UB complies with laws and policies that require the accessibility of our programs, services and activities.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 requires colleges and universities to ensure that individuals with disabilities have equal access to UB's services, programs and activities -- both physical and electronic.
For physical access, this means that newer facilities must comply with the . Many UB campus buildings were constructed prior to accessibility guidelines and requirements. We are required to ensure that programs and activities scheduled in these buildings can be accessed regardless of whether an individual has a disability. This program access may be achieved through modifications to existing buildings or by relocating the program or activity to an accessible location.
Federal accessibility requirements also require that individuals with disabilities will have equal access to programs and services that are provided electronically. This includes the university's websites, online courses, electronic forms and other electronic content that is necessary to participate in school or work.
In 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice published updated regulations for Title II of the ADA. This rule includes specific requirements about how to ensure that web content and mobile applications are accessible to people with disabilities.
In addition, the rule sets WCAG 2.1 AA level as the specific technical standards that state and local governments must follow to meet their obligations under Title II.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a national law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance.
Specifically, Section 504 mandates that individuals with disabilities are given an equal opportunity to access program benefits or services, including websites and digital content.
Dear Colleague Letters are one of the primary ways to communicate guidance about Title II of the ADA. The U.S. Departments of Justice and Education have issued two Dear Colleague Letters related to digital accessibility.
Issued May 19, 2023, the most recent reminds colleges, universities and other postsecondary institutions to ensure that their online services, programs and activities are accessible to people with disabilities. This includes courses on learning platforms as well as podcasts and videos on social media and third-party platforms like YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. This joint letter reiterates that Title II of the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act require colleges, universities, and other postsecondary institutions to provide equal opportunities to people with disabilities in all their operations. The letter also highlights recent web accessibility enforcement activities and technical assistance from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.
The June 29, 2010 clarified that “individuals with disabilities, including students with visual impairments, may not be discriminated against in the full and equal enjoyment of all of the goods and services of private colleges and universities; they must receive an equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from these goods and services; and they must not be provided different or separate goods or services unless doing so is necessary to ensure that access to the goods and services is equally as effective as that provided to others.” According to this letter, individuals with disabilities must have equal access to goods and services that are offered electronically.
The New York State Accessibility of Information Communication Technology Policy "serves as Information Technology Services guidance required by State Technology Law (STL) Sections 103(20) and 103(21) regarding NYS Executive Law Section 170-f and STL Section 103-D, respectively."
"These laws require state agencies and each contractor, subcontractor, vendor, consultant, or other person providing services pursuant to a state contract conform any website provided to the most current version of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) adopted by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) for accessibility, or any successor guidelines."
This policy (revised, July 2022) explains the obligations of all university units to produce, maintain and procure electronic and information technology that is accessible to everyone, including individuals with disabilities. Included in the policy are accessibility standards when creating, maintaining, and procuring electronic hardware, software, websites and systems.
This State University of New York (SUNY) policy requires system administration and all SUNY campuses to develop, purchase, host and/or acquire, to the extent feasible, web pages, websites, hardware and software products and services that are accessible to persons with disabilities.
Exclusion from university programs and activities based on disability is a form of discrimination. The Discrimination and Harassment policy includes a description of how the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion investigates claims of discrimination, including issues of inaccessibility.
The University at Buffalo is committed to providing equal access to individuals with disabilities, including physical access to programs and reasonable accommodations for members of the university community.
The Snow Removal Plan and Procedure describes how UB plans and achieves snow removal, including priority access sites for ADA compliance.