Digital Accessibility

Content Ownership and Digital Standards

At Chaffey College, content ownership includes the responsibility for the accessibility of any material created, used, or shared on behalf of the institution. As a content owner, you are responsible for ensuring that all digital materials follow institutional standards before they are distributed or submitted to the Digital Accessibility Program. This practice ensures that all members of our community, including those who navigate digital environments using assistive technology, have a fair and integrated experience.

The Legal Framework

These standards are followed in line with the 2024 updates to Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. Federal law requires that public institutions provide equal access to all digital programs, services, and activities. To meet these requirements, all electronic content—including websites, mobile applications, instructional materials, and digital documents—must be structured so that they are perceivable, operable, and understandable for all users.

Universal Technical Requirements

To maintain a fully inclusive digital environment, all content must adhere to the following core characteristics:

• Perceivable Structure: Information must be presented in ways that all users can perceive, such as providing alternative text for images and captions for multimedia.
• Operable Navigation: All digital interfaces, including links, buttons, and form fields, must be fully navigable via keyboard and assistive devices.
• Logical Reading Order: Establishing a valid sequence for all content to ensure it is read correctly by screen readers and reflows properly on mobile devices.
• Semantic Integrity: Using proper headings, lists, and data table structures to convey the true meaning and relationship of the information.
• Text Compatibility: Ensuring all text is machine-readable and uses valid character assignments for cross-device usability.

 

The Final Workflow

Digital accessibility is the final technical requirement to be satisfied prior to any content being shared or posted online. Materials should be fully edited, proofread, and finalized in their design before the accessibility validation process begins. Adhering to this standard ensures that the final version of any digital asset—whether it is a Canvas module, a departmental webpage, or an administrative document—is compliant with federal law and ready for the entire Chaffey College community to use.