Office of Origin: President’s Office
Responsibility: Advancement & Community Impact
Original Date Adopted: 5-21-19
Dates Reviewed: 5-21-19, 11-11-22, 7-19-23
Last Date Board Approved: 5-21-19, 9-19-23

Lake Michigan College (LMC) is committed to providing digital resources and information and communications technology that are accessible to the widest possible audience regardless of ability. Accessibility is of critical importance to people with disabilities, including people with auditory, cognitive, physical, neurological, and visual disabilities, and is likewise important to those with limitations due to aging and technology resources..

Definitions

Accessible: Affording a person with a disability the opportunity to independently acquire the same information, engage in the same interactions, and enjoy the same services as a person without a disability in an effective and integrated manner, with substantially equivalent ease of use. Although this might not result in identical ease of use compared to that of people without disabilities, it still ensures equal
opportunity to the benefits afforded by the technology.

Accessibility is proactive compared to accommodations, which are insufficient for meeting this policy.

Information and communications technology (ICT): Information, content, and services used and delivered through the use of digital technology. Examples include websites, electronic documents, audio, video, web applications, mobile applications, and software, in addition to related, LMC IT hardware and other IT devices that are a part of the user experience.

Standards

LMC is obligated under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 to ensure that people with disabilities can fully, equally and independently use LMC resources. As set forth under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, LMC meets Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1) to the fullest extent technically feasible.

Scope

• All ICT developed by or for LMC
• All ICT LMC procures or uses, such as websites, apps, software, hardware, and media (including deliverables such as videos, pdfs and other files). Any contract must include a provision for a statement of conformance indicating that the work meets the required standard.

Policy statements

• ICT will be monitored and remediated in a timely manner in accordance with WCAG 2.1 standards.
• A Digital Accessibility Subcommittee of the Accessibility Committee will meet regularly to monitor compliance with this policy and new initiatives. The committee membership will be comprised of faculty and staff with roles, responsibilities and expertise related to digital accessibility.
• Procedures will be written by the Digital Accessibility Subcommittee and reviewed and monitored by the Accessibility Committee.
• Periodic training will be made available through IT and Marketing and monitored by the Digital Accessibility Subcommittee.
• Periodic audits will be scheduled, conducted and monitored by IT, Marketing and the Digital Accessibility Subcommittee.

Contact Information

Any concerns with the accessibility of online content should be directed to the Accessibility Committee at accessibility@lakemichigancollege.edu

References: Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), 29 U.S.C.794, and its implementing regulation at 34 C.F.R. Part 104; Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Title II), 42 U.S.C. 12131 et seq., and its implementing regulation at 28 C.F.R. Part 35; WCAG 2.1 Digital Accessibility - Forms procedure, Digital Accessibility - Purchasing procedure, Digital Accessibility – Auditing procedure (in progress), Digital Accessibility – Training procedure (in progress)