Electronic Information Technology (EIT) Accessibility Policy

Introduction

The State University of New York’s Electronic and Information Technology (EIT) Accessibility Policy (6901) was approved by the SUNY Board of Trustees on June 20, 2019. The policy promotes an accessible EIT environment throughout the University. To that end, the University seeks to proactively ensure equal and integrated access for persons with disabilities. To sustain an ongoing accessibility program, System Administration and all campuses shall develop Accessibility Plans, utilizing the following Standards, outlined in the Final Report:

• Websites and Software: Web Accessibility Standards (WAS)
• Digital Content: Digital Content Accessibility Standards (DCAS)
• Classroom Technology & Design: Classroom Accessibility Standards (CAS)
• Libraries: Library Accessibility Guidelines (LAG)
• Procurement: Procurement Accessibility Conformance Standards (PACS)

The Policy and associated Accessibility Plan requirements are structured to give campuses the flexibility to develop and support an accessibility strategy that reflects local campus needs and resources. Each plan should serve as an accessibility action strategy that will be regularly evaluated, modified, and strengthened over time—in response to changing requirements, feedback and review of outcomes and effectiveness.

Minimum core elements of each Accessibility Plan should be as follows:

1. Authority and Responsibility: An assignment of roles, authority, responsibility and accountability for achieving policy compliance.
2. Awareness Raising: A campaign to communicate EIT accessibility across all campus divisions and departments.
3. Design: A comprehensive approach to engrain accessibility into the creation of web and technology resources.
4. Procurement: A procedure to include accessibility as a requirement within purchasing processes, including centralized and decentralized purchasing activities.
5. Monitoring Compliance: A means for monitoring compliance with any standards listed in this document.
6. Training: A method for training all University personnel who develop, select, purchase and maintain electronic and information technologies

The EIT Accessibility Officers are responsible for setting the direction for ongoing digital accessibility efforts, including the development and oversight of the Accessibility Plan. Institutions are encouraged to develop a committee or working group to support the EIT Accessibility Officer in establishing the Plan. This group may uncover where the greatest needs are, identify risks, suggest administrative oversight, locate resources/source(s) for resources, and develop clearly defined action steps with assigned ownership for completion.

This document serves as a framework for the formation of an individual Accessibility Plan. Campuses may elect to use this template to document and monitor accessibility progress. The template was modeled after the College of Environmental Science and Forestry’s Strategic Accessible ESF – Strategic Actions 2019 – 2020, created by their Accessibility Content Experts Network.  

For each element of the Plan, create goals, metrics, measures and milestones. The following definitions may be helpful in guiding completion of the template.

Suggested administrative oversight for each action 

• Each action item has attached to it suggested office(s)/person(s) that are responsible for initiating and providing oversight of the action. 

Resources and/or source of resources for each action 

• These include cost estimates, both fiscal resources and human resources, for implementation of each action. 

Outcomes implied for each action successfully completed 

• Each action is followed by a potential outcome, suggesting that if the action is successfully completed that the stated outcome will be achieved. 

Progress

• Each action item marked in this column should display one of the following five metrics:

1. No Activity - No action has been taken yet.
2. Planning - An approach to the action item is designed and/or meeting organization and preparation is underway.
3. Developing - Substantive work is underway to complete the action item.
4. Operational - The campus has a standard practice. Procedures are consistent and formal.
5. Accomplished/ongoing - The campus has an established practice that is regularly reviewed to reflect the managed practice.

Status Description

• Narrative regarding the status of progress.

Timeframe 

• The time frame indicates when the action should be completed.