Accessibility

The South Texas College community strives to make information and communication technologies accessible to and usable for all. Individuals with a disability are quite often denied access to content brought on by unintended barriers.

What is Accessible Technology

Accessible technology has been designed in a way that can be accessed by all users. We must not assume that everyone is using a traditional monitor, browser, and keyboard. Accessible technology is created with accessibility being the main priority. Accessible technology includes electronic documents, websites, software, hardware, video, audio, and much more.

Laws Regarding Accessibility

Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are the key laws regarding accessibility that STC must follow and ensure compliance with. Section 504 prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in all programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance. Section 508 sets requirements for accessible technology. Title II of the ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by public entities, including state colleges and universities regardless of whether they receive federal financial assistance.

Definitions

• Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act

  Requires federal agencies and programs to implement accessibility standards to websites, digital documents, and audio/video/multimedia content. Section 508 states that “when developing, procuring, maintaining, or using electronic and information technology, each Federal department or agency…. shall ensure, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the department or agency, that the electronic and information technology allows, regardless of the type of medium of the technology, individuals with disabilities… to have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to the access of those who are not individuals with disabilities.”

• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act

  Affords individuals with disabilities the same rights as groups protected by the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Section 504 states that “no otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States… shall, solely by the reason of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance or any program or activity conducted by any Executive agency or by the United States Postal Service.“

• Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act

  Prohibits disability discrimination by state funded schools, which includes higher education institutions, and these institutions must provide access to all programs and services offered.

Procedures

• Section 504/ADA Grievance Procedure

Resources

• Digital Accessibility
• Blackboard Accessibility Checklist
• Accessible Events
• LinkedIn Learning
• External Resources