Accessibility Statement

Seattle Public Schools is committed to making its electronic and information technologies accessible to individuals with disabilities by meeting or exceeding the requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 794d), as amended; Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act as amended and the3 Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 AA. Section 504 and Title II of the ADA are federal laws that requires agencies to provide individuals with disabilities equal access to electronic information and data comparable to those who do not have disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency. WCAG 2.0 AA are the technical requirements and criteria that are used to measure conformance federal laws and guidelines.

If you wish to report an issue related to the accessibility of any content on a Seattle School District website, including a complaint about the accessibility of document, form or statement you may do so in any of the following ways:

1. Email webmaster@seattleschools.org. Please include the web address or URL along with a detailed description of the problems you have encountered.
2. Call the SPS webmaster at 206-252-0465.

Non-Discrimination and Accessible Communication

Seattle Public Schools is committed to non-discrimination and ensuring that information and communications for district sponsored programs, events and activities is accessible to families and members of the community with disabilities. This includes persons who are deaf or hearing impaired as well as blind or visually impaired in accordance with Section 504 and Title II of the American Disabilities Act (ADA).

Everyone has the right to effective communication. To ensure that communication with persons with disabilities is as effective as with non-disabled persons, it is the responsibility of building and district administrators to act on each request for auxiliary aids and services upon request. These services will be provided in an accessible format at no cost to the requester.

Auxiliary aids and accommodations include a variety of communication services and devices that promote effective communication for persons with disabilities. Examples include certified sign language interpreters, real-time captioning services, translation services, written materials, large print, Braille, or electronic versions of information. The types of auxiliary aids and services necessary will depend on the length of complexity of the communication, circumstances and the needs and desires of the individual requesting assistance.

How to request communications assistance

School Board Meetings

Individuals needing an auxiliary aid or service to participate in a regular or special School Board meeting should contact the School Board office as soon as possible and no later than two (2) days before a regular meeting so that arrangements for an effective auxiliary aid or service can be made. Reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate requests made less than 48 hours in advance of a meeting. Please contact the Board office by phone at 206-252-0040 or email boardoffice@seattleschools.org to make arrangements.

Other District Sponsored Programs, Events and Activities

Individuals who may need an auxiliary aid or service to a district sponsored program, event or activity, other than a School Board meeting, should contact the Accessibility Coordinator no later than two (2) days before the event so that arrangements for the auxiliary aids or services can be made. Reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate requests scheduled less than 48 hours in advance of an event or meeting.

In order to arrange for auxiliary aids and services at a district sponsored program, event or activity, please contact the District’s Accessibility Coordinator by phone at 206-252-0306 or email oscr@seattleschools.org and provide the following information:

• Name of requester
• Name of individual needing an auxiliary aid or service
• Contact information (phone and email)
• Description of auxiliary aid and service sought (for example, American Sign Language interpreter, large print, etc.)
• Program or event for which effective communication is being sought (for example, parent/teacher conference, sporting event, field trip, etc.)
• Location where auxiliary aid or service is needed
• Room number or building (for example, auditorium, gym or classroom)
• Date and start and finish time of event.

In order to be effective, auxiliary aids and services will be provided in accessible formats, in a timely manner, and in such a way as to protect the privacy and independence of the individual with a disability.

The district will give primary considerations to the choice of auxiliary aids and services requested by the individual with a disability. Primary consideration means the district will honor the individual’s choice unless:

1. There is another equally effective means of communication available, or
2. The use of the request means would result in a fundamental alteration to the district’s service, program, or activity, or is an undue financial and administrative burden.

The decision that compliance would result in a fundamental alteration or an undue financial or administrative burden must be made by the superintendent or their designee after considering all resources available for use in the funding and operation of the service, program, or activity and must be accompanied by a written of the reasons for reaching that conclusion. The district will take another action that would not result in such an alteration or such burdens, but would ensure that, to the maximum extent possible, individuals with disabilities receive the district’s benefits or services.

Should the district provide an auxiliary aid or service that is different than what is requested by the individual with a disability, the district will provide notice to the requester in advance of the district sponsored program, event or activity.

Additional Information

The district has Compliance Coordinators that oversee efforts to comply with and carry out the district’s obligations of nondiscrimination with respect to persons with disabilities and to investigate any complaint of disability discrimination, which can be raised under Superintendent Procedures 3210SP.B.

For questions or concerns relating to families and members of the community with disabilities please contact Accessibility Coordinator at oscr@seattleschools.org or 206-252-0306.