Accessibility Standards

What is Accessibility?

Accessibility is shaped by what we need to do, our interactions with the environment, and our personal preferences. Educational materials and technologies are “accessible” to people with disabilities if they are able to “acquire the same information, engage in the same interactions, and enjoy the same services” as people who do not have disabilities. As a person with a disability, you must be able to achieve these three goals “in an equally integrated and equally effective manner, with substantially equivalent ease of use” (Joint Letter US Department of Justice and US Department of Education, June 29, 2010). 

Accessibility is a simple concept in theory, but it can be complicated in practice. What is accessible to someone with a visual disability is not necessarily accessible to someone with a learning disability. (Source - AEM Center)

Web Accessibility Standards

Santa Barbara City College supports the principle of "Universal Design" which promotes a high degree of usability for persons with disabilities.   Guidelines are in accordance with the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) developed by the W3C Web Accessibility Guidelines.

Section 508 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act, mandates that electronic and information technology be usable by persons with disabilities.  One component of the technical standards requires accessibility of web pages. 

Ensuring educational accessibility is foundational to creating an equitable system of higher education, and is a critical piece of student success and degree completion.  

One way accessibility can be achieved  is through compliance with the Chancellor's Office Information and Communication Technology and Instructional Material Accessibility Standard. 

Disability

Students who are requesting accommodations on the basis of disability should contact the Disabilities Specialists in Disability Services and Programs for Students (DSPS) in the Student Services Building, Room 160, (805) 965-0581, extension 2364, TTY (805) 962-4084, or email dsps@sbcc.edu.

For employees seeking a workplace accommodation, see AP 3410.