Purpose
The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) is committed to advancing the public’s health and well-being. To do this, ASTHO must ensure that there is equitable access to all information, products, and programs through the use of information technology (IT) for all audiences, internal and external. The purpose of this policy is:
- To ensure that all the digital resources and properties developed, maintained, procured, and employed by ASTHO should provide substantially similar information access to people with disabilities as it provides to others.
- To create a process through which accessibility training for staff is identified, developed, and disseminated.
- To create a process through which exceptions to the policy can be identified and approved.
- To determine governance for the continuing evolution of the organization’s IT accessibility policies and procedures.
Scope
This policy applies to all information and communications technology developed, maintained, procured, and employed by ASTHO for the benefit of ASTHO’s members, state and island jurisdiction public health workers, ASTHO employees, as well as the general public.
Policy
It is ASTHO’s policy that whenever possible, all information and technology developed, maintained, procured, and employed by the organization will meet or exceed the requirements set out in the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 508), as most recently amended. To ensure these requirements are met, ASTHO will use the most recent iteration of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), for guidance.
It is the responsibility of all ASTHO employees, partners, and contractors to maximize the accessibility of digital products.
Procedures and Guidelines
- ASTHO’s Office of the Deputy CEO and IT Department shall create a workgroup under whose purview IT and digital accessibility compliance shall fall.
- The workgroup shall develop an IT Accessibility Implementation Plan for the organization. The Implementation Plan will address granular procedures and details. It will touch on topics such as updates to existing content, budgetary considerations, and processes for including accessibility in new ASTHO products and content.
- The Implementation Plan shall be submitted to ASTHO’s Executive Leadership Team for approval and adoption.
- The workgroup shall oversee the governance, updates, and implementation of the IT Accessibility Policy and Implementation Plan.
- All policy updates are subject to the approval of ASTHO’s Deputy CEO.
- The workgroup shall provide training, resources, and guidance for organization staff on compliance with this policy.
- The workgroup shall meet at least twice a year to conduct an accessibility review of ASTHO digital products.
- If any products are found to be out of compliance, the relevant team will be notified and asked to apply for an exception or update their product to bring it into compliance.
- Any team or individual seeking an exception, whether on a specific or categorical basis, will submit an exception request to the workgroup, which will be accompanied by an alternative access plan or an explanation for why such an alternative is not possible.
- This policy will be reviewed:
- Every five (5) years, ahead of a new Bundle submission.
- Any time there is an update to relevant federal laws (including ADA and Section 508).
- Any time the WC3 significantly updates WCAG standards.
- This policy shall be considered in effect once adopted by ASTHO’s Deputy CEO and presented to the organization.
Policy History
- Deputy CEO review and approval: Nov. 20, 2023
- Presented to the organization: Jan. 12, 2024
Contact
Emily Lapayowker, ASTHO IT Department