Digital Accessibility Committee

The charge of the University Committee for Title II Digital Accessibility is to lead and coordinate efforts across the institution in making digital resources, platforms, and technologies accessible to individuals with disabilities in accordance with Title II ADA regulations. The Committee will:

• Define a phased approach to achieving compliance with Title II digital accessibility regulations. The phased approach should include milestones, timelines, and anticipated funding needs;
• Consult with Core Technology Services and other North Dakota University System institutions to align compliance efforts;
• Review policies, procedures, workflows, and organizational structures related to digital accessibility, identifying opportunities for improvement and recommending appropriate modifications;
• Identify and recommend resources to assist in accessibility efforts, such as external resources and technologies, internal knowledge bases, training opportunities, and development/hiring of additional personnel;
• Review opportunities for further integration of digital accessibility into existing aspects of the University, e.g., faculty review, position descriptions, professional development, procurement processes, etc., and make recommendations as appropriate; and
• Conduct ongoing assessment of the impact of digital accessibility efforts for students, employees, and the public.

The above work will be done in collaboration with relevant stakeholders. To further define the work of the committee and make progress towards compliance with Title II digital accessibility standards, the committee will specifically:

• In conjunction with Marketing & Communications, create a comprehensive communication and outreach plan for UND employees and, as appropriate, the broader UND community on digital accessibility. Topics should include the following, as well as other topics as identified by the committee:
  • UND’s plan for and progress towards meeting accessibility standards
  • Digital accessibility standards and the specific responsibilities of faculty, staff, and other employees in meeting these standards, including for procurement, creation, and other use of covered assets, applications, and content;
  • Relevant policies and procedures relating to digital accessibility; and
  • Available resources and training opportunities;
• In conjunction with Academic Affairs and Marketing & Communications, implement wholistic training solutions incorporating multiple modalities for creators of covered content, including course material within Blackboard Ultra, LEO, and other LMSs, website content, and social media content;
• In conjunction with Academic Affairs and the School of Medicine & Health Sciences, create a process for audit of course content for accessibility and a plan for accountability for faculty;
• In conjunction with Marketing & Communications and University Information Technology (UIT), create a process for audit of public-facing web content for accessibility, including underlying CMS code, and a plan for accountability of content creators and remediation. This task will include websites both within and outside UND’s current CMS;
• In conjunction with Procurement & Payment Services and UIT, identify and make recommendations on practices and procedures to monitor third-party suppliers’ compliance with digital accessibility standards;
• Recommend a process or processes for reviewing requests to be exempt from full compliance with specified technical standards, as permitted by law. The process or processes should address all content covered by 28 CFR Part 35, Subpart H, including but not limited to content within an LMS, covered content purchased by the University through a formal solicitation and contract process, a PCard, or any other procurement method, and covered web-based and mobile applications created by UND employees.

The committee will also stay current on developments in accessibility law and technology, advocate for the integration of accessibility principles into all aspects of the University's digital presence, and serve as a resource for campus departments seeking guidance on accessibility compliance and inclusive design practices.