Web Site Accessibility Committee

Web Site Accessibility Committee Meeting Minutes
February 4, 2002

In attendance: Bale, Corkill, Davis, Gould, Rowlett & Schellhardt

UPDATE ON WEB ACCESS FOR ALL TOOLKIT AND TRAINING.
According to the iTAC staff, approximately 300 toolkits have been distributed. The iTAC staff will stuff the remaining packets for dissemination. For training statistics, 108 individuals were trained on web accessibility issues in Fall 2001 and 46 so far this semester. In addition, 29 individuals completed Front Page training.

UNDUE BURDEN REQUEST AND POSSIBLE EXTENSION
Jane Rowlett is checking with the other Regents institutions to determine their progress on web accessibility. If we are all in a similar position, she will consider filing an Undue Burden Request with the state asking for an extension. This is due February 15. As part of the request, she is asking that the Web Accessibility Committee assist in formulating a plan for making sites accessible. The following are some components of the plan that were discussed:

1. Provide an update to the Dean's Council on progress
2. Provide an electronic message to Deans/Department Heads about progress
3. Monitor progress of departments using the electronic Survey System
4. Send information out to faculty/staff about additional training opportunities
5. Bring Norman Coombs into speak during a VPAST Lecture on the need for web accessibility

Discussions ensued regarding the need for requesting an undue burden extension vs continuing to make progress towards web site accessibility. Jane will bring this up with Dr.Unger. If the university will move forward with the undue burden process, the request will be based on the complexity of the web site, the number of pages, the number of employees, etc.

MONITORING PROGRESS
The committee will develop a brief survey to monitor progress of departments towards web site accessibility. The Survey will be electronically administered using the Survey System at http://surveys.ksu.edu. The survey will be very simple and provide a brief report of where the departments are in their progress towards web site accessibility. The committee determined that a letter regarding the survey needs to be sent by the Executive Computing Committee. Jane will check with Dr. Unger on the latter.

• Do you consider your departmental web site compliant?
• If yes, how are you measuring compliance?
• What tools did you use to measure compliance?
• Please provide the web address for your official website.

Another suggestion was to include the basic checklist provided in the Web Access for All toolkit. Each guideline would be provided and the respondent would indicate (yes/no) if their website met the guideline.

PRESENTATION BY NORMAN COOMBS
The presentation by Norman Coombs has been cancelled for February 22. This will be rescheduled for later in the semester.

FYI
The Faculty Senate Committee on Technology submitted a resolution on web site accessibility in their latest presentation to the Faculty Senate.