Web Accessibility at Rhode Island College

Commitment to Accessibility

Rhode Island College is committed to providing websites and digital content that are accessible to all users, including individuals with disabilities. Accessibility is an ongoing effort, and we continuously work to improve the user experience for everyone. RIC strives to ensure that its websites, web applications, and digital content are accessible and usable by people with a wide range of abilities and assistive technologies. 

Accessibility Standards

Rhode Island College aims to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA, published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).

WCAG 2.1 builds upon earlier versions (WCAG 2.0) and includes additional guidance to improve accessibility for:

• users with low vision
• users with cognitive and learning disabilities
• keyboard-only users
• mobile and touch-screen users

Scope of Accessibility

This accessibility commitment applies to

• www.ric.edu and our.ric.edu (managed by Web Communications)
• other official RIC websites and web pages
• web-based applications and services
• online forms
• instructional and informational digital content
• multimedia content (video and audio), when feasible

Third-party content or systems not fully controlled by RIC may not fully meet accessibility standards; however, the College will work to address barriers when they are identified.

Creating Accessible Content

Content editors are asked to follow accessibility best practices when adding or updating content on www.ric.edu and our.ric.edu. However, it is important to note that these practices also apply to the digital accessibility standards currently being put in place across the college, per the New Rule on the Accessibility of Web Content and Mobile Apps Provided by State and Local Governments.

Key Accessibility Practices Include

Keyboard Accessibility

All interactive elements should be usable without a mouse.

Text Alternatives

Images must include meaningful alternative text (alt text).

Readable Text

Use clear language, proper headings, and sufficient color contrast.

Forms and Labels

Form fields should include associated labels and clear instructions.

Links

Link text should describe the destination (avoid “click here”).

Multimedia Accessibility

• videos should include captions
• audio content should include transcripts
• audio descriptions should be provided when necessary for understanding

Documents and PDFs

PDFs should be avoided, in favor of html-based content/platforms, to the fullest extent. When other document types are leveraged (such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) they should be housed on SharePoint, to automatically open in browser rather than forcing a download, and should be created using accessible formatting and tagging.

Accessibility Testing and Evaluation

RIC's Web Communications team uses a combination of:

• automated accessibility testing tools
• manual reviews
• keyboard navigation testing
• screen reader testing

Accessibility evaluations are conducted weekly, as part of website maintenance and updates.

Reporting Accessibility Issues

If you experience difficulty accessing any part of www.ric.edu and our.ric.edu, we want to hear from you. Please report accessibility barriers on these two sites to Carrie Miller, Director of Web Communications.

When reporting an issue, please include:

• the URL of the page
• a brief description of the problem
• the assistive technology or browser used (if applicable)

The web team will make reasonable efforts to respond in a timely manner and provide accessible alternatives where needed.

Accommodations and Support

Students, faculty, staff, and visitors who need accommodations or alternative formats may also visit the Center for Disability Access.

Accessibility is a shared responsibility, and Rhode Island College is committed to continuous improvement.

Last Updated

This page was last updated: January 2025