This plan was formed in relation to the NFB Resolution Agreement and ended in 2014.

The University formed a University-wide Accessible Technology and Information (ATI) Committee in 2011. This committee was charged by the Dean, University Libraries; the Associate Vice Provost Information Technology Services; and the Vice Provost for Educational Equity to develop a three year strategic plan for auditing, remediation, reporting and implementation of Web accessibility, accessible technology, accessible instructional materials and information and procurement practices.

Implementation Timeline
Time Action Leaders
August 2011 Policy A.D. 69 approved and enacted
  • AD 69 Committee
September 2011 The Web Liaisons established in AD-69 met in September 2011 and will meet in October 2011 to articulate a plan for each unit to adhere to AD69. The Web liaisons were informed of their role, the role of their unit, the planned training sessions, the resources, and the practice groups in order to begin a process to adhere to the new policy.
  • Co-Chairs Accessible Information and Technology (ATI)
  • Web Review and Implementation (WARI) Practice Group
September 2011;
November 2011;
January 30, 2012
The University has developed a University-wide Accessible Technology and Information (ATI) Committee charged by the Dean, University Libraries; the Associate Vice Provost Information Technology Services; and the Vice Provost for Educational Equity to develop a three year strategic plan for auditing, remediation, reporting and implementation of Web accessibility, accessible technology, accessible instructional materials and information and procurement practices. The ATI committee officially met on November 15, 2011 and continued to meet bi-weekly to develop an implementation plan by January 30, 2012. ATI Committee will disseminate this plan to the University Budget Executives and publish it on http://accessibility.psu.edu
  • Dean of University Libraries (UL)
  • Assoc. Vice-Provost, Information Technology Services (ITS)
  • Vice-Provost for Educational Equity (OPVEE)
  • Co-Chairs ATI
  • ATI Committee
January 30, 2012 A series of Web accessibility and accessible instructional material trainings were planned University-wide and a training schedule for the next six months was established. Also, a plan for on-going training for accessibility will be established to include synchronous and asynchronous webinars and trainings. A new Web Accessibility and Accessible Instructional Media Training practice group will be formed. Training will be ongoing and reflect the current needs of University personnel on accessibility of information and technology in order to comply with the current policies and procedures of the University and ensure consistent and effective compliance. A log of trainings and events was established.
  • ATI Web Accessibility and Instructional Media Training Practice Group
  • ITS Training Services
November 30, 2011 – January 30, 2012 The ATI established several practice groups in order to provide University-wide collaboration and efforts on web accessibility and accessible technology. These practice groups will work in coordination with the ATI to adhere to the guidelines of the three year strategic plan and conduct the core work of the plan. Established practice groups include: Web Accessibility Review and Implementation (WARI); Web Accessibility Training; Accessibility Web Site Practice Group (http://accessibility.psu.edu); Accessible Online Learning; Captioning; and the Assistive and Adaptive technology. Practice groups in implementation stage: Accessible Instructional Materials and Procurement.
  • Co-chairs of ATI
  • Other ATI members as needed.
November 30, 2011 The University determined an automation software tool for validation of web sites that will be utilized to complete an accessibility audit of all University Web sites to meet standards outlined in Policy AD-69. This validation tool was determined by this date and RFP process begun.
  • Assoc. VP, ITS
  • Sr. Director, Teraching and Learning with Technology (TLT)
  • Co-Chairs ATI, and other ATI members as needed.
December 30, 2011 – ongoing The University purchased an automation tool from HiSoftware for validation of web sites that will be utilized to complete an accessibility audit of all University Web sites to meet standards outlined in Policy AD-69.

In January 2012, training on the HiSoftware validation tool began with the Web Liaisons in every University Budget Executive unit. Training has been developed on the automated validation tool for all pertinent University personnel who develop or post content on the web in order to conduct an audit of all University web sites to check and ensure the accessibility of content. Training will continue at the Web Conference 2012, be offered both synchronously and asynchronously through Information Training Services and posted on accessibility.psu.edu.

  • ITS Training Services
  • Co-Chairs ATI
  • ATI members as needed.
February 15, 2012 – ongoing The University conducted a central audit by ATI committee members using HiSoftware’s validation tool. The audit was done on the most popular sites submitted from the Web Liaisons and Penn State’s most popular sites. The audit was conducted in a professional manner and benchmarked by appropriate processes. This audit will establish a baseline and be utilized to establish assessment and measurements of progress to attain compliance with AD-69. Future audits will be conducted every six months as benchmarks or until the three year strategic plan goals have been met. Re-assessment of audit timelines may be necessary due to technological or administrative difficulties unforeseen. Audits will then be conducted every year, thereafter.
  • ATI Committee
  • Web Accessibility and Review Implementation Practice Group
  • Web Liaisons
February 20 – March 31, 2012 A survey from every University Budget Executive unit was submitted by March 20, 2012 containing baseline information of their unit’s progress to the ATI committee. This report will provide a plan detailing progress, activities, and baseline information regarding compliance with AD-69 within each unit. Once this baseline is established each University Budget Executive unit will be required to assess their status and begin to prioritize a plan for corrective action and remediation.
  • ATI Committee
  • Web Accessibility and Review Implementation Practice Group
  • Web Liaisons
April 15, 2012 The University will disseminate the University’s overall implementation plan among its colleges and campuses via the Web Liaisons and post it on http://accessibility.psu.edu.

Four hour face to face training sessions began for Web Liaisons and Web developers which included the use of Web accessibility validation tools and blockers for screen reader users. Additional sessions are planned at the campuses and for the next six months.

  • ATI Committee
April 24, 2012 On April 24, 2012, the Faculty Senate revised Senate Policy 43-00 (Syllabus) formally requiring all course syllabi to contain a statement informing students with disabilities of their rights and options and directing students to the Penn State Office of Disability Services. Model language was sent to instructors in August 2012 and can be found at http://accessibility.psu.edu/syllabus.
  • Vice-Provist, ITS
  • ATI Committee
April 30, 2012 An enhanced http://accessibility.psu.edu site has been launched to ensure a rich set of web resources are available and provide a one-stop access point of information for accessible information and technology.

The University will maintain this site as a web resource and will provide both tools and training to webmasters, faculty, staff and students via this site and activities planned through the Web accessibility training group.

  • Accessibility Web Site Practice Group
August 30, 2012 – ongoing A University-wide reporting system will be implemented by the ATI and be disseminated through trainings of the Web Liaisons and respective Web site personnel and made available at http://accessibility.psu.edu. This reporting system will be utilized as a means of assessment and planning to meet the three year strategic plan goal. Re-assessment of reporting strategies may be necessary during the three year strategic plan and as needed to ensure current trends in technology and information are considered.
  • Vice-Provist, ITS
  • Assoc. VP, ITS
  • ATI Committee
  • Web Accessibility and Review Implementation Practice Group
  • Web Liaisons.
December 30, 2012 No later than December 30, 2012, a report on University-wide progress will be submitted by the Web Accessibility Review and Implementation Practice Group to the Vice Provost for Information Technology on web accessibility progress and areas under the ATI committee.
  • Web Accessibility and Review Implementation (WARI) Practice Group
December 30, 2012 – December 30, 2014

Ongoing yearly afterward

Ongoing auditing and reporting of each University Budget Executive unit will be accomplished every six months and an annual report will be conducted and submitted no later than December 30 each year until the three year strategic plan cycle has been met. The ATI along with the Web Liaisons will review the reports, provide individualized feedback to each University Budget Executive through the Web Liaison, provide guidance on accomplishing the set strategic plan goals, develop ongoing rubrics for completion of the 3 year strategic plan and will establish a continued framework for measuring the progress of the strategic plan and agreement with NFB. Progress will be reported annually through the established reporting system. After the three year strategic plan cycle, re-assessment of a new strategic plan may be necessary.
  • VP, ITS
  • Assoc. VP, ITS
  • Dean of UL
  • VP, OVPEE
  • ATI
  • Web Accessibility and Review Implementation Practice Group
  • Web Liaisons
  • Other practice groups as needed.
October 15, 2014 No later than October 15, 2014, all pages hosted on the University’s websites that have been published or updated on or after August 1, 2009 shall be accessible to blind users. Any other pages will be promptly made accessible upon request. This requirement does not apply to pages found at http://www.personal.psu.edu.

However, the University shall provide resources to authors of pages at that site to give guidance on making such pages accessible.

  • VP, ITS
  • Assoc. VP, ITS
  • ATI Committee
  • Web Liaisons
  • Other practice groups as needed.

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