In compliance with federal and State law, all District-sponsored programs, activities, meetings, and services will be accessible to individuals with disabilities, including persons with hearing, vision, and/or speech disabilities. When communicating in this context with students, families, applicants, participants, members of the public, and their companions with disabilities, the District will take appropriate steps to ensure that any communications are as effective as communications with persons who have no disabilities. Such steps will include furnishing in a timely manner appropriate auxiliary aids and services when necessary to afford an individual with a disability an equal opportunity to participate in, and enjoy the benefits of, programs, activities, meetings, or services conducted or sponsored by the District. The information contained within the District's website will be accessible to all individuals with disabilities. The accessibility of online content and functionality will be measured according to the World Wide Web Consortium's (W3C's) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and the Web Accessibility Initiative Accessible Rich Internet Applications Suite (WAI-ARIA) for web content.

When an IDEA-eligible or a Section 504-eligible student's disability impacts their hearing, vision or speech, the school will apply both a FAPE (free and appropriate public education) analysis and the effective communication requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Title II) in determining how to meet the student's communication needs and how to formulate the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP).

For families, applicants, participants, members of the public, and their companions, the District's website will provide information on how to request auxiliary aids and services, ask related questions, or raise concerns. When necessary and upon request, such information will also be provided in an accessible format for the requestor at no cost. When determining an appropriate auxiliary aid or service, the District or school will give primary consideration to the auxiliary aid or service specifically requested by the person with a disability.

For purposes of this policy, "auxiliary aids and services" include a wide range of services, devices, technologies, and methods for providing effective communication, and may include:

1. Effective methods of making aurally-delivered information available to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, such as:
   • qualified interpreters (on-site or through video remote interpreting services)
   • note-takers
   • real-time computer-aided transcription services ("CART")
   • written materials
   • accessible electronic and information technology
     
     
2. Effective methods of making visually-delivered information available to individuals with visual impairments, such as:
   • qualified readers
   • text to speech
   • audio recordings
   • Brailled materials and displays
   • screen reader software
   • large print materials
     
     
3. Effective methods of enabling a person with a speech disability to communicate with the school or District personnel, such as:
   • a word or letter board
   • writing materials
   • a qualified sign-language interpreter
   • telecommunication devices
     
     
4. Acquisition or modification of equipment or devices; and
   
   
5. Other similar services and actions.

Auxiliary aids and services will be provided for any school-initiated program, activity, meeting, or service. Individuals in need of auxiliary services should contact their child's school directly.

The Superintendent is granted the authority to develop procedures in order to implement this policy.

Adoption Date: June 28, 2016
Revised: January 8, 2018
Revised: March 14, 2022