The MYAP included the following objectives under the Information and Communication theme:
- Identify the most commonly required communication formats and develop a strategy to meet those needs.
- Develop a sustainable strategy to ensure consistency across all publicly facing websites including open and online learning platforms.
C1. Alternate communication formats
Status: somewhat complete
Progress: on track
Communication to the Waterloo community is an ongoing venture. With development of new technologies, the avenues to reach our campus community is forever changing. As Waterloo continues to explore new channels and forums for communication with our community, accessibility is at the forefront of each initiative and strategy.
In May 2019, the Library employed a chat bubble feature on various Library webpages, including the home page where visitors can virtually communicate with the Library for their inquiries. The chat bubble also gives users the option to search Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) or send questions by email for answers and resources without the need to physically visit the Library. This allowed individuals to better plan for their time and interactions with the Library while on site. Accessibility features within the system include FAQ knowledgebase with alt tags used for images and tables, making it more screen-reader friendly ensuring a smooth chat experience with the use of assistive devices. Accessible Rich Internet Application (ARIA) information has also been updated in several key places to increase accessibility of dynamic content and user-interface components on webpages.
Just in time for Fall term 2019, the Student Service Centre also launched a campus Chatbot, allowing students to virtually access answers to commonly asked questions such as applying, financial aid, OSAP, transcripts and other official documents, their student record, and their financial account. In developing this customized system, the team took great strides to consider accessibility including: font size, text to speech capabilities, and webpage mobility. The Bot will continue to expand throughout Winter 2020 to include a comprehensive listing of questions and answers across all campus services.
C2. Website accessibility
Status: started
Progress: on track
Waterloo continues to utilize the Web Content Management System (WCMS) as the recommended centralized platform for publicly facing websites. The Information Systems and Technology team has migrated 14 websites into the WCMS over the past year. An additional eight websites have been deleted as they were either no longer needed or replaced with a legislatively compliant alternative. As of December 2019, there were 971 sites within the WCMS. In March 2019, a survey was sent out to the campus community inquiring about preferred features and remaining barriers to using the WCMS, as part of the planning phases to modify the system. The project will run until November 2021, and accessibility features will be considered throughout the project implementation.
