FW: Revision to Web Accessibility Policy

FYI
 
Our campus had adopted a Double AA WCAG 1.0 policy.  Lots of screaming
followed from certain quarters.  So a group lobbied to reduce the
requirements.  Instead of going to Single A – they went to the 508.
 
I will try to find out why.  Could be instructive to our work on 2.0.  s
 
Note: The part about people receiving federal funding having to follow
508 is in error.  This is not the case.
 
Gregg
-- ------------------------------ 
Gregg C Vanderheiden Ph.D. 
Professor - Human Factors 
Dept of Ind. Engr. - U of Wis. 
Director - Trace R & D Center 
Gv@trace.wisc.edu < <mailto:Gv@trace.wisc.edu>
mailto:Gv@trace.wisc.edu>, < <http://trace.wisc.edu/>
http://trace.wisc.edu/> 
FAX 608/262-8848  
For a list of our listserves send “lists” to listproc@trace.wisc.edu <
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-----Original Message-----
From: Joseph Schauer [mailto:jmschaue@facstaff.wisc.edu] 
Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2001 8:57 AM
To: everyone@trace.wisc.edu
Subject: FW: Revision to Web Accessibility Policy
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-tech-partners@relay.doit.wisc.edu
[mailto:owner-tech-partners@relay.doit.wisc.edu]On Behalf Of Brian Rust
Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2001 6:22 AM
To: tech-partners@relay.doit.wisc.edu
Subject: Revision to Web Accessibility Policy
Tech Partners:
 
The following is being distributed as advance notice of
a modification to the campus web accessibility policy ...
 
Dear Colleagues:
 
In December 2000, UW-Madison developed and adopted a policy concerning
World Wide Web Accessibility that demonstrated the University's
commitment to making information and communications technologies
accessible to individuals with disabilities. We were among the first
schools in the nation to have such a policy. And we are therefore among
the first to identify the need to review such policies on a regular
basis to ensure effectiveness in an environment of rapidly changing
technology.

Later this month, Melany Newby (Vice Chancellor for Legal and Executive
Affairs and ADA Coordinator) and Annie Stunden (CIO and Director of
DoIT) will announce an updated Web Accessibility Policy that will go
into effect on November 1, 2001
(http://www.wisc.edu/wiscinfo/policy/wwwap.html). The updated policy
continues to demonstrate UW-Madison's commitment to ensuring that
individuals with disabilities have access to the increasing amount of
Web-based material originating on our campus.

The updated policy helps 'pace the University for success' by better
coordinating programmatic needs, technology, and service. It is based on
the Federal Rehabilitation Act Section 508 (specifically subsections
1194.1 through 1194.22 and 1194.31), whose standards were established as
the level of compliance required for institutions receiving federal
funding as of June 2001. These standards, consistent with W3C's, provide
achievable, well documented guidelines for implementation.

There is a strong linkage between the Section 508 standards and the
development of current technologies that support compliance, i.e.,
development of software applications and other technologies that will
increasingly support the scalable development of accessible Web pages.

The updated policy supports the University's effective use of emerging
technologies in instruction; revised time-lines help make accessible the
information residing on legacy pages.

As part of the University's commitment to this effort, DoIT is enhancing
its support of Web Accessibility. Information about training,
consulting, and technological tools can be found at
http://www.doit.wisc.edu/accessibility (Web Accessibility Resources) as
well as definitions and resources related to the Federal Rehabilitation
Act -Section 508 and W3C.

We have appreciated the input of campus partners during the development
of the updated policy and look forward to working with the campus
community to support compliance with the updated policy.
 
More information is coming soon!
 
Carrie Regenstein, DoIT
Associate CIO/Director
 
--
-- 

Brian Rust
Marketing Communications
Division of Information Technology (DoIT)
University of Wisconsin - Madison
1210 W. Dayton Street, Room 3126
Madison 53706
608-263-9484
rust@doit.wisc.edu
http://www.doit.wisc.edu