Website Accessibility Policy

Halifax Solutions is committed to providing persons with disabilities an opportunity equal to that of persons without disabilities to participate in all programs, benefits, and services, including those delivered through electronic and information technology, except where doing so would impose an undue burden or create a fundamental alteration. Halifax Solutions is further committed to ensuring persons with disabilities are able to acquire the same information, engage in the same interactions, and enjoy the same benefits and services within the same timeframe as persons without a disability, with substantially equivalent ease of use; that they are not excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or otherwise subjected to discrimination in any programs, services, and activities delivered online, as required by Section 504 and Title II of the ADA and their implementing regulations; and that they receive effective communication of any programs, services, and activities delivered online.
   
Halifax Solutions adopts this policy to fulfill this commitment and affirm its intention to comply with the requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. Section 794, 34 C.F.R. Part 104, and Title II of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. Section 12131 and 28 C.F.R. Part 35 in all respects.

Halifax Solutions is committed to ensuring accessibility of its website for members of the community with disabilities. All pages on the Halifax Solutions website will conform to the W3C Web Accessibility Initiative’s (WAI) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, Level AA conformance, or updated equivalents of these guidelines.

Website Accessibility

With regard to the Halifax Solutions website and any official web presence which is developed by, maintained by, or offered through third party vendors and open sources, Halifax Solutions is committed to compliance with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 and Title II so that members of the public with disabilities are able to independently acquire the same information, engage in the same interactions, and enjoy the same benefits and services within the same timeframe as those without disabilities, with substantially equivalent ease of use; and that they are not excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or otherwise subjected to discrimination in any Halifax Solutions programs, services, and activities delivered online.

All existing web content produced by the Halifax Solutions, and new, updated and existing web content provided by third-party developers, will conform to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, Level AA conformance, or updated equivalents, by 09-01-2018. This Regulation applies to all new, updated, and existing web pages, as well as all web content produced or updated by Halifax Solutions or provided by third-party developers.

Website Accessibility Concerns, Complaints and Grievances

A member of the public who wishes to submit a complaint or grievance regarding a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 or Title II related to the accessibility of any officia Halifax Solutions web presence that is developed by, maintained by, or offered through Halifax Solutions, third party vendors and/or open sources may complain directly to the webmaster. The initial complaint or grievance should be made using Website Accessibility Complaint/Request Form, however, a verbal complaint or grievance may be made. When the webmaster receives the information, they shall immediately inform the website compliance coordinator.

Whether or not a formal complaint or grievance is made, once Halifax Solutions has been notified of inaccessible content, effective communication shall be provided as soon as possible to the reporting party to provide access to the information. The Complainant should not have to wait for the investigation of the complaint to be concluded before receiving the information that he/she was unsuccessful in accessing.

Complaints should be submitted in writing, via email, or by completing the website complaint form. To file a complaint or grievance regarding the inaccessibility of Halifax Solutions public website content, the Complainant should submit the website feedback form.

The formal ADA non-compliance complaint should include the following:

  • Name
  • Address
  • Date of the Complaint
  • Description of the problem encountered
  • Web address or location of the problem page
  • Solution desired
  • Contact information in case more details are needed (email and phone number)

The complaint or grievance will be investigated by the website compliance coordinator. The member of the public shall be contacted no later than five (5) working days following the date the website accessibility compliance coordinator receives the information. The procedures to be followed are:

  • An investigation of the complaint shall be completed within fifteen (15) working days. Extension of the timeline may only be approved by the website accessibility compliance coordinator.
  • The investigator shall prepare a written report of the findings and conclusions within five (5) working days of the completion of the investigation.
  • The investigator shall contact the Complainant upon conclusion of the investigation to discuss the findings and conclusions and actions to be taken as a result of the investigation.
  • A record of each complaint and grievance made pursuant to Governing Board Policy shall be maintained at the Halifax Solutions office. The record shall include a copy of the complaint or grievance filed, report of findings from the investigation, and the disposition of the matter.