User Support
Support Center
Web ServicesWeb Accessibility
Illinois Board of Higher Education, Web Accessibility Consortium
For two years, WIU has been part of the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE), Web Accessibility Consortium. The consortium is managed out of the Illinois Center for Information Technology Accessibility, University of Illinois. Illinois Center for Information Technology Accessibility is located at the University of Illinois in Urbana/Champaign.
The Illinois Board of Higher Education, Web Accessibility Consortium played a key role in writing the technical standards supporting the Illinois Internet Accessibility Technology Act. Effective August 20, 2008, all public universities in the state of Illinois will be required to comply with the Illinois Information Technology Accessibility Act [Public Act 095-0307 (http://ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=095-0307)]. This law outlines specific web development protocols that must be followed by all of Illinois’s public four-year universities and mandates their creation of accessible web deployment. Web Services staff have been actively engaged in and understand the requirements of the Illinois Information Technology Accessibility Act. In addition, staff have been preparing to meet the technical and developmental expectations that are included in that law.
For information on the consortium see its website at: http://cita.disability.uiuc.edu/collaborate/illinois/. A full outline of the expectations of the Illinois Information Technology Accessibility Act may be found at a website hosted by the Illinois Department of Human Services at: http://www.dhs.il.state.us/iitaa. If you have questions regarding the Illinois Information Technology Accessibility Act please contact Web Services for further information.
Web Accessibility Committee
Web Services also works closely with the President’s Web Accessibility Committee to support the development of accessible websites at WIU.
http://www.wiu.edu/accessibility/
Please see the Web Services training link for announcements of workshops or resources that may help as you prepare to meet the Illinois Information Technology Accessibility Act mandate.
For information on why there is a need to provide accessible websites, you are invited to visit the Web AIM - Web Accessibility in Mind website at http://www.webaim.org/.
