Information For:

Web Accessibility

Access to the Web and the information available on it should be available to all regardless of disability status.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires basic levels of accessibility in web pages for people with various dsabilities.

"...the (ADA and ) Rehabilitation Act of 1973 generally require that state and local governments provide qualified individuals with disabilities equal access to their programs, services, or activities unless doing so would fundamentally alter the nature of their programs, services, or activities or would impose an undue burden."
(Source: http://www.ada.gov/pcatoolkit/chap5toolkit.htm)

Strategic Action Plan for Web Accessibility

Diversity and inclusion are central to Brown’s mission, and the University is committed to sustaining a culture in which each individual’s dignity is acknowledged and accorded with respect. In support of this objective, the University in spring 2018 formalized efforts to apply accessibility standards to all websites in the brown.edu domain.  This Strategic Action Plan details the processes, procedures and actions Brown will follow to create a more accessible and inclusive website for the University.

Strategic Action Plan for Web Accessibility at Brown University (May 2018)

Some basic functions that the ADA suggests for web accessibility include:

  • Include a text equivalent for every image
  • Use text-based file types for documents such as: .txt, .htm and .rtf
  • Provide controls for users to select the colors that they see best on web pages
  • Include captions or descriptions with all video content
  • Include a "Skip to Main Content" link at the top of each page
  • Use title and header formatting to provide structure to pages for easier navigation
  • Minimize blinking or otherwise distracting features
  • Online forms should include tags to describe form fields
  • Visual notifications for any sounds that play automatically

Brown Technology Accessibility Guidelines

https://www.brown.edu/campus-life/support/accessible-technology/accessible-technology-brown

Brown University Web Accessibilty Training

For more information about ADA web accessibility see the following links: