# Accessibility and Universal Design
# Universal Design
Universal design is the best design for everyone; it is for people without disabilities and people with disabilities.
An example of universal design is a sidewalk curb that is cut to a ramp rather than an abrupt drop. This is ideal for someone with a wheelchair, a stroller, and easier than stepping up a curb.
We implement universal design when we ensure website accessibility and content that is accessible to everyone regardless of ability. Because Academy District 20 receives state and federal funding, we must ensure that every form of electronic communication is accessible.
# Not Just a Good Idea - It's the Law
The importance of digital accessibility is underscored by various state and federal requirements. In Colorado, the implementation of bill HR 21-1110 mandates that state and local government agencies, including school districts, adhere to specific digital accessibility standards. This legislation aligns with federal laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, which require that digital content be accessible to people with disabilities.
These regulations are designed to eliminate barriers in digital environments and ensure that individuals with disabilities have the same opportunities to participate in educational programs, access information, and engage with digital services as their non-disabled peers. By complying with these standards, educational institutions not only meet legal obligations but also demonstrate a commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunity for all students.
# Accessibility Laws and Standards
Academy District 20 is committed to compliance with the provisions of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), 29 U.S.C. § 794, and its implementing regulation at 34 C.F.R. Part 104, and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Title II), so that students, prospective students, families and the District’s guests with disabilities are able to acquire the same information, engage in the same interactions and enjoy the same benefits and services within the same timeframe as their non-disabled peers with substantially equivalent ease of use; that they are not excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or otherwise subjected to discrimination in any of the District’s programs, services and activities delivered online as required by Section 504 and Title II.
We adhere to the applicable and existing standards for website accessibility, including the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C’s) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 Level AA and the Web Accessibility Initiative Accessible Rich Internet Applications Suite (WAI-ARIA) 1.2 for web content, or other standard or combination of standards that will render the Online Content accessible. In the event that the standards, laws and/or regulations change, we will ensure our policies and procedures are updated to meet these changes.
# Why We Care
We have a large interest in this because the things that make a website accessible are also the best practices and fit well under the Universal Design principle. This helps us help us reach a larger audience, optimize for search engines, provide a better user experience, offer robust ways for information consumption, and it is the right thing to do. By ensuring website accessibility, we will broaden our reach to more students, comply with federal standards, improve our overall website presence and break down educational barriers.
# Website Best Practices that Relate to Accessibility
Formatting (using headings bulleted lists and other basic formatting features).
Captioning Images & Video
Search Engine Ranking/Optimization (rely on measure of accessibility and quality content)
Proper Branding (relates to use of color, and visual cues)
Content (Simple, meaningful and complete content)
Concepts (has clearly defined audience and hierarchy that helps reduce cognitive load)