When thinking about accessible content in the digital world, being inclusive is the ultimate goal. Those accessing content may have visual, hearing, motor or cognitive disabilities and there are ways of enhancing digital offerings to make sure that we provide the best experience to everyone.
Emails, PDFs, webpages, etc. are very important communications tools that give us great opportunities to reach out to many audiences, and it’s important that we are mindful to create these messages in ways that everyone will be able to access them.
Guidelines
Pomona College complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 as amended, and other applicable state and federal law prohibiting discrimination against individuals with disabilities. View the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Dept. of Education’s page, which provides access to the Federal law and regulations as well as some FAQ’s. You may also contact the College’s Office for Disabled Student Services which can provide you information on Federal, state, local, and campus regulations that you should know.
The College is committed to providing appropriate services and reasonable accommodations for students who need them. Students and parents/guardians are encouraged to speak to the College’s specialist in disability accommodations regarding potential accommodations and the required paperwork.
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended in 1998 (29 U.S.C. § 794 (d)), and the broader context of other related accessibility laws, have long given a framework to work under, but newer guidelines have emerged to better define modern best practices.
The Worldwide Web Consortium (W3C), the governing body of the web, has created the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), and the U.S. government Section 508 has now adopted the WCAG 2.1 (AA) standard as the new accessibility standard.
The College is following this standard and is working towards WCAG 2.1 (AA) compliance as we look to further improve and enhance our digital offerings.