Web Accessibility
Who We Serve
Mason’s web developers, content managers, IT personnel, teaching faculty, staff, purchasing requestors, etc. Anyone in the Mason community involved in the development, purchase or implementation of technology on campus has a role in web accessibility!
What is Web Accessibility?
Web Accessibility means that people with disabilities can perceive, navigate, understand, interact and contribute to the web. Assistive technologies can be used by people with disabilities to access the web. However, the web is not always compatible with these technologies or coded to the accessibility standards. The ATI is here to help you determine whether your website or computer applications are accessible and to ensure that people with disabilities have comparable access to all electronic information provided by George Mason University. A Mason website is defined as:
- Any URL ending in “gmu.edu” and/or is related to the University by vendor development
- Contains the official Mason logo
- Contains added content by a Mason employee
Our Process
For more information about our web accessibility testing process, please visit Web Accessibility Testing.
Mason’s Web Accessibility Standards
Mason refers to the accessibility standards specified in Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) 2.0, appropriately tailored to the specific circumstances of the University. The WCAG 2.0 Standards are set by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). The mission of W3C is to lead the web to its full potential which includes accessibility.
The ATI is charged with developing a plan for institutional coordination and reform to support web accessibility at the post-secondary level. Whether you are a web developer, faculty member or staff, you have a part in Mason’s plan for web development. Visit the Roles and Responsibilities section to see how you fit into maintaining these standards.
A Personal Look at Web Accessibility in Higher Ed
View the video below for a student and faculty perspective on web accessibility in higher education.