Introduction

Article 47 of Law No. 2005-102 of February 11, 2005 for equal rights and opportunities, participation and citizenship of people with disabilities makes it obligatory for any online public communication service to be accessible to all. . As such, each digital service must publish a page announcing its level of accessibility as well as the multi-year accessibility plan broken down into an annual action plan. This document recalls the context in which this new Multiannual Digital Accessibility Plan begins and describes the general ambitions, the implementation and the resources which will be allocated from September 2022 to September 2025.

Context and history 2018 – 2019

A proactive policy

Since the end of 2018, digital accessibility has been supported at the University of Reunion Island through an increasingly proactive policy.

This began at the end of 2018 with an allocation of budgetary resources, via SOURCE – the Operational Plan of the University of La Réunion backed by the Establishment Contract – (€18) with a supplement from own funds (€000) for a total of 7 euros intended for the site audit https://www.univ-reunion.fr and necessary corrections.

A strengthening of human resources followed with the hiring in September 2019 of a digital accessibility referent, in the person of Mr. Pierre Reynaud, who brings to the establishment his expertise of around twenty years in this area as well as its user experience with a disability. The team continued to expand in September 2020 with the arrival of a ½ FTE with a technician profile dedicated to support and audit.

By creating the Audiovisual, Multimedia and Digital Accessibility Department (DAMAN) in February 2020 with the Web and Digital Accessibility Service (SWAN), governance is sending a strong signal to the university community about its ambitions in this area. .

As soon as the third member of the Web and Digital Accessibility Service arrives, skills are upgraded, via audit training, then web quality certification (OPQUAST). The University of Reunion thus has a team capable of evaluating the quality of its digital tools.

The first actions

Institutional site

Thanks to the SOURCE and the budgetary supplement from own funds, an operation to bring the site into compliance www.univ-reunion.fr began in mid-2019.

A first audit carried out by the Koena company makes it possible to note the non-compliance of the site and to prioritize the corrective measures envisaged, starting with the most blocking points.

Throughout 2020, fixes will be produced by two different service companies and a control audit will be carried out in October of the same year.

This audit is co-carried out by the Koena company and the 3 newly trained University staff, with supervision from the Koena company.

If the assembly remains non-compliant, the Koena company adds the following statement in the preamble to the accessibility declaration:

“The results of the audit poorly reflect in any case the notable improvement in the accessibility of the website, which was barely usable in April 2019, and access to which is now made possible for many users. We note in particular the following improvements:

• Improved keyboard navigation and focus visibility for people navigating with keyboards or using assistive technologies,
• Setting up avoidance links,
• Improvement of the news carousel now usable on the keyboard and screen reader in particular (control, contrast and identification of buttons),
• Improved video player (keyboard control),
• Improved contrasts, notably header and footer elements as well as links,
• Improved the presentation of the search engine results page (new presentation of filters),
• Modification in the TYPO3 software managing the site contents to allow the identification of iframes.”

Thus, the level of compliance remains very unsatisfactory, but the level of accessibility has been able to make a leap forward.

Information and awareness

Conferences and webinars

Upon arrival, the digital accessibility referent organizes digital accessibility awareness operations, for example in November 2019 the conference on digital accessibility and technological innovations for people with disabilities, translated into French sign language (LSF).

The 2020 pandemic is an opportunity to take an interest in the webinar format:

• Impact of digital accessibility in the professional environment (LSF version)
• Inclusive educational continuity(LSF version)

These two events will be translated into French sign language and subtitled. a posteriori, and a textual transcription will accompany their posting on our website, thus offering these digital objects a level AAA (or triple A), the maximum possible in terms of accessibility, while French law only requires a level AA (or double A).

Staff training

• Web quality training, 3 days, 2 people (SWAN)
• Accessibility training for developers, 5 days (7 people Information System Department – ​​DSI + 1 SWAN)
• Training in the production of accessible content 3 days, 12 people (6 DAMAN, 4 Directorate of Innovation and Educational Engineering – D2IP, 2 Indian Oceanic Digital Institute – IIN)

A first multi-year digital accessibility plan (SPAN)

In December 2020, a first SPAN was written by the digital accessibility referent and the head of the web and digital accessibility service, while waiting to be able to organize a real project at the establishment level.

• The actions undertaken in 2021 and 2022 in accordance with this SPAN are restricted to the activities of the web and digital accessibility service:
• Organization of 10 remote digital accessibility awareness sessions bringing together more than 120 University staff.
• Creation of distance learning and tutored training for writing accessible web pages with the TYPO3 tool. This format can accommodate around twenty people per session and takes place in two stages:
  • Presentation of digital accessibility and the web writing tool, then application via a tutored exercise. The learner watches videos which guide them step by step through the exercise and asks the tutor questions.
  • Review of the exercise and the first moments of using the TYPO3 software 7-10 days after the initial training.
• Organization of these sessions (3 between the end of 2021 and 2022).
• Raising awareness of digital accessibility via webinars with simultaneous translation into sign language and live velotyping on the Youtube channel of the University :
  • Digital accessibility, an asset for professional inclusion!
  • Digital, everyone responsible for successful professional inclusion
  • Webinar: “FALC, a magic tool? »
• Increase in skills of the digital accessibility referent for the strategic management of digital accessibility via ad-hoc advanced training.

Span 2022 – 2025: Roadmap

Methodology

In February 2022, the strategic action to create a Multi-annual Digital Accessibility Plan or SPAN was launched by the deputy vice-president for digital uses and development, in co-management with the digital accessibility referent.

This operation extends over three and a half months, including the drafting of this document. The SPAN of the University of Reunion was built on:

• 16 interviews lasting an average of one hour each to establish the most exhaustive inventory possible;
• support from an expert company for the organization and running of the Steering Committees (Copil) and the drafting of summary documents;
• 4 Copil involving 15 people on average from cross-functional departments and services (digital, human resources, finance and accounting, legal, IT, digital pedagogy, university libraries, communication, student representatives, etc.). Governance of course also contributed to the sessions through the participation of the vice-presidencies which work in particular in the areas in which SPAN is called upon to play a role. The Copil's work was spread over a period of two and a half months;
• the construction of a forecast budget;
• a detailed document, co-constructed from data and reflections from the different departments and services present;
• strong support from governance in the organization of the system.

General ambition

After an inventory (see Annexe 1) carried out with digital stakeholders, the human resources department, the finance and accounting department, and the common documentation service, the project team worked on an initial costing based on total compliance in relation to current legal obligations. The amount required for this scenario amounts to more than 1,3 million euros, a budget that is difficult to achieve under current conditions. This is why the team then worked on another scenario based on prioritizing the compliance of the services most used by the University of Reunion community.

For this, a focus guided by uses was made, concentrating on critical elements for all users whether they are students, staff, teachers, teacher-researchers or the general public, as well as on a student user journey and finally on processes for producing accessible documents and content, with a component of increasing the skills of all contributors and content producers.

The resulting SPAN is thus divided into two parts:

• an application component (Annexe 1) with compliance on the following services:
  • most used institutional communications sites (institutional site, university library and intranet)
  • student career applications: find out about the training offerings, register at the university, consult your timetable, your academic record, use the online course platform
  • OSE app for teachers.
• a training component (Annexe 1) aimed at all potential content producers, whether they are administrative staff, teachers or teacher-researchers.

For this last component, particular attention will be paid to the accessibility of publications on social networks.

Organization and implementation

Human resources

The University of Reunion created in February 2020 a Department of Audiovisual, Multimedia and Digital Accessibility (DAMAN) including a service specifically dedicated to the web: the Web and Digital Accessibility Service (SWAN). This service promotes digital accessibility within the establishment with the support of governance.

The University of Reunion devotes a total of its resources to digital accessibility 1,55 ETP (full-time equivalent) distributed among 3 people.

Financial and additional resources

Le Fund for the Integration of Disabled People into the Public Service (FIPHFP) provides a maximum of 10 euros / year for training aimed at improving accessibility. The establishment has been using this source of funding since 2020 and hopes to continue on this path in the future.

This organization also grants a one-off envelope (one time only) of 30 000 euros for diploma and certification training. This envelope will be used to primarily certify web players at the University of Reunion, namely:

• the DIRCOM (4 people)
• The DSI (5 people, those belonging to the IS)
• Webmaster profiles (5 people, BU, IUT, ESIROI, IAE, INSPE, DFTLV)
• The DAMAN PROD department and all its managers (5 people)

15 OPQUAST certification coupons are available and will have been used in full in 2023.

The partnership with the Regional Plan for the Integration of Disabled Workers (PRITH) will also be continued. It can finance the provision of AAA (triple A) accessibility to the establishment's live and recorded webinars (French sign language and velotyping).

Supporting the disability master plan (SDH)

The disability master plan (SDH) was built by the various actors of the University during the second half of 2021 and validated by the Board of Directors in December of the same year. Axis 3, called “accessibility”, includes a sub-axis, “digital accessibility”, with a breakdown of the actions envisaged over 5 years (Annexe 1 for major routes).

For staff with disabilities, an agreement was signed with the FIPHFP for 3 years. An amount of 22 000 euros on own funds was taken in order to improve the accessibility of digital tools for internal use. They must be spent before March 31, 2024.

Technical lessons

The deputy vice-president for digital uses and development and the digital accessibility referent co-manage the strategy concerning digital accessibility at the University of Reunion, including it in the establishment's strategy.

Two steering committees will meet each year for the strategic management of digital accessibility.

At the end of each year, a review of the annual plan for the current year is published and the plan for year n+1 is revised based on the achievements of year n.

Each year, an establishment budget is earmarked for the realization of the SPAN.

Accessibility diagnosis methodology

The number of tools and services that remain to be evaluated is significant, so it is planned to set up a tool that will be able to produce an initial automatic diagnosis. This type of audit only covers 20% to 40% of the criteria (from 2023).

The SWAN team is setting up, with the support of an expert company, a methodology applied to the express audit of digital tools (2023).

For priority tools and sites, complete audits will either be co-conducted by SWAN and a service provider, or entirely carried out by a service provider.

Thanks to the automatic diagnostic tool and targeted and regular express audits, quality control on the basis of indicators can be produced. Corrective actions in the event of observed deterioration of digital accessibility can then be taken quickly.

External support is envisaged for the complete audits and complex diagnostics which will have to be carried out.

Integration of digital accessibility into projects and public procurement procedures

Digital accessibility is present:

• in the specifications
• in contractual clauses (calls for tenders),
• in the rating and selection criteria of service providers
• in the quotation procedures,
• and, where applicable, in the agreements established with operators, delegatees or partners.

In projects

The objectives of accessibility and compliance with the RGAA will be recalled from the start of the projects, of which they will constitute an important transversal axis and a basic requirement: this integration being facilitated by measures to raise awareness of digital accessibility and the gradual increase in skills agents.

In the same way, these objectives and these requirements will be recalled in any agreements established with the operators, delegatees or partners of the University of Reunion.

If user tests are organized during the design or development of a digital project, the user panel must include people with disabilities. These tests are intended to identify the main blockages and prioritize the improvements to be made.

Procurement procedures

Digital accessibility and compliance with the RGAA constitute a binding clause and participate in the evaluation of the quality of a service provider's offer when ordering work through calls for tender in particular.

The procedures for developing contracts as well as the rules for evaluating applications will be adapted to take into account the requirements of compliance with the RGAA.

The IT services which will be offered to the University of Reunion as part of calls for tenders and use of external IT service providers must comply with the legal and regulatory texts concerning digital accessibility, and follow the requirements of the RGAA in its latest version.

The University of Reunion Island thus wishes to enable the integration of digital accessibility into its contractual clauses (calls for tenders and quotes), which notably includes rating and selection criteria for IT services.

Quality and skills criteria in digital accessibility will thus be taken into account in the tender and quote procedures, as well as a commitment to compliance of the IT services provided with the digital accessibility standards in force.

Furthermore, particular attention will be paid to the accessibility of distance training which could be offered and provided by external service providers.

Generally speaking, all deliverables will be checked using the diagnostic methods listed above.

Skills management

For current staff

SWAN, supported for some of its actions by external partners (interministerial, associative, private), is responsible for advancing digital accessibility in the establishment. Thus, it must:

• to acculturate the university community;
• to inform managers and governance in particular;
• to train digital players, contributors and content producers.

To these ends, in collaboration with the skills development department of the HR department, each year it develops a training plan for staff on the theme of digital accessibility.

The digital accessibility referent intervenes in instances whenever necessary.

For new staff

For digital players and more particularly web development, integration and writing professions, digital accessibility skills will be part of the selection criteria for the allocation of new positions and will therefore be part of the required skills. on the job description.

The Span: figures and calendar

A greater internal effort is planned initially, with a gradual increase in external support over the 3 years of the 2022-2025 multi-year plan. The distribution of the forecast consolidated budget for the 3 years is done according to the following distribution:

1. 2022-2023: 42%
2. 2023-2024: 29%
3. 2024-2025: 29%

Actions in 2022

Creation and validation of the SPAN

• Development and co-construction of the SPAN;
• Visiting the different bodies for opinions:
  • Health, Safety and Working Conditions Commission (CHSCT) of May 30, 2022,
  • Technical Establishment Committee (CTE) of June 10, 2022,
  • Plenary Academic Council (Cac) of June 28, 2022.
• Validation by the Plenary Board of Directors (CA) of July 7, 2022;
• Concretion in the October 2022 CA: 2023 budget.

Acculturation and compliance

• Search for external financing with the Finance and Accounting Department (DFC);
• Development of specifications for the award of audit contracts in 2023;
• Organization of the University Days of Universal Accessibility (December 1 and 2, 2022).

Actions in 2023

• Structuring content production chains by integrating digital accessibility from the start and at all stages of the process;
• Work on recruitment, job descriptions, clauses for public contracts;
• Reduce and rationalize the number of websites: technical and non-technical arbitrations;
• Create and redesign websites and the intranet;
• Implement an automatic audit tool for our site fleet;
• Award public contracts for audits;

Actions in 2024

• Continue, sustain and develop the actions initiated in 2022 and 2023;
• Control and correct the tools and content produced and in production;
• Implement a system of manual and automatic control audits to maintain accessibility.

Actions in 2025

• Continue to inform and train staff, particularly new arrivals;
• Assessment of Span 2022 – 2025;
• Development of SPAN 2025 – 2028.

Budget elements

The 2022-2025 SPAN is estimated at 364 euros over 572 years, including 3 euros to be distributed over the budgets for the years 265, 913 and 2023.

Consolidated budget including tax: €360 including establishment resources including tax: €051 and SWAN payroll including tax: €261

Details in Appendix 5.

The equity investment requested from the establishment is as follows:

• Year 1: €79
• Year 2: €87
• Year 3: €94

Annex

Appendix 1 – State of play in number of applications, tools or digital sites

• Digital applications of the information system, including educational platform: 114
• TYPO3 farm communications sites: 57
• Blogs: 36

return to the “General ambition” paragraph

Appendix 2 – List of digital applications selected for compliance

• The main website of the University
• The University intranet
• The University Libraries website
• The training site
• The application site
• The Employment of Time website
• The 7 Moodle platforms (central, elang, C2i, examination, UNR, suaps, health)
• The OSE website

return to the “General ambition” paragraph

Appendix 3 – Training

Total establishment (rounded): 15 945 €

Total Swan (rounded): 16 735 €

Establishment budget (external services), depending on the year:

1. Year 1: €5
2. Year 2: €5
3. Year 3: €5

return to the “General ambition” paragraph

Appendix 4 – Disability Master Plan

return to the paragraph “Backing to the Disability Master Plan (SDH)”

Appendix 5 – Budget details

Brief description of the painting

• SWAN staff / establishment budget
  • SWAN staff: internal service provided by SWAN staff
  • Establishment budget: external service provided by service providers on establishment budget
• Type of expenditure: what the actions will be devoted to
• Description: details of actions
• Quantity: number of actions planned over a year
• Unit cost: cost over one year
• Total including tax: cost over 3 years

return to the “Budgetary elements” paragraph