Fresno State IT Accessibility Standard

The Fresno State IT Accessibility Standard defines how the University implements federal and state accessibility requirements, California State University (CSU) policy, and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) across information technology resources.

Fresno State is committed to ensuring that technology used across the University is accessible to all members of the campus community, including individuals with disabilities.

Scope

This standard applies to all university technology resources, including but not limited to:

• Public-facing and internal websites and web applications
• Instructional materials and course technologies used in teaching and learning
• Documents and digital content published online
• Software, hardware, and technology services purchased, licensed, or renewed by the University
• Mobile applications and other digital platforms used to deliver university services

Key Requirements

Web Accessibility

University websites and web applications should conform to WCAG 2.x Level AA standards wherever feasible.

Accessible Instructional Materials

Instructional materials must be provided in accessible formats in a timely manner, ensuring students with disabilities can access course content without unnecessary delay.

Accessible Procurement

Accessibility must be considered during technology procurement and renewal, including review of vendor accessibility documentation such as VPATs (Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates).

Accessible Documents and Media

Documents, PDFs, multimedia, and other digital resources published online should follow accessibility best practices to ensure they are usable by assistive technologies.

Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

As a public university, Fresno State must comply with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which requires public entities to provide individuals with disabilities equal access to programs, services, and activities.

Recent updates to ADA Title II regulations clarify that public entities must ensure that web content and mobile applications are accessible.

To meet these requirements, Fresno State aligns its digital accessibility practices with:

• WCAG 2.x Level AA
• CSU Accessible Technology Initiative (ATI) policy
• Section 504 and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act

Campus units are responsible for ensuring that their digital content—including websites, documents, applications, and instructional materials—is accessible.

Accessibility Monitoring and Support

Fresno State regularly evaluates website accessibility to help campus units identify and address potential issues.

The Web Services team performs monthly accessibility scans of university websites using Pope Tech to identify common accessibility issues.

Web Services works with campus departments to support accessibility compliance across university websites. This includes:

• Identifying accessibility issues through automated scanning tools
• Providing guidance and support for remediation
• Working with departments to improve accessibility of web content
• Performing monthly accessibility scans and fixing common accessibility issues across campus websites

If a department would like a detailed accessibility report for their website, they may contact webservices@csufresno.edu.

Roles and Responsibilities

Accessibility is a shared responsibility across the University.

• Campus Leadership: Provide institutional support and resources for accessibility compliance.
• Colleges and Divisions: Ensure that digital content created or maintained within their units meets accessibility requirements.
• Content Creators and Web Editors: Create and maintain accessible websites, documents, and digital content.
• Vendors and Technology Providers: Provide accessibility documentation and ensure products meet accessibility requirements.
• ATI and Web Services: Provide guidance, training, monitoring, and support to help campus units meet accessibility standards.