Accessibility First
Teachers College (TC) is committed to ensuring that all individuals, including people with disabilities, have an equitable opportunity to participate in all College programs, services, and activities including those delivered through digital environments.
The College also complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, and other federal, state, and local laws regarding disabilities. With this commitment, and with the knowledge that accessible digital content and tools enhance usability for everyone, the College has established a Digital Accessibility Policy. This policy aims to make TC’s digital environments accessible and to fulfill the College’s mission and values of an inclusive and accessible experience for all members of the community.
Digital accessibility helps create an inclusive environment at TC because it allows all individuals, not just those with disabilities, to fully participate independently in College activities—without experiencing barriers. This is especially important as digital spaces are becoming increasingly essential to participation in social and educational experiences.
Along with this policy, The Office of Access and Services for Individuals with Disabilities (OASID), Office of Diversity & Community Affairs (ODCA), Digital Futures Institute (DFI), Office of the Provost, Office of Digital Campus Infrastructure and Teachers College Information Technology (TCIT) are jointly launching a campaign called Accessibility First. Accessibility First is focused on digital inclusivity at the beginning of all digital media processes, such as creating Canvas content, web pages, videos, documents and procuring software, rather than as a reaction to needs that arise. By thinking about accessibility earlier, we can save time and resources and build an accessible and inclusive digital space more efficiently.
Accessibility First will help support the rollout of the Policy, educate the community about digital accessibility and ensure that access is considered from the beginning of all TC related work, academics, activities and initiatives. This campaign includes the TC Digital Accessibility Website which contains additional information, training and resources related to digital accessibility at TC.
Statement contributors: The Office of Access and Services for Individuals with Disabilities (OASID), Office of Diversity & Community Affairs (ODCA), Digital Futures Institute (DFI), Digital Campus Infrastructure, Office of the Provost, and Teachers College Information Technology (TCIT)