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Accessible Technology Procedure

Eastern Florida State College, a public institution established by the State of Florida, is committed to providing equal educational opportunities and an environment that fosters respect for all members of the College community. This policy has the goal of promoting an accessible learning environment that is free of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. In accordance with this policy, Eastern Florida State College is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations in its services, programs, activities, education, and employment for all individuals.

Eastern Florida State College strives to ensure that the electronic and information technology (EIT) that is purchased, created, used, or maintained by the College is accessible in accordance with applicable law, which includes Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended. Consequently, the College requires that all software and web-based technologies are evaluated for compliance with accessibility standards as a fundamental criteria for the acquisition and use of these educational materials.

This policy aligns with:

1. Definitions. The term “electronic and information technologies” or “EIT” shall include all information provided through the College’s website, online learning and course management systems, and curriculum, institutional and administrative data systems. 


2. Scope. This policy shall apply to all staff, faculty, and third parties providing EIT to or on behalf of the College. 


3. Implementation. The Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs/CLO, the Vice President of Operations, and the campus Provosts will be responsible for implementing this policy pursuant to a phased-in implementation schedule. Compliance with this policy will be prioritized based on academic, research and administrative needs, resource constraints and technology limitations.

4. Procurement of Technology. EIT that is procured by the College is expected to be compliant with the accessibility criteria as defined by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Level 2.0, the internationally accepted standard of accessibility. Vendors should provide detailed information about the accessibility of their product using a conformance report, such as a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT). Vendors’ claims should be independently verified and provide a starting point for a thorough discussion about the accessibility of the product.

If ultimately the best product for meeting a particular need is one that fails to fully meet accessibility requirements, vendors should be asked to provide a specific timeline for the remediation of accessibility problems and provide guidance to the College in the development of a plan to provide alternate access to individuals who may be impacted by the identified issues. At a minimum, vendors are expected to make a commitment to address their accessibility problems. As a condition of the purchasing agreement, language should be included as an addendum to the purchasing contract that documents the nature of the agreement and specifies how satisfactory progress on identified accessibility issues will be measured.