Adopted:  08/01/2017

Responsible Offices
UM Division of IT
MU Marketing and Communications
MU Office of Accessibility and ADA Education

POLICY STATEMENT

The University of Missouri is committed to supporting a campus that is accessible digitally to everyone. A digitally accessible campus enhances usability for all users, and by providing digital accessibility we ensure that as broad a population as possible can access, benefit from, and contribute to our university.

This policy applies to all schools, colleges, divisions, auxiliaries, and athletic programs within the MU community that create, manage or disseminate communications or technology. Communications and information technology that should be accessible digitally includes, but is not limited to:

• Web-based Communications
• Procurement of Software and Applications
• Videos and Multimedia
• Training, Instructional Materials and Online Learning Modules
• Telecommunications
• Computers and other computing devices
• Digital Content, Files or Products
• Other computer files that are accessible to the campus community and/or the public.

Reason for this Policy

The goal of this policy is for all communications and information technology to be designed, developed, and procured to be accessible digitally to people with disabilities, including those who access our digital presence using assistive technologies.

This policy provides equal opportunity to all students, faculty, staff and members of the public with disabilities, as well as assisting our university with meeting and exceeding the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (as amended), Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, and state law.

The following procedures assist with ensuring compliance with the above policy:

PROCEDURE(S)

1.  Apply Digital Accessibility Standards when creating communications.
Detailed standards are available to guide the Mizzou community in improving digital accessibility of communications and information technology. Standards will be maintained and regularly updated as technology evolves. Individuals are encouraged to contact the Digital Accessibility Working Group if they feel a standard needs to be addressed or amended.

Current and previous standards can be found at accessibility.missouri.edu.

2.  Understand and provide reasonable accommodations to ensure communication access.
All University entities are required to provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities attempting to access communications or services. All university communications and services must contain a statement, or link to a statement, that allows users to connect quickly with the responsible parties within the unit who can provide the information or services in a digitally accessible manner.

Suggested accommodation statement language, accommodation examples, guidance and resources are provided at accessibility.missouri.edu.

3.  Ensure procurement of technology software meets accessibility standards.
All university entities are expected to take proper measures to ensure the software they procure is accessible digitally. Digital accessibility is best addressed in the early stages of the procurement process.

Suggested procedures and guidelines for procurement are available at accessibility.missouri.edu.

GOVERNANCE

As an essential component of the ongoing effectiveness of this policy, a Digital Accessibility Advisory Board and a Digital Accessibility Working Group have been created.

Digital Accessibility Advisory Board: Members of the Board include a cross-representation of faculty, staff, students and administrators from across the university. The Digital Accessibility Advisory Board will set strategic goals and advise campus leadership on the progress toward achieving a fully digitally accessible campus.

Digital Accessibility Working Group: The Digital Accessibility Working Group consists of communications professionals, programmers, IT professionals and digital accessibility experts. This group will develop, review and approve updates to the Digital Accessibility Standards; review applications for exceptions to the policy; and assist with providing education and training for the campus community.

The names and roles of the current members of the Advisory Board and Working Group can be found at accessibility.missouri.edu.

POLICY COMPLIANCE and REVIEWS

Periodic audits of communications, information technology and services will be conducted to assess digital accessibility. If a communication, technology or service does not meet standards, the entity must submit a transition plan and an accommodation plan for approval to the Digital Accessibility Advisory Board. Details about this process can be found at accessibility.missouri.edu.

RESOURCES

Cross References

accessibility.missouri.edu
MU Office of Accessibility and ADA Education
MU Adaptive Computing Technology Center
BPPM 1:025 Accessibility Policy