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Accessibility: Home

A Guide from the Accessibility Advocate

Accessibility Advocate

Please contact the accessibility advocate, Debbie Carney, (debra.carney@bucks.edu) with any questions you have about making course materials accessible. I am available to meet via Zoom (https://zoom.us/my/debbiecarney) or on campus. Please contact me to make an appointment.

Debbie Carney

Bucks Accessibility Resources

Bucks Campus Resources

The Accessibility Office (TAO)

(bucks.edu/accessibility)

If you have questions about an accommodation request, please contact The Accessibility Office. If you have further questions, email accessibility@bucks.edu.

Web Accessibility

The current Bucks web accessibility policy has information about the college's commitment to accessibility.

Accessibility Standards

WCAG 2.1 Overview Web Accessibility Initiatives

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines are part of a series of web accessibility guidelines published by the Web Accessibility Initiative of the World Wide Web Consortium, the main international standards organization for the Internet.

Accessibility Rubric

This document provides information aligning accessibility standards and practices.

Accessibility Training Sessions

Bucks also has regular accessibility training for faculty. Please check the Center for Personal and Professional Development site for upcoming trainings.

 

General Resources

Accessibility Websites

DO-IT (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology) - an organization based at the University of Washington that is dedicated to providing people with disabilities equal opportunities in technology and education.

WebAIM (Web Accessibility in Mind) - an organization based at the Center for Persons with Disability at Utah State University whose purpose is to expand web resources for people with disabilities.

Penn State Accessibility - Accessibility and Usability at Penn State is a comprehensive site that includes a section on Canvas accessibility.

Access Project - Colorado State University's site dedicated to creating an accessible classroom through universal design.

Microsoft Accessibility Fundamentals Training - In depth training on disability related issues and accessibility features of Microsoft products.

Accessibility Law

What's the ADA?

  • The Americans with Disabilities Act is a civil rights act guaranteeing that individuals who are otherwise qualified for jobs, or educational programs will not be denied access simply because they have a disability.

Who is protected by the ADA?

  • The law defines disability as follows: The term disability means, with respect to an individual, a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of such individual.

How does on quality as disabled?

  • Most educational institutions require that evaluation documentation be recent, completed by a professional, and conform to prevailing standards of practice. There is no precedent entitling accommodation on demand without credible supporting evidence.

What are accommodations?

  • Task-specific assistive devices or adaptations that serve to ease the impact of the disability on a particular activity.

How far does accommodation go?

  • Institutions are required to provide accommodations only to those individuals who meet the essential functions of a job or educational program. The ADA was intended to protect individuals who were “otherwise qualified” to perform the “essential functions” of a job. An employer or institution is not required to accommodate individuals who, for whatever reason, are unable to perform essential job-related tasks.