Accessibility Statement

Accessibility Statement for the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) Website

The Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible website experience for everyone.  CCAC strives to provide positive user experiences for all website visitors and continually improve the accessibility of online content. CCAC’s accessibility commitment is guided by the college’s strategic goal of becoming a more supportive, caring, and inclusive college.

Our Commitment

CCAC is committed to adhering to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA, which outlines best practices for making online content more accessible for individuals with a disability.  

CCAC is further committed to ensuring that its website is in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (34 C.F.R. Part 104) and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (28 C.F.R. Part 35).

CCAC Guidelines

  • Engaging in interval audits, web page scans, and testing by professionals with disabilities to continually assess and improve the accessibility of the CCAC website
  • Investing in accessibility training for our web team to ensure that our web developers, designers, and other team members are knowledgeable and follow best practices for accessibility
  • Developing standard guidelines and providing procedures for adhering to the WCAG 2.1, Level AA guidelines
  • Leveraging the accessibility tools available through our web hosting company to run periodic scans to improve accessibility
  • Developing a standard website style guide that presents the college community with design standards that meet accessibility requirements

Accessibility Features

  • Straightforward navigation and consistent layout
  • Alternative text for non-text content (images, videos)
  • Keyboard navigation
  • Appropriate color contrast and scalable text
  • Responsive design for various devices and screen readers
  • Closed captioning for all videos created by CCAC
  • Uses of plain language, avoiding figures of speech
  • Proper use of headings throughout the site
  • Use of descriptive links
  • Logical tab order and visible focus indicators
  • Content structured with ARIA landmarks and semantic HTML compatibility with screen readers and other assistive technology
  • Skip nav/skip to main content links are available for screen readers and keyboard users to bypass repetitive navigation
  • PDFs on webpages are accessible with properly tagged structure and readable text, ensuring both WCAG and PDF/UA compliance
  • Forms are properly labeled with clear instructions and error messages
  • Avoid use of flashes or seizure-inducing content

Third Party Content

While we strive to make all content on our website accessible, some content or services may originate from third-party providers. This includes but is not limited to embedded videos, digital forms, flip books, Help Center articles, or content hosted on external websites.

We recognize that we do not have complete control over the accessibility of these third-party elements. However, we actively seek to collaborate with vendors and service providers who share our commitment to digital accessibility. When feasible, we provide accessible alternatives or links to resources. The Help Center has more information about the third-party content on the CCAC website.

Ongoing Efforts

CCAC actively monitors, assesses, and improves the website's accessibility. It regularly conducts accessibility audits, staff training, and user testing to ensure that the digital content remains accessible and inclusive.

Any member of the college community, guest or third party who has experienced or observed digital accessibility barriers should report concerns to CCAC’s Civil Rights Compliance Officer who serves as the designated ADA/Section 504 Coordinator: 

Alyssa Pietropaolo, J.D.

You may also use the College's Barrier Report Form to report any accessibility barriers or difficulties navigating any CCAC physical or digital space.  

Reports relating to discrimination or harassment on the basis of disability and/or denial of disability accommodation should be reported using the College’s online reporting system. 

The online reporting form, which can be submitted anonymously, is linked here.

Grievance Procedures

Individuals who believe they have been denied access to CCAC’s digital content due to a disability may also file a grievance pursuant to the College’s Section 504/ADA grievance procedure, available under the Civil Rights and Sexual Misconduct Reporting and Response Procedure. 

Additional Accessibility Resources

Disability Resources and Services

College Accessibility