South Puget Sound Community College is committed to ensuring digital and physical accessibility for all students, staff, and visitors. We strive to meet and exceed federal and state accessibility standards to create an inclusive learning environment.
Please choose the link specific to support for your specific role at SPSCC.
In an effort to increase access and provide our community with the resources necessary to access digital information in a way that is most suitable for them, the college has approved the following tools for installation on college machines. If these programs are of interest to you and are not already installed on your college-issued device, please submit a ServiceDesk request.
Morphic draws on half a century of research and development at major research institutions that focuses on how to make computers and technology easier and more accessible for everyone and – perhaps most importantly – promotes digital inclusion.
NVDA (Non-Visual Desktop Access) allows blind and vision impaired people to access and interact with the Windows operating system and many third party applications.
SensusAccess is an automated document conversion service that allows you to convert your readings into alternate formats. It is a webform, so there is nothing to install; no IT request is needed to use this service. You can also use SensusAccess to convert inaccessible or tricky documents into more accessible formats. With SensusAccess, you can convert your readings, slides and lecture notes into formats that work best for you such as:
You can also use SensusAccess to convert scanned PDF documents, pictures of text captured with your smartphone as well as PowerPoint presentations into formats that are more useful for you or easier to work with.
Additionally, through advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning, SensusAccess can be used to translate from language-to-language with a very high degree of accuracy.
SensusAccess is a great service if you are having difficulties with printed text, if you want to experiment with different learning styles, if you need assistance when reading text in a foreign language or if you simply want to make your readings available on the go.
SensusAccess is available as an LTI in Canvas and as a standalone web form. The SensusAccess LTI makes document conversion of course material into audio books, Braille, digital large-print, e-books and other accessible formats available directly from within the course sections of Canvas.
This feature should be turned on by default in all course. However, if it is not, simply navigate to your course settings and enable SensusAccess from the right-hand menu of options. This will activate SensusAccess for use for your students in this course.
The SensusAccess E-learning Course offers a comprehensive course on the SensusAccess service and is intended for stduents, staff, and faculty. It is divided in to nine modules. Please include any or all modules to your course resources as you deem relevant.
SensusAccess Frequently Asked Questions
Along with several college policies, South Puget Sound Community College complies with a range of federal and state laws to ensure accessibility in both physical and digital environments. Details are in the drop downs below.
As a result of our commitment to accessibility, we have instituted the following policies to support all federal and state standards:
Focus: Equal access to education and services.
Applies to: All programs receiving federal funding.
At SPSCC: We provide reasonable accommodations to ensure students with disabilities can fully participate in academic and campus life.
Focus: Accessibility of electronic and information technology.
Applies to: Federal agencies and institutions receiving federal funds.
At SPSCC: We ensure our websites, learning platforms, and digital documents are accessible to all users.
Focus: Digital accessibility across Washington State agencies.
Applies to: All state agencies, including community colleges.
At SPSCC: We are working toward full compliance with WCAG 2.1 AA standards by 2029, ensuring all digital tools and content are accessible.
Focus: Physical accessibility of buildings and facilities.
Applies to: All public buildings under the State Building Code (RCW 19.27) and WAC 51-50 (based on the International Building Code).
Key Policies:
Barrier-Free Facilities: Required under WAC 51-30 and RCW 70.92, ensuring accessible entrances, restrooms, and pathways.
Unfair Practices: It is considered an unfair practice under RCW 49.60.222 to construct or remodel facilities in ways that violate accessibility standards.
At SPSCC: All new construction and renovations follow these codes to ensure physical spaces are accessible to students, staff, and visitors with disabilities.
