Web Accessibility Requirement - it is NYS Law
New York State leads the nation in recognizing the importance of accommodating disabilities in online systems. While many of us perform lots of transactions online because it is a little more convenient, those with a disability may rely on them even more for other reasons. It is not just the right thing to do - it is NYS law - and studies show that organizations attentive to accessibility needs benefit from it.
For Purchase College to be in compliance with the law and with the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI), we must provide equivalent and appropriately structured content for the visually impaired using screen readers, and closed-captioning for audio materials (videos, etc.)
Requirement: all College Broadcast messages and other materials posted to the Web with graphically presented content MUST be accompanied by the equivalent content that appears in the image written out as text immediately below the image. All video or audio materials must be closed-captioned.
Alternative Text area must still be populated with content describing image - for example: “Event Poster.”
Any Supervisor or sector Officer who is asked to approve a broadcast message, or a page or other Web materials that does not adhere to the above requirements should reject that message, web page, or material.
The power of the Web is in its universality.
Access by everyone regardless of disability is an essential aspect.
Tim Berners-Lee W3C Director and inventor of the World Wide Web
Below is an example of Graphic presentation of content - followed by the appropriate equivalent text content:
(From a recent PSGA broadcast email message - Thank you PSGA!)
CALLING ALL MODELS!
Come audition to be a model in the 14th annual S.O.C.A. (Students of Caribbean Ancestry) Fashion Show!
Audition Dates:
January 31
February 1
February 2
* All auditions will take place at 10-11 PM in the Dance Building*
EVERYONE is welcome! Please bring heels.
Paid For By Your Mandatory Student Activity Fee (MSAF)