Equally Effective Alternative Access Plan

According to UB's EIT Accessibility Policy, university websites and technology must comply with WCAG 2.1 AA and be accessible and usable by all people, including people with disabilities. Where it is not possible to provide fully accessible technology, an Equally Effective Alternative Access Plan (EEAAP) must be developed to describe how those affected by the inaccessible product can continue to participate in university programs, services and activities.

An EEAAP is an agreement to provide equivalent access and a blueprint for doing so. The EEAAP describes how a department or business unit will address accessibility barriers resulting from the use of less-than-accessible technology.

An EEAAP describes:

  • who is affected by the accessibility barrier(s)
  • who is responsible for ensuring access
  • what will be done to provide access
  • a timeline for action that ensures prompt access

EEAAPs should be developed and maintained by the department that is using the technology.

Complete the EEAAP Form
An EEAAP is not a substitute for accessibility.

Whenever possible, departments should seek out and procure accessible technologies to conduct university business.

What information goes into an EEAAP?

The following information will help you plan and prepare your EEAAP.

Information about the inaccessible technology

  • Technology name and product/site owner/department.
  • How will the technology be used? What is the academic or business purpose?
  • What are the potential barriers to access? For example, inaccessible keyboard functionality, missing alternative text, missing captions or transcripts. These barriers may be determined through a vendor-provided VPAT/Accessibility Conformance Report, in-house testing and/or discovery after deployment.

Who will be affected by accessibility issues and how?

  • Who will use the technology (e.g., student, faculty, staff, public, etc.)?
  • How might the accessibility issues impact users (e.g., missing captions deny content to users who are deaf)?

How will the responsible person(s) provide an alternative way to complete the task or process?

  • How will you communicate the EEAAP?
  • What tasks are required?
  • What resources are required?

Who is responsible for providing the accommodations outlined in the EEAAP?

  • Job role and contact information for the responsible person(s) must be readily available for any users who experience a barrier to access.
  • The responsible person(s) must be familiar with and ready to execute the EEAAP in a timely manner.