STATE OF VERMONT …

                                      STATE OF VERMONT
                                      Agency of Administration

           POLICY MANUAL
                                                     ORIGINAL POLICY            ORIGINAL POLICY
                    STC                                 ADOPTED                 NUMBER
                                                         BY STC
STATE TECHNOLOGY COLLABORATIVE
                                                  DATE
                                                                                     ASSOCIATED
                                                      EFFECTIVE DATE              DOCUMENTATION:
                                                                                   Web Foundation and
                                                                                   enhanced standards


STATUTORY REFERENCE
OR OTHER AUTHORITY:             Existing Federal Accessibility Standards:

                The Access Board: http://www.access-board.gov/

                Federal "Section 508" Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Standards for
                Web-based Intranet and Internet Information and
                Applications:(http://www.section508.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Content&ID=12#Web )

                World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 1.0
                (http://www.w3.org/TR/WAI-WEBCONTENT/)

                Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C.A, Section 12101, et. seq. See also 28CFR
                35.160.

APPROVAL DATE:

APPROVED BY:                    Secretary of Administration

POLICY TITLE:                   Web Accessibility Requirements

PURPOSE:                        The purpose of this policy is to establish the State of Vermont's
                                accessibility requirements for public access to web-based information
                                available on websites of all three branches of Vermont State Government
                                including all state agencies and departments and state sponsored
                                organizations including all boards and councils.

POLICY STATEMENT:               It is the policy of the State of Vermont to ensure that people with hearing,
                                visual and other disabilities have equal access to public information that
                                has been made available by the state on the World Wide Web. It is the
                                direct responsibility of the managing entities of all state web sites to be
                                knowledgeable of the guidelines for achieving universal accessibility.
                                These guidelines shall be reflected in the design and creation of all
                                official State of Vermont web-based information resources.

SCOPE:                          This policy is intended for use by all web authors, web application
                                developers, content contributors and contractors creating or maintaining
                                web pages for the State. The basic concepts should be understandable
                                by anyone with a general familiarity with web technologies. Knowledge of
                                Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) and related web languages will help
                                in fully understanding the associated Standards and Guidelines.
                                Exceptions to accessibility standards mat be noted for internet mapping
                                (GIS) and engineering design (CAD) web based applications.
Policy:

The State of Vermont has adopted Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and the World Wide Web
Consortium's (W3C) Web Accessibility Initiative standards and guidelines as the benchmark to meet the
objective of achieving universal accessibility for state web sites. All State of Vermont web sites shall be
designed to meet or exceed all Section 508 requirements and all Web Content Accessibility Guideline
(WCAG) Priority 1 checkpoints and Priority 2 and 3 checkpoints as needed .

Many of the WCAG Checklist of Checkpoints for Web Content Accessibility are incorporated into Section
508 of the Rehabilitation Act, which establishes accessibility standards for federal agencies. To comply
with the intent of the Web Accessibility Policy, agencies should:

    o     Satisfy all Section 508 Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Standards (Subpart B
          -- Technical Standards: Sec. 1194.22 Web-based intranet and internet information and
          applications)
    o     Satisfy all Priority 1 WCAG checkpoints.
    o     Implement Priority 2 and 3 checkpoints as needed, especially if the Web site uses tables, frames,
          or form controls.
    o     Create a logical tab order for navigation.
    o     Test and modify as needed with an accessibility evaluation and repair tool.

All state sponsored web sites shall comply with these requirements for new web pages developed
subsequent to the adoption of this policy. As existing web pages are updated, managing entities must
ensure that the updated pages meet these requirements. Full compliance with this policy is anticipated
with the implementation of a single state web portal or within three years of the effective date of this policy,
whichever comes first.

All state sponsored web development performed under contract shall comply with this policy. All web
development contracts shall include explicit provisions by which contractors will demonstrate compliance
with this policy through the use of standard tools for testing and verifying accessibility according to Section
508 and WCAG guidelines.

Enforcement

Any state sponsored web site found not to be in compliance will be notified of the requirement to develop a
plan for corrective action to bring their site into compliance including an agreed upon completion date for
remedial action. The Office of the CIO shall review and approve agency plans for achieving compliance
with this policy and standard and ensure that the agency or department meets the required goals.


APPROVED _________________________________________ _____________________________
         Secretary of Administration               Date