Background

On August 5, 2016 the NYS Education Department (NYSED) entered into a resolution agreement with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights as a result of their determination that the NYSED’s website has deficiencies which make certain pages inaccessible to students and adults with disabilities. This agreement is a reaffirmation of the NYSED’s commitment to ensuring all people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to participate in our benefits, programs, and services, including its electronic services.

The resolution requires the NYSED to audit and remediate all website content and web applications that are not compliant with the technical accessibility standards set forth in the agreement. Additionally, all staff responsible for creating and publishing web content and developing web applications will be required to attend annual accessibility training. The NYSED must also implement processes and systems of accountability to ensure the accessibility of all online content and functionality on an on-going basis.