I. BACKGROUND

The California State University (CSU) has an ongoing commitment to provide access to information resources and technologies to individuals with disabilities. This commitment is articulated in the January 2005 Executive Order 926, the CSU Board of Trustees Policy on Disability Support and Accommodations http://www.calstate.edu/EO/EO-926.html.

“It is the policy of the CSU to make information technology resources and services accessible to all CSU students, faculty, staff and the general public regardless of disability.”

This policy is premised on federal and state laws including but not limited to Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996; and California Government Code 11135 of 2003 which applies Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act as amended in 1998 to the CSU.

In January 2006, the CSU launched the Accessible Technology Initiative (ATI) in order to develop the work plan, guidance, and resources to assist campuses in carrying out the accessible technology provisions of EO 926. Significant consultation took place in the development of this plan. Those consulted included the Technology Steering Committee (TSC), the Statewide Academic Senate, the Academic Technology Advisory Committee (ATAC), the Provosts Technology Steering Committee (PTSC), the Council of Administration and Business Officers (CABO), Student Affairs Vice Presidents, the CSU Services to Students with Disabilities Advisory

II. ACCESSIBLE TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE (ATI) WORK PLAN

Ensuring the accessibility of information technology and resources is a process for continuous improvement that will require a multi-year, phased approach. Given the iterative nature of this process, the implementation will need to occur in stages. A three-year roadmap addresses the three priorities below:

. Web Accessibility

. Instructional Materials Accessibility

. Accessible Electronic and Information Technology (E&IT) Procurement

Year One (2006-07): PLANNING AND EVALUATION

The focus of this first year is on planning, policy and procedures development, communication, and training. Just as campuses had to develop transition plans for the removal of physical access barriers, so they will need to create a technology access transition plan based upon a self-evaluation of the accessibility of their IT products and services. A template for this self-evaluation plan will be available to campuses at the end of October 2006. Initial implementation will begin the second half of the year.

Year Two (2007-08): IMPLEMENTATION

The second year begins full implementation of campus plans with the goal of integrating accessibility at the design stage of software, web, and course development, as well as in business and instructional practices.

Year Three (2008-09): ASSESSMENT

The third year begins the assessment process to determine the outc