Accessibility of Information Technology

• Updated: March 2010
• Primary Contact : Phil Kragnes

The University is committed to providing equal access to information technology, services, and environments in which information technology is used.

All colleges, departments and central units will:

• Use web page design standards that improve accessibility for all, including those with disabilities.
• Use hardware and software products that promote universal design and access.
• Design and implement work environments that accommodate all users.

Undue Burden and Non-availability

The following circumstances may qualify as exemptions from this policy:

• Extreme difficulty or expense (Undue Burden)
• Hardware and software tools specific to a research or development process in which no member of the research or development team requires accessibility accommodations.
• Hardware or software for which no equivalent accessible option is available (non-availability).

Incorporating principles of universal design in the development, acquisition and implementation of information technology and related resources helps the University to ensure that the University of Minnesota Web resources (pages, information, services, etc.) are accessible to the widest possible audience – including users of old, adaptive, alternate, or emerging technologies.

Implementing this policy will help ensure that all individuals have access to information technology associated with administration and services, courses of instruction, departmental programs, and University-sponsored activities.

• Making Information Technology Accessible

There are no forms associated with this policy.

Campus Contacts

Emerging Technologies

New and developing hardware and software technologies used to store, receive, transmit or otherwise process information.

Legacy Web Pages

Web pages created prior to the effective date of this policy.

Undue Burden

Significant difficulty or expense. In determining whether an action would result in an undue burden, an agency will consider all agency resources available to the agency or components for which the product is being developed, procured, maintained, or used.

Disability Services

Promote awareness of policy. Respond to requests for assistance from units and individuals. Monitor progress of implementation.

Java and Web Services

Provide consulting services to units making changes to accommodate this policy.

Office of Information Technology

Establish equipment specifications for accessibility and make those specifications available to the University community.

Purchasing Services

Establish procedures to assure that University specifications for technology purchases include specifications for accessibility when relevant.

University Units

Indicate on purchasing requisitions that technology accessibility issues are relevant.

Web Developers

Follow established U Standards when creating and revising U web pages.

Web Development

Provide consulting services to units making changes to accommodate this policy.

There are no appendices associated with this policy.

1. Who do I contact about accessible web pages?

   Contact the Computer Accommodations Program at 612-626-0365

For more Frequently Asked Questions see the FAQ section of the Accessibility of Information Technology web site.

• Board of Regents Policy: Disability Services
• Administrative Policy: Internal Access to University Information
• Administrative Policy: Public Access to University Information
• Accessibility of Information Technology web site
• World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)
• World Wide Web Consortium Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI)
• USA, Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998, Section 508

  Requires Federal agencies, or members of the public seeking information or services from a Federal agency, to use electronic and information technology, that allows employees with disabilities to have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to the employees without disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency.

  Section 508 is a Federal Acquisition Rule (FAR) and covers hardware, software, and the Web

• Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 Accessibility Requirements

  Entities to Title II or III of the ADA must provide effective communication to individuals with disabilities, and covered entities that use the Internet to provide information regarding their programs, goods or services must be prepared to offer those communications through accessible means.

• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

  No otherwise qualified handicapped individual in the United States shall, solely by reason of his or her handicap, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.

  • Establishes principle of programmatic access to federally-funded programs. Does not directly address the internet, Web, or information technology, but lays foundation for accessibility to the services ("programs") of federally-funded programs.

Amended:

July 2008 - Clarified and simplified policy. Special situations section deleted and Exception section added. Updated Disability Services contact information. Added FAQ.

Amended:

May 2002 - Clarified Purchasing Services responsibility in Responsibilities section.

Amended:

March 2002 - Policy is now effective, not proposed. Policy statement and reason, definitions, special situations and procedure have all been revised. Deadlines for implementation of this policy have been extended three months. Reference to "granting exemptions" and "without placing an undue burden" was removed from the Policy Reason. This material is addressed in Special Situations.

Effective:

March 2002