Web Accessibility Policy (ADA Compliance)
Purpose:
Meridian Health Clinic (“MHC”) has always been committed to providing equal, or effectively equal, access for all visitors to its website and facilities. The purpose of this Policy is to clarify MHC’s commitment to provide equal, or effectively equal, access for all users of its official web resources. Official MHC web resources include, but are not limited to, websites, web applications, and digital media delivered through the web to conduct MHC’s activities. Web resources also include those purchased from or delivered by vendors. This Policy does not apply to personal web resources published employees of MHC that are not used to conduct business or related activities.
This Policy aligns with:
- Our commitment for a hospitable welcome environment that affirms the worth of the individual and the dignity of the individual;
- MHC’s legal obligations under applicable law, including Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
Standards:
MHC utilizes the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) technical standards for achieving accessibility under this Policy. Specifically, MHC strives to measure compliance against the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA and Web Accessibility Initiative Accessible Rich Internet Applications Suite (WAI-ARIA) 1.1 techniques for web content. Though not required by law, these guidelines shall be referred to collectively as the “Accessibility Standards” in this Policy.
Information Technology, Marketing Communications, and all academic areas and administrative departments shall be required to retroactively improve and create sites in compliance with WCAG 2.1, Level AA guidelines. If MHC becomes aware that institutional websites created by vendors or staff that are maintained outside the official MHC website, and not monitored or controlled by MHC, are in violation of this Policy, the website owner will be notified to correct any compliance issues found. MHC also maintains a reporting page on its website to collect any such accessibility challenges that may be apparent to its community.
Implementation:
All new web resources, or revisions to existing web resource, are subject to this Policy following its implementation date. Staff responsible for managing web resources shall regularly assess its current resources and develop a plan for replacing or remediating existing web resources that do not meet the Accessibility Standards as defined by this Policy within a reasonable period of time.
Access and Training:
Effective the implementation date of this Policy, all individuals who develop or publish to MHC’s web resources shall participate in a required web accessibility compliance-training program for continued access to develop and publish web content on any MHC domain. Failure to successfully complete all required trainings may result in the suspension of an individual’s ability to develop and publish to MHC’s web resources.
Exceptions:
MHC’s understands that exceptions to the Policy may be necessary when staff discover that meeting the Accessibility Standards is not technically feasible or may require extraordinary measures due to the nature of the information or the purpose of the technology being used. Information Technology and the Office of Accessibility, will assess whether satisfying the Accessibility Standards will fundamentally alter the course or benefit at issue. Similarly, if cost is at issue, these departments will determine whether it potentially constitutes an undue burden to satisfy the Accessibility Standards. If there exists a technical challenge to satisfying the Accessibility Standards, MHC will strive to provide equally effective alternative access to the extent practicable. A request for an exception to this Policy must be submitted to Information Technology and/or Office of Accessibility for approval.
Complaints:
Complaints related to the enforcement of this Policy should be addressed to the Office of Accessibility, which can be reached at our Contact page.
Violations:
MHC’s web resources in violation of this Policy will be referred to Information Technology & the Office of Accessibility for assistance with remediation or replacement. Remediation may include removal of the resource until the resource is able to demonstrate compliance with this Policy.