Digital Accessibility Policy
Effective Date: June 15, 2026 | The Training Institute | Applies to: Academic & Instructional Technology
1. Purpose
The Training Institute is committed to equitable learning. We follow the principles of universal design, building tools and learning environments that work for as many people as possible from the start — without anyone having to ask for a special version or a workaround. Real equity depends on accessible Information and Communications Technology (ICT): the web pages, online applications, course content, services, and resources our learners rely on. This policy sets the minimum accessibility standards we hold ourselves to, so that our online experience is inclusive and consistent with the laws and regulations that apply to us.
Scope
This policy covers all Information and Communications Technology that The Training Institute uses to deliver instruction, recruit and inform prospective learners, and provide academic support — including our OSHA, MSHA, NFPA 70E, and HAZWOPER programs. It does not govern digital content of a personal or non-academic nature, nor content that learners themselves create and submit.
A note on language
There is no single agreed-upon way to talk about disability. Different members of the disability community prefer different terms, and those preferences reflect real differences in identity and lived experience. For that reason, this document deliberately uses both person-first language (for example, “a person with a disability”) and identity-first language (for example, “a Disabled learner”), so that we honor more than one perspective rather than imposing one.
2. Related Documents and References
This policy works alongside the following The Training Institute documents:
It is also informed by the following laws, regulations, and standards:
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
- The Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended (the ADA Amendments Act, or ADAAA)
- The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), together with W3C guidance on applying WCAG to non-web ICT
3. Definitions
For the purposes of this policy:
Accessibility Standard
The current W3C-published version of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). The Training Institute measures conformance against Level AA.
Accommodation
A change to the environment, the format of the material, or the equipment involved — tailored to an individual — that lets a person with a disability reach the content and complete the required tasks.
Equally Effective Alternative
Information or content offered in an accessible format or medium that gives a person with a disability the same opportunity to benefit, with comparable ease of use, as a person without a disability would have from the original.
Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
Web pages, web-based applications, online instructional content, services, and resources. ICT includes, but is not limited to:
- Web. Websites, web pages, and web-based software that The Training Institute publishes, hosts, or recommends to learners and uses for instruction, outreach, or academic support — including third-party-hosted sites and software.
- Instructional materials and assessments. Electronic course materials and assessments, whether optional or required and whether produced in-house or by a third party. This includes course outlines, readings, slide decks, handouts, quizzes, exams, learner communications, interactive activities, and any content delivered inside our learning platform.
- Other learner resources. The systems, electronic documents, and platforms used to support learners — for example, enrollment and payment systems, program records, scheduling, webinars and video conferencing, mobile features, and any documents, PDFs, presentations, or spreadsheets that are scanned, uploaded, posted, or otherwise distributed electronically.
- Electronic media. All multimedia — including video and audio — that The Training Institute uses to communicate with current learners, prospective learners, and program graduates.
4. Policy
The Training Institute is committed to keeping its resources accessible. Accessible material lets a Disabled person obtain the same information, take part in the same interactions, and use the same services as a person without a disability — in an equally effective way, with substantially equivalent ease of use and integration.
Accessibility standard
The Training Institute’s ICT is built and maintained to meet Level AA of the current version of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), published by the W3C, subject to the limited exceptions described below. Where a learner needs an accommodation to gain equitable access, they may request one by contacting us; we will respond promptly and work with the learner to arrange an effective alternative.
Legacy ICT
ICT that was deployed, modified, or purchased before January 1, 2025 and is still in active use for instruction, outreach, or academic support (“legacy ICT”) will be brought up to the Accessibility Standard either when a learner requests it or when the content next undergoes a substantial change or upgrade — whichever comes first.
Exceptions
The Training Institute maintains a defined exception process. In specific, documented circumstances, ICT that does not yet meet the Accessibility Standard may be used in the learning experience, provided an equally effective alternative is offered (see Section 5).
Reporting
The Training Institute provides a way for learners to flag accessibility barriers and ask for help. Concerns may be sent to [email protected].
Effective date
This policy takes effect on June 15, 2026, and reflects our ongoing commitment to bringing our ICT into and keeping it in conformance with the Accessibility Standard.
5. Procedures
Implementation
The Training Institute’s academic and instructional teams maintain working procedures that set out compliance timelines, the criteria and approval path for exceptions, how conformance is tested and evaluated, and the training and skill-building that keep our staff current on accessible practice.
Exceptions
An exception to this policy may be approved by a responsible academic leader (or their designee), and only after an accessibility evaluation or analysis has been reviewed. A request must show that meeting this policy’s requirements is either not technically feasible or would impose an undue burden. Grounds for an exception may include:
- Significant impact on the program. The ICT, though not fully accessible, offers a meaningful instructional advantage tied to The Training Institute’s mission and core values.
- No suitable alternative exists. After comparable products have been reviewed, no accessible option that meets the specific instructional or operational need is available.
Every approved exception must include both a plan to bring the ICT into conformance over time and an equally effective alternative (accommodation) plan, naming a point of contact responsible for carrying it out.
Reporting and complaints
Inaccessible ICT may be reported to [email protected]. A learner who believes they have experienced discrimination may also file a complaint under our Anti-Discrimination Policy.
