[Cato] Question about digital vs print materials

Mon Jun 4 11:11:44 PDT 2018

Just a reminder - 508 doesn't apply to us.

Jess Thompson
Program Administrator, Accessible Technology Initiatives
Washington State Board for Community & Technical Colleges
p: 360.704.4327 | c: 253.229.8591
Current Projects<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KXjxctpTAa2R06iRksMrjaeiCkphAJzqkwX-awvJh9g/edit?usp=sharing> | AccessWA Blog<https://accesswa.blog> <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KXjxctpTAa2R06iRksMrjaeiCkphAJzqkwX-awvJh9g/edit?usp=sharing>

Keep in the accessibility loop by joining the CTC Accessibility listserv<https://goo.gl/forms/CP1GHPl6Pe1ipD6q1>!

________________________________
From: Cato <cato-bounces at lists.ctc.edu> on behalf of Ward Naf <wnaf at whatcom.edu>
Sent: Monday, June 4, 2018 10:55:01 AM
To: cato at lists.ctc.edu
Subject: [Cato] FW: Question about digital vs print materials

Good info one of my employees got from Feds

Ward Naf
IT Director
Whatcom Community College
(360) 383-3430

-----Original Message-----
From: Tye Durbin
Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2018 2:35 PM
To: Ward Naf <wnaf at whatcom.edu>; Catherine Clyde <CClyde at whatcom.edu>
Subject: FW: Question about digital vs print materials

Here is what I got back from an inquiry out to the government accessibility board.
It's good information we can refer to when training.
~TYE
________________________________________
From: Bailey, Bruce [Bailey at Access-Board.gov]
Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2018 2:19 PM
To: Tye Durbin
Cc: Section 508; 508
Subject: RE: Question about digital vs print materials

My apologies Tye for the delay in getting back to you on this.

Section 508 only applies to ICT, so hard copy forms and print media is not covered.  There could be implications for the service being provided under 504 or ADA.  That is, if a service is only available to people who can fill-in and mail back a paper form, then that probably is discriminatory.  But I am not going to address that larger issue with this email.

I am going to take the liberty to go through your email one line at a time:

> I am trying to track down information on the requirements for accessible documents, in relation to high education systems.

The most common requirements for accessible electronic documents is to use WCAG 2.0 Level AA.

> Our campus has several forms, documents, course materials that are created through digital means (Word, Publisher, InDesign, etc.) that are intended for print use only

The WCAG 2.0 Level AA success criteria work well as a means for assessing the accessibility of all electronic documents, regardless of source and destination format.  The intention that the documents be printed and consumed off-line is not really a factor.  If the documents can be viewed (read) on-screen, then the success criteria are applicable, and will can be used to assess the accessilbity of those forms, documents, and course materials.

If content is not designed for on-line interaction, then many of the WCAG success criteria would not be applicable.  The content would still need (for example) to have a logical reading order (for a screen reader user), sufficient color contrast, and alternative text for any images.  The success criteria relating to forms fields and controls would not be applicable, because the nature of the document is that a user prints and fills out the rectangles and lines with a pen or pencil.

> If the document is housed on a server, with access to 'print' the document, does the document have to meet all digital accessibility requirements

Yes, it is online content.   WCAG 2.0 Level AA would be applicable.

> is there a disclaimer that can be added to the document that it is intended as print only, it is not digitally accessible, but an equivalent version can be made available upon request?

No.  Providing a disclaimer or offering alternative versions upon request is not sufficient for meeting the 508 requirements, nor for satisfying WCAG 2.0.

>  Any guidance on this or links to further information would be greatly appreciated

Section 508 allows for equivalent facilitation and WCAG 2.0 allows for "conforming alternative versions".  If the print-only forms, documents, and course materials have accessible equivalence elsewhere on your website, you might not need to do anything other than note those additional resources.

--
Bruce Bailey
Accessibility IT Specialist
U.S. Access Board
1331 F Street NW, Suite 1000
Washington, DC  20004-1111
202-272-0024 (voice)
202-272-0070 (TTY)
202-272-0081 (Fax)
bailey at access-board.gov<mailto:bailey at access-board.gov>

Thank you for your questions concerning section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998.  Section 508 authorizes the Access Board to provide technical assistance to individuals and Federal departments and agencies concerning the requirements of this section.  Technical assistance provided in this email is intended solely as informal guidance; it is neither a determination of your legal rights or responsibilities, nor a statement of the official views of the U.S. Access Board or any other federal agency.  Any links to non-federal websites are provided as a courtesy and do not represent an endorsement of the linked information, products, or services.

From: phillip.crawford at gsa.gov [mailto:phillip.crawford at gsa.gov] On Behalf Of Section 508
Sent: Tuesday, January 30, 2018 10:16 AM
To: 508 <508 at Access-Board.gov>
Subject: Fwd: Question about digital vs print materials

Please see below email and provide assistance. Thank you.

GSA Section 508 Team
General Services Administration
Office of Government wide Policy

*Please allow 3 business days to receive a response.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Tye Durbin <tdurbin at whatcom.edu<mailto:tdurbin at whatcom.edu>>
Date: Fri, Jan 26, 2018 at 5:38 PM
Subject: Question about digital vs print materials
To: "section.508 at gsa.gov<mailto:section.508 at gsa.gov>" <section.508 at gsa.gov<mailto:section.508 at gsa.gov>>

Hello,
I am trying to track down information on the requirements for accessible documents, in relation to high education systems.
Our campus has several forms, documents, course materials that are created through digital means (Word, Publisher, InDesign, etc.) that are intended for print use only, so this is my question:
If the document is housed on a server, with access to 'print' the document, does the document have to meet all digital accessibility requirements or is there a disclaimer that can be added to the document that it is intended as print only, it is not digitally accessible, but an equivalent version can be made available upon request?
Any guidance on this or links to further information would be greatly appreciated, as I cannot find anything definitive one way or another.
Thank you for taking the time to assist me with this inquiry.
~TYE
Tye Durbin
LMS Admin/Instructional Technologist
WCC eLearning Department
tdurbin at whatcom.edu<mailto:tdurbin at whatcom.edu>
360.383.3278<tel:(360)%20383-3278>

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