidelines and is disseminated on a web page must comply according to the time frames specified for web page requirements.

Exemptions

Archived web pages do not have to comply with WCAG 2.0 Level AA unless specifically requested by an individual with a disability. Units with legacy pages not deemed high priority do not have to comply with WCAG 2.0 Level AA, but are encouraged to identify and improve the accessibility of their pages.

Undue burden and non-availability may qualify as an exemption from the policy under where compliance is not technically possible, or is unreasonably expensive or difficult in that it may require extraordinary measures due to the nature of the technology employed or the intent of a web page.

The conclusion of undue burden or non-availability is an institutional decision to be made by the RSCCD Vice Chancellor, Human Resources in consultation with the affected unit and others with relevant perspective or expertise.

Effective: 4/15/2018