Purpose
Appalachian State University is dedicated to providing the best experience possible to all individuals by providing an inclusive and accessible campus environment. This site is intended to provide accessibility information, guidance and tools for the campus community.
Accessible means a person with a disability is afforded the opportunity to acquire the same information, engage in the same interactions, and enjoy the same services as a person without a disability in an equally effective and equally integrated manner, with substantially equivalent ease of use.
The person with a disability must be able to obtain the information as fully, equally and independently as a person without a disability. Although this might not result in identical ease of use compared to that of persons without disabilities, it still must ensure equal opportunity to the educational benefits and opportunities afforded by the technology and equal treatment in the use of such technology.
~ From a recent U.S. Department of Education (DoE) Resolution Agreement
Why accessibility matters
Accessibility removes barriers and provides the ability for everyone, regardless of disability, to access, use and benefit from programs, services and activities.
Consistent with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), it is the policy of Appalachian State University that no qualified individual with a disability in the United States shall be excluded from, denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity.
Who benefits
Accessibility efforts benefit all users!
- Power assisted doors are necessary for individuals with mobility impairments. They also benefit a person carrying a bulky item or an individual pushing a stroller.
- Captioning not only helps those who are hard of hearing/deaf to access audio information, but can reinforce verbal material and increase comprehension for ESL learners, non-traditional students, and visual learners.
- Websites with clear, consistent and organized design will benefit individuals using screen readers. They also allow easier navigation and are more visually appealing to everyone.