Digital Accessibility
Bellevue College is committed to providing high-quality education in an accessible, inclusive, and equitable learning and working environment for the success of the diverse students, faculty, staff, and communities it serves. Accessibility work is ongoing, and this webpage serves as a hub for updates, resources, and training opportunities.
Employee Accessibility Live Support and Office Hours
Join us for open office hours in person and online to get help with accessibility specific questions.
Bellevue College seeks to take this commitment to the next level by ensuring conformance with digital technology accessibility standards, which involves making websites, apps, and other digital tools accessible to people with disabilities, primarily through adherence to state and federal regulations and conformance with W3C’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
Our goal is to advance greater accessibility for everyone within our BC community. These efforts will not only enhance our ability to serve our students more effectively but also ensure we meet the expectations of the updated federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II requirements and the updated WA State digital accessibility policy (USER-01).
The upcoming Title II and USER-01 changes require that we all proactively ensure the accessibility of communications, website content, course materials, and other technology used by our campus community. The updated Title II requirements are scheduled to go into effect starting April 26, 2027. USER-01 introduces additional requirements around training and additional categories of systems, effective July 1, 2029.
While these changes are going to be a work in progress for all of us as we endeavor to meet the expectations that have been laid out, we are continually focused on our Bellevue College’s Vision to “empower every learner, regardless of background, to shape their future, improve their industries, and strengthen our community.” Title II will do this for our community as we will forever improve how we reach people through education.
Accessibility Training
A wide variety of required and optional training is available for Bellevue College employees, and additional specialized training is being developed.
Resources for Faculty and Staff
Beyond the training available above, the following resources and guides are available to help you navigate accessibility compliance.
Bellevue College operates under many accessibility laws, rules, and policies.
- ADA Title II
Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act requires accessibility of digital content used by the public or large portions of our campus community.- DOJ fact sheet: A high-level summary of the new rule provided by the Department of Justice.
- Final DOJ Rule: The full length rule on web and mobile app accessibility as published in the Federal Register.
- Section 508 Information
Section 508 requires accessibilty of digital content and systems in areas that receive federal funding - Washington State Technology Policy USER-01
USER-01 requires accessibilty of digital content and systems at WA state agencies, including higher education institutions. - Bellevue College Policy 5110
First approved in 2013, Policy 5110 requires accessibility in all technology services provided by Bellevue College.
Interactive eLearning has developed checklists for common accessibility practices. These guides are located on SharePoint, and will require you to log in with your BC NetID.
- Canvas Accessibility Checklist
- MS Word Accessibility Checklist
- MS PowerPoint Accessibility Checklist
- MS Excel Accessibility Checklist
- Video Accessibility Checklist
- Math Accessibility Checklist
- MS Email Accessibility Checklist
Additional guides are also available:
Minnesota State IT Services has compiled an excellent sent of ‘Digital Accessibility Quick Cards’, which provide guidance on how create accessible content in many different programs, including Acrobat, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook, and major social media networks. Explore Quick Cards from MN IT Services.
Bellevue College’s Interactive eLearning department provides extensive resources and training for faculty on making course materials accessible.
Overview of Digital Accessibility
Introduction to digital accessibility for faculty, including links to the many resources Interactive eLearning provides, including reference course shells, accessibility coaching, and numerous guides.
Videos used on the Bellevue College website must follow accessibility standards, including:
- Video with audio should include accurate synchronized captions, as well as a descriptive transcript. Note that auto-generated captions may not meet this requirement if they are not accurate.
- Video without audio should be accompanied by descriptive text or a transcript to allow blind and low-vision users to access the contents of the video.
- Videos with visual elements should also include audio descriptions of those elements for context.
- Avoid video that flashes or strobes faster than three times per second, especially if there is a high level of red, as this can trigger seizures in some people.
The most effective way to ensure accurate, compliant captioning and audio-description services is by utilizing a third-party captioning service. Digital Media Services can assist you with procuring these services; employees can submit a ticket to request assistance.
Bellevue College Publication and Style Guide
BC’s Style Guide provides accessibility resources guidance for website managers on how to create accessible content using our website’s content management system.
Training for Website Managers
Accessibility-focused training is required for website managers. This training is slightly different depending on what parts of the Bellevue College website you manage.
The How to Get Website Manager Training Knowledge Base Article will walk you through how to enroll in training best suited to your website.
Bellevue College’s Accessibility Taskforce
The Digital Accessibility Task Force is composed of faculty and staff representing departments and constituents across campus. The task force conducts an annual self-assessment of the current state of accessibility at the college and has formed a collection of working groups to address identified areas for improvement.
These workgroups include major focus areas, such as:
- Instruction
- Websites and Web Content
- Procurement of Information Technology Systems
- Training
- Communications
The Accessibility Taskforce is co-chaired by Agnes Figueroa and Taija Tevia-Clark, under the executive sponsorship of the Vice President of Information Technology Services.
Accessibility Communication Archive
Archive of communications sent to campus on behalf of the Accessibility Taskforce and associated Working Groups.