51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÆØÁÏ Digital ACCESSIBILITY PLAN
Title: Digital Accessibility Plan
Type: Operational
Category: Guideline
Originated: 10/28/2014
Approved: 11/28/2014
Effective: 1/19/2016
Revised: 4/3/2019; 5/24/2022; 10/15/2024; 3/11/2025; 5/1/2025
References: SP 3-125g Web Accessibility Procedure; BP 3-125; Electronic Communication Policy, BP 3-120; Affirmative Action/Anti-Discrimination; BP4-120; Prohibition or Harassment; HB21-1110
OVERVIEW
Purpose
“CCCS is committed to facilitating access to its services, programs, and activities, including instruction, communication, and business processes, for the broadest possible audience. CCCS strives to employ principles of Universal Design and meet or exceed the requirements of the Governor’s Office of Information Technology Rules Establishing Technology Accessibility Standards in the design, development, implementation, and enhancement of its information and communication technology.â€
Scope
This procedure applies to the Colorado Community College System, including its Colleges (CCCS or System).
This procedure applies to information and communication technology (ICT) which includes, but is not limited to, websites, instructional materials, online services, software applications, multimedia content, and kiosks that are developed or maintained by entities within CCCS. The System must ensure that ICT is accessible for use by faculty, staff, students, prospective students, and the public.
This procedure does not apply to unauthorized web pages published by students or employees, which are not used to conduct CCCS business or instructional activities. Furthermore, this procedure does not apply to third-party content linked to a CCCS website, unless the third-party site or web content is used to allow members of the public to participate in or benefit from CCCS services, programs, or activities.
Figure 1: Bronfenbrenner's Ecological System - Base Circle: The Plan. Second Circle: ICT Designee Committee. Third Circle: College Leadership. Outer Circle: College Community at Large.
Definition of Position
The Digital Accessibility Coordinator will assist in every area of Launch, Integrate, and Ongoing & Optimize where and when needed. They will help to develop, implement, and maintain the entirety of the 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÆØÁÏ Digital Accessibility plan. Some of the basics of their position include, but are not limited to:
Research & Development
- Develops and implements an overall campus-wide accessibility training strategy and program to ensure the creation of WCAG 2.1 AA (moving into 2.2 AA) compliant materials.
- Research and evaluate new tools and industry developments with digital accessibility and universal design, then assist with its implementation.
- Develop materials and resources that promote the principles of universal design.
- Writes and coordinates the delivery of a 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÆØÁÏ monthly accessibility newsletter to facilitate awareness and education.
Training & Oversight
- Delivers regular face-to-face and asynchronous workshops on digital accessibility best practices for faculty, staff, and adjuncts.
- Ensures that all adopted learning platforms, instructional technologies, student digital services, electronic textbooks, and educational materials are accessible.
- Test and reviews proposed procurements and vendor products to ensure compliance with accuracy of VPAT.
- Meets with departments, identifies action items, and areas for improvement, makes recommendations, and provides support.
Communication & Collaboration
- Collaborates regularly with Information Technology Services on purchasing and accessibility compliance regarding software and hardware.
- Collaborates with MarCom to ensure that student-facing, front-facing materials are WCAG 2.1 AA (moving into 2.2 AA) compliant.
- Collaborates with Accessibility Services on implementation of training, captioning videos, and any digital accessibility concerns.
Maintains open lines of communication and opportunities for collaboration with other departments and individuals such as HR, Academic and Student Services, Leadership, etc.
ICT Designee Committee
ICT Designee Committee is a collaborative group of administrators, staff, and stakeholders who have been tasked with either being an ICT, a Representative in other areas of support, including but not limited to Academic Affairs, Marketing, Accessibility Services, Human Resources, Library, Student Affairs, Learning Commons, Faculty and Instructors, and any other stakeholders as necessary.
The purpose and structure of the ICT Designee Committee is to help oversee and support the implementation of the 2025 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÆØÁÏ Digital Accessibility Plan and its updates in accordance with and . The committee members are delegated with the authority to make recommendations for practices and resources to achieve the 2025 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÆØÁÏ Digital Accessibility Plan to meet or exceed the current and coming accessibility requirements and legislation. The Committee will be chaired by the Digital Accessibility Coordinator.
Scope
- Have an approved accessibility project plan.
- Accessibility roles and responsibilities across communications and IT departments are defined among ICT Designees.
- Ensure that college has a communication plan for sharing CCCS and State-wide accessibility skills training and resources.
- Confirm that college has assigned testing and remediation duties and responsibilities to personnel/individuals.
- Verify college is developing tools and processes for tracking digital/IT content accessibility issues, and tracking grievances, resolutions, and decisions.
- Focused on overseeing and monitoring of web/digital accessibility including implementing new standard with an emphasis on utilized sites and high-traffic pages/content.
- Certify the date of the college’s website last checked for digital accessibility compliance with the current WCAG. 2.1 AA standards.
ICT Designee Definition of Position
- The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Designee(s) ensures accessibility expectations and compliance are met and modified or updated in response to evolving technology, new requirements, user feedback, and regular review of outcomes and effectiveness.
- The ICT Designee’s must have accessibility knowledge and a holistic background that includes the required technical skillset to ensure proper oversight.
- If no ICT Designee has been nominated, then the program or department director will be the default contact until a new Designee is chosen.
- Andy Blowers – Human Resources
- Jordan Reece - Instructional Technology
- Richard Myrup - Information Technology
- Jamie Carlton II – Accessibility Services
- Jeni Tetamore – Digital Coordinator
- Ben Vena – Marketing and Communications
- Leadership
Additional Areas of Representation
These areas need to be represented and supported within the Digital Accessibility Plan, therefore appointed representatives should be present at committee meetings. While they won’t have the responsibility to launch or integrate practices, they will need to keep their individual spheres up-to-date or remediate certain elements. Academic areas that fit within this criterion include:
- Academic Affairs
- Student Affairs
- Faculty/Instructors
- Learning Commons
- Library Services
Launch: These tasks have yet to be created or generated. The specific items that might need to be done have not yet been identified, and additional information or auditing may be required before action is taken.
Integrate: Areas of need have already been identified. Action is now required for determined solutions to be implemented into widespread practice.
Optimize & Ongoing: Action items have been integrated into practice but now must be kept up and monitored for efficacy and modernization. These areas will require maintenance and periodic check-ins.
Accessibility Services
Launch
- College identified accessibility skills training and resources as applicable and beneficial to higher education/College (See also Instructional Technology).
Integrate
- N/A
Optimize & Ongoing
- ICT Accessibility Designee(s) coordinates with leadership to maintain a digitally inclusive learning and working environment (See also Human Resources).
- ICT Accessibility Designee(s) coordinates with leadership to facilitate continued digital accessibility communication, awareness, and trainings (See also Human Resources).
College President/Executive Leadership Team
Launch
- Finalize the governance structure that will result in a college-wide accessibility plan.
Integrate
- College has approved plans for testing that, where necessary, includes third-party testing, assistive technologies, and integrated testing by stakeholders.
Optimize & Ongoing
- College is allocating accessibility skills training budget and resources where necessary; monitoring and/or adjusting to ensure fiduciary compliance (see Appendix B for Forms).
- College continues oversight and monitoring of web accessibility including implementing new standards (Focus on utilized sites and high-traffic pages/content).
- Date College website(s) last checked for digital accessibility compliance with the current standards (WCAG 2.1 AA).
- College regularly shares messaging regarding accessibility as a priority, and communication compliance requirements.
Human Resources
Launch
- HR Identified skills, screening, and interview questions for hiring staff within specific departments.
- HR collaborates with leadership and/or managers/supervisors to identify accessibility skills required for current employees with specific departments.
- Managers/Supervisors collaborate with HR to update job descriptions and develop screening interview questions.
- Identify jobs/personnel that require accessibility training as annual mandatory compliance training.
- Accessibility roles and responsibilities across the communications and IT departments are defined including designations of accountable point persons.
Integrate
- HR and managers/supervisors include accessibility skills in relevant job descriptions and hiring processes.
- HR assists with screening committees to incorporate accessibility-related questions and assessments relevant to the hiring process.
- HR and managers/supervisors establish accessibility goals and expectations for employees that support professional growth.
Optimize & Ongoing
- ICT Accessibility Designee(s) coordinates with leadership to maintain a digitally inclusive learning and working environment (See also Accessibility Services).
- ICT Accessibility Designee(s) coordinates with leadership to facilitate continued digital accessibility communication, awareness, and trainings (See also Accessibility Services).
- Managers/Supervisors are monitoring and evaluating department and individual accessibility goals through performance evaluation.
- College has/utilizes online accessibility training for new hires and/or annual compliance training where needed (See also Instructional Technology).
Information Technology
Launch
- College has a plan to identify and evaluate its key IT lifecycle processes for accessibility gaps and is developing plans to integrate accessibility criteria into these IT processes better.
- ICT Accessibility Designee(s) have assigned and informed appropriate personnel of department compliance duties and responsibilities based on the approved plan (See also Marketing & Communications & Instructional Technology).
Integrate
- College has begun modifying its key IT lifecycle processes to integrate accessibility criteria.
- College completed accessibility criteria modification for most of its key IT lifecycle processes and regularly uses the modified processes.
Optimize & Ongoing
- Accessibility criteriais fully integrated into all key IT lifecycle processes and are using these processes to improve the accessibility of its products and services.
Instructional Technology
Launch
- ICT Accessibility Designee(s) have assigned and informed appropriate personnel of department compliance duties and responsibilities based on the approved plan (See also Information Technology & Marketing & Communications).
- College identified accessibility skills training and resources as applicable and beneficial to higher education/College (See also Accessibility Services).
- College included proposed budget requests, as necessary, for testing and remediation of digital and IT applications and processes (see Appendix B for Form 3).
Integrate
- College is implementing the current digital accessibility requirements throughout its website(s); prioritizing utilized and high-traffic sites/pages (See also Marketing & Communications).
- Utilized College websites and/or high-traffic pages/content are in digital accessibility compliance based on current standard (WCAG 2.1 AA) (See also Marketing & Communications).
- All College websites are in digital accessibility compliance based on current standards (WCAG 2.1 AA) (See also Marketing & Communications).
Optimize & Ongoing
- College uses reports to make organizational changes to improve digital/IT accessibility and digital content accessibility (See also Marketing & Communications).
Marketing & Communications
Launch
- ICT Accessibility Designee(s) have assigned and informed appropriate personnel of department compliance duties and responsibilities based on the approved plan (See also Information Technology & Instructional Technology).
- College procured a vendor to monitor its website(s) and/or hired/appointed personnel for internal responsibilities and maintenance.
Integrate
- College is implementing the current digital accessibility requirements throughout its website(s); prioritizing utilized and high-traffic sites/pages (See also Instructional Technology).
- Utilized College websites and/or high-traffic pages/content are in digital accessibility compliance based on current standard (WCAG 2.1 AA) (See also Instructional Technology).
- All College websites are in digital accessibility compliance based on current standards (WCAG 2.1 AA) (See also Instructional Technology).
Optimize & Ongoing
- College uses reports to make organizational changes to improve digital/IT accessibility and digital content accessibility (See also Instructional Technology).
Definition of Terms
Digital Accessibility – Websites, tools, and technologies are designed and developed so that people with disabilities can use them with the same or similar experience as people without disabilities. WCAG lists four principles that digital content must meet as being perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust to as many users as possible.
College Leadership – May refer to the actions of students, academic leaders, or campus leaders including but not limited to the College President, VPs, and the Executives, Student Success, Admissions, etc.
Implementation Teams – Manage the successful execution of a specific change within the organization including guidance of others, identifying barriers, securing resources, communicating date, and training employees. Implementation team members typically have or been given decision-making authority while representing the varied interests and needs of their community.
IT Accessibility (AIT) – Refers to the design, development, and implementation of digital tools and platforms that are usable by individuals with diverse abilities, this includes having features and functionalities that cater to people with disabilities such as visual, auditory, physical, cognitive, and neurological impairments.
ICT Accessibility Designee – Ensures accessibility expectations and compliance are met and modified or updated in response to evolving technology, new requirements, user feedback, and regular review of outcomes and effectiveness. They must have accessibility knowledge and a holistic background that includes the required technical skillset to ensure proper oversight.
HR – Department that focuses managing the college’s employees by ensuring they have necessary resources, coordinate hiring protocols including onboarding, administering benefits, and training.
Managers/Supervisors – These are leadership roles which oversee employees and ensure tasks are completed. Being a manager tends to be more strategic, while a supervisor is often responsible for day-to-day operations. These roles may include such responsibilities as planning, setting goals, creating budgets, training, assigning responsibilities and tasks, etc.
Screening Committees – Made up of stakeholders, the committee reviews changes and requirements for such things as plans, proposals, additional personnel, etc. They may make recommendations and request additional information to make an informed decision.
WCAG – Also known as Web Content Accessibility Guidelines is a set of technical standards which help make the web more accessible to people with disabilities and other needs.
Website Accessibility – Applies specifically to website design so that people with disabilities may use them. Examples of disabilities include those with visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive impairments. These impairments do not have to be chronic or permanent to fall into this category.