Introduction
As a response to the release of provincial legislation under the AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act), Trent University implemented the WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) 2.0 Level A international compliance standard for all Trent University website pages. This is in accordance with Section 14 of the Integrated Accessibility Standards.
This guide has been developed to help all website contributors conform to this standard so that they can provide compliant and accessible webpages and web content to everyone.
One of the key objectives of the guidelines is to ensure that websites and web content (including Word documents and PDFs) are directly accessible to as many people as possible, and capable of being represented in different forms to match different people's sensory, physical and cognitive abilities.
Compliance Requirements
Website accessibility falls within the information and communications standard of AODA. Section 14 states:
“Designated public sector organizations and large organizations shall make their internet websites and web content conform with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, initially at Level A by January 1, 2014 and increasing to Level AA by January 1, 2021.”
There are 3 levels:
- Level A: If your site isn’t up to this level, some people will find your site impossible to use.
- Level AA: If your site isn’t up to this level, some people will find it difficult to use.
- Level AAA: If your site isn’t up to this level, some people will not get the full impact.
» Compliance deadline
Scope
In the Fall of 2013 Trent University launched the brand new Trent University Durham website that was designed according to the WCAG 2.0 Level A standards. Currently the Trent University Marketing and Communications team is working towards a two-phased website redesign for the Peterborough campus. Phase one launched in the summer of 2014. Trent University strives to exceed legislation by ensuring that the current Peterborough website meets the WCAG 2.0 Level A standards for content that was published on the Trent University website on or after January 1, 2012, including PDF files and web-based applications that Trent University controls directly or through a contractual relationship that allows for modification of the product.
Websites in Trent University’s personal web space relating to personal website, groups, such as student clubs, for which Trent University does not control content do not fall under Trent University’s legal mandate to make its websites accessible. Still, Trent University employees and other groups using the Trent University’s personal web spaces are strongly encouraged to make their sites accessible in accordance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.
