Terms & Definitions

An automated software tool that scans digital content such as websites, documents or mobile apps to identify barriers that prevent people with disabilities from navigating or understanding them.

A descriptive attribute used to provide a textual description of charts, graphs, images and other visual elements on webpages or digital documents.

Web content that (1) was created before the effective compliance date of this policy, reproduces paper documents created before that date, or reproduces contents of other physical media created before that date; (2) is retained exclusively for reference, research, or record-keeping; (3) is not altered or updated after the date of archiving; and (4) is organized and stored in a dedicated area or areas clearly identified as being archived.

More information about archived web content

Any item, piece of equipment, software program, or product system that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of persons with disabilities. Examples include screen readers, screen magnifiers, speech recognition software, alternative keyboards, and refreshable Braille displays.

A version of web content that conforms to WCAG 2.1 Level AA and provides all the same information and functionality as the non-conforming content in the same or an alternate language, as defined by WCAG 2.1. Conforming alternate versions may only be used when it is not possible to make web content directly accessible due to technical or legal limitations.

Web content or content in mobile apps that is in the following electronic file formats: portable document formats (PDF), word processor file formats, presentation file formats, and spreadsheet file formats.

The practice of designing and developing websites, apps and digital content, so they are useable by everyone including people with visual, auditory, motor or cognitive disabilities. It ensures equal access for people using assistive technologies like screen readers, voice recognition, or screen magnifiers.

Information and sensory experience communicated to users through electronic means, including but not limited to web content, mobile applications, electronic documents, multimedia, and learning management systems (LMS).

A modification that would fundamentally change the nature of a service, program, or activity of a CSCU institution.

Software applications that are downloaded and designed to run on mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets.

The process that converts an image of text into a machine-readable text format.

Teaching, learning and research resources that reside in the public domain or have been released under intellectual property license that permits their free use and repurposing by others.

Content that was available prior to April 24, 2026.

Digital content that individuals with disabilities can access and use with substantially equivalent ease of use, timeliness, privacy, and independence as individuals without disabilities.

Digital content, applications, platforms, or services provided or made available by CSCU through contractual, licensing, or other arrangements with external vendors, contractors, or other entities.

Significant difficulty or expense in relation to the size, resources, and nature of the institution.

Any software that retrieves and presents web content for users. Examples include web browsers, media players, and assistive technologies.

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1, Level AA, published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) on June 5, 2018.

(WCAG) 2.1 Level A and AA

The information and sensory experience to be communicated to the user by means of a user agent, including code or markup that defines the content’s structure, presentation, and interactions. Examples include text, images, sounds, videos, controls, animations, and conventional electronic documents.