- It is the Right Thing to Do
- It is The Law
- It is a University Policy and Standard
- It is Good Strategy
- It is A Good Way to Avoid Problems
1. It is the Right Thing to Do
Goal 2 of the University of Minnesota Duluth's Strategic Plan is to, "Create a positive and inclusive campus climate for all by advancing equity, diversity and social justice."
Accessible web design is socially responsible and equitable web design. It demonstrates that you are committed to providing equal access to web-based information to all people including users with disabilities. Improvements in making web sites accessible can help create a work and educational environment that supports all members of the university community and beyond. Accessible design demonstrates that you care about providing access to information for those who would otherwise be locked out and lose their opportunity to use the web.
Every person has the right to equitable access. To deny that right is to discriminate. It is tantamount to intentionally depriving someone an experience to acquire knowledge, to participate in an activity, to do something online to improve their life. Picture yourself standing in front of a person in real life, looking them square in the eyes, then firmly and definitively saying, "you don't matter."
We have an ethical responsibility to create an inclusive climate in which people with disabilities enjoy the same opportunities and freedoms as everyone.
2. It is the Law
Since 1996, the U.S. Department of Justice has publicly acknowledged that websites must be accessible to people with disabilities.*
On June 21, 2001 rules were mandated by Section 508, 1194.22 of the Workforce Investment Act. 508 is an amendment to the Workforce Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The law applies to all websites operated by federal government agencies. It requires web pages to comply with accessibility standards. Under the law, web sites are required to structure their design, content and underlying technologies to be accessible to people with disabilities. Section 508 does not apply directly to university web sites (unless funded by federal grant money). However, the federal effort provides a good example of what can be done. On January 18, 2017 the Access Board updated Section 508. Under E205.4 Accessibility Standard in the updated document, it states, "Electronic content shall conform to Level A and Level AA Success Criteria and Conformance Requirements in WCAG 2.0 (incorporated by reference, see 702.10.1)."
On April 8, 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a Final Rule (PDF) under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The final rule states in most cases, web content and mobile apps must conform to W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 at Level AA. It is the baseline or floor to comply with the new rule. The rule has some exceptions but is fairly strict.
3. It is a University Policy and Standard
The University of Minnesota has an Accessibility of Information Technology Policy. It states:
All colleges, departments, central units and faculty are responsible for ensuring access to their Web content, Web applications, digital materials, environments and services to the greatest extent possible in accordance with the following practices:
- implementation and adherence to World-Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 level AA and ARIA 1…
4. It is Good Strategy
Accessible design is good design for everyone. The same methods that make your site accessible will make your site more usable for all who visit it. For instance captions provide good universal design.
Besides people with disabilities, several populations may not use a graphical browser or may turn graphics off. This may be due to hardware limitations such as:
- Older computers or browser versions
- Slow connections
- High per-minute charges for Internet connection
- Wireless Web connection
By creating accessible Web sites, you are reaching these groups as well, extending the range of communication. Good design is good design. Just as sidewalk curb cuts - originally intended for people using wheelchairs - also benefit parents wheeling strollers and individuals on roller blades, accessible web design benefits more than just people with disabilities.
Side note: Companies are increasingly seeking accessibility awareness and skills in job applicants. Many are preferring or requiring general accessibility skills in their engineering, developer, design, user experience, and research positions.
5. It is A Good Way to Avoid Problems
Inaccessible web sites are a liability and can lead to complaints, intervention by regulatory agencies, bad publicity, expensive site redesigns, and lawsuits.
Disability rights organizations have filed lawsuits against universities and colleges.
*1996 Letter from Deval L. Patrick, Assistant Attorney General to Senator Tom Harkin
