As you may have heard, a new policy concerning web site accessibility here on campus has been formulated and, as a result, existing web sites may need changes to comply (see below). In addition, sites going online after 1/22/01 will need to be compliant immediately. If you need any assistance fulfilling these new requirements, we would be more than happy to work with you and your department. We realize some of these changes may be disconcerting for your in-house designers as well as private designers you may be using. If you have any questions concerning how we can help, please contact me. We look forward to working with you in an effort to make your site accessible to all. Dave Watts - dkwatts@facstaff.wisc.edu DoIT Digital Publishing & Printing Services - Web Group Rm. 201 30 N. Murray St. Ph. 608-263-4736 Fax 608-262-5747 Policy Governing World Wide Web Accessibility UW-Madison PURPOSE: The World Wide Web is a major, if not a primary, source of information for many people. Acknowledging that University of Wisconsin-Madison (hereafter referred to as the "University") is engaged in Web page and Web site development for all its constituencies, this policy establishes minimum standards for Web page accessibility. POLICY: 1. The University, along with many other institutions of higher learning, endorses the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Guidelines as the standard for World Wide Web accessibility and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Guidelines can be found at the following Web site: http://www.w3.org/TR/WAI-WEBCONTENT/ (The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is composed of over 400 member organizations world-wide (public and private) developing common protocols to promote the evolution of the World Wide Web and ensure its inter-operability. As part of its work, the W3C has developed accessibility guidelines for World Wide Web sites and pages.) 1. A. W3C standards to be followed for University Web pages include Conformance Level "A" (all Priority 1 checkpoints are satisfied), Conformance Level "Double-A" (all Priority 2 checkpoints are satisfied), and Checkpoint 13.5 (Priority 3): "Provide navigation bars..." 1. B. Claims of conformance to W3C must meet the standards set forth in Section 5 of the W3C Guidelines. 1. C. University entities developing Web pages for a federal agency may use the University's Web accessibility policy standards. Exception: Where a federal agency requires a Web page to be developed to a higher standard of accessibility than does the University, the higher standard shall be used 2. All new or revised Web pages published or hosted by the University after January 22, 2001, (the effective date of this policy) must be in compliance with the W3C Guidelines described in Section 1.A (above). Web pages published or hosted by the University prior to January 22, 2001, (the effective date of this policy) are considered Legacy Pages, and are subject to some specific additional guidelines. Legacy Pages will ultimately have to be removed or revised to be in compliance with the W3C Guidelines. 2. A. Legacy Pages must be updated to be in compliance with the W3C Guidelines no later than January 22, 2002 (one year after the effective date of this policy). 2. B. Upon specific request for access, Legacy Pages must be revised to comply with the W3C Guidelines or the content therein must otherwise be made available to any individual needing access to such Web content. 2. C. Upon specific request for access, Web sites and pages in archive status (e.g. no longer in use but subject to records retention plans) containing core administrative or academic information, official records, and similar information be made available/accessible to any individual needing access to such Web content, by revision or otherwise. 3. Priority should be given to creating accessible Web pages for core institutional information such as course work, registration, advising, admission, catalogs, and student services information. Units with large Web sites containing core institutional information should establish priorities for ensuring access to these pages according to the pages being used or requested most often. 3. A. For setting priorities to make Legacy Pages accessible, the following guidance is suggested: 3. A. 1. The top 20% of Web pages most frequently used (e.g. that get the largest number of hits) should be placed in the first priority. 3. A. 2. Pages required for participation, funding, disability-related services and other key pages needed by people with disabilities, not already in the top 20%, should also be placed in the first priority. 3. A. 3. Each department or University entity is responsible for determining the top 20% of Web pages used and other high priority Web pages. 3. A. 4. Web pages specifically requested to be made accessible as part of a formal accommodation request shall be made accessible as soon as possible, or an equally effective alternative shall be provided. Equally effective means that it communicates the same information in as timely a fashion as does the Web page. 4. Each University Web site must contain an accessible link or a person to contact if users have trouble accessing content within the site. Suggested language: "If you have trouble accessing this page, contact:_______________________." This would usually be the Web page developer. Note: The addition of a contact person is not sufficient, in and of itself, in meeting accessibility guidelines. 5. It is recommended that a variety of Web browsing software (including text-only browsers), different workstations, and evaluation tools be used to test access to Web pages. Note: In the U.S. General Services Administration's nationwide training on making federal Web pages accessible, participants are told to run pages through a voice output Web browser as a check for accessibility. 6. Where compliance is not possible or may require extraordinary measures, exceptions to this policy may be granted by the UW-Madison Chancellor or the Chancellor's designee.