Accessibility & Civil Rights

Why Do I Need to Know This?

Accessible content allows the widest range of users possible to engage with information. Without keeping accessibility in mind, we may inadvertently create a graphic that an individual who is blind cannot view. We might design a website through which someone who can only use a keyboard for navigation cannot move. By intentionally and thoughtfully considering accessibility in the initial phases of content design, we can develop content that is available to everyone. Visit UConn's Creating Accessible Digital Content page for more information.

    Website Accessibility

    ALL University websites are required to adhere to ADA regulations. Details specific to websites is in our Website section.

    Websites page

    Accommodations for People with Disabilities

    Share our Extension Accommodations page with program participants

    Accommodations

    Questions? Need More Information?

    Associate Vice President, Office of Institutional Equity
    241 Glenbrook Road, Unit 4175, Storrs, CT 06269-4175;

    Phone: (860) 486-2943
    Email: equity@uconn.edu
    Website: www.equity.uconn.edu

    Commitment to Civil Rights

    UConn is committed to the realization of the spirit and letter of federal, state, and University Civil Rights laws and regulations. The kinds of discrimination prohibited by UConn policy include, and are much broader than, those of USDA NIFA. The University of Connecticut prohibits discrimination based on age, color, disability, familial status, gender identity or expression, genetics, limited English proficiency, marital status, national origin, political beliefs, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status, or because all or a part of an individual’s income is derived from a public assistance program in its employment, educational programs, and activities.

    The Smith-Lever Act and subsequent amendments dictate that Cooperative Extension programs be designed to serve all the people. This includes all socioeconomic classes and the protected classes identified in Civil Rights laws and regulations.

    The importance of understanding and valuing diversity, its function in UConn’s employment and program delivery, and UConn’s role in compliance and documentation has always been a major focus of our programs, as is evidenced by examples such as our People Empowering People program, that was started in 1996 through a USDA State Strengthening Grant. This program is effective in influencing positive changes in participants’ life skills, personal relationships, and community engagement among an ethnically diverse sample. All our programs maintain this steadfast commitment to civil rights. Program information is available on the UConn Extension PEP website. A more recent example is our work with the Federally Recognized Tribes Extension Program (FRTEP). We received USDA funding in 2017 and 2022 for this program, and it led to another USDA grant-funded project for undergraduate students from Tribal Nations that Extension partners on. More information on all these programs is available on the UConn CAHNR CT Nations website.

    UConn Extension’s civil rights manual enhances our effort to demonstrate the connection between Affirmative Action (AA)/Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)/Civil Rights and valuing diversity and inclusion. Read the Extension Civil Rights Plan.

    Checklists

    UConn Accessibility Resources

    Required Language for Program Use

    PURPOSE

    All University publications describing or inviting participation in UConn programs or activities must contain one of the non-discrimination statements set forth below. The inclusion of the non-discrimination statement is required by federal regulations and is designed to make clear to current and future participants, beneficiaries, enrollees, applicants, patients, visitors and members of the public the University’s commitment to equal opportunity and access to its programs, activities, and health programs.

    DEFINITIONS

    The term “publications” includes, but is not limited to, printed, electronic or online materials or documents.

    UConn POLICY STATEMENT

    "With the understanding that publications are produced in different formats and sizes, including printed and electronic, the University has developed two forms of the non-discrimination statements: long and short. The selected form of the non-discrimination statement is generally dependent on the availability of space. Effort should be given to publish the long form to the maximum extent feasible. When options to provide the long form have been exhausted, the short form may be considered."

    "The non-discrimination statement is embedded within the footer of all University website pages, therefore a non-discrimination statement is not required on individual departmental website pages. Any questions related to the University’s non-discrimination policies and reasonable accommodations process may be directed to the Office of Institutional Equity at (860) 486-2943 or equity@uconn.edu."

    Non-Discrimination Policy Statements for Publications, including Accessibility Statements for University Events and Section 1557 Statements for Health Programs - September, 2025

    UConn Extension uses the text below per UConn's General Counsel and the USDA Civil Rights office.

    Please include the following language on all your materials and at all programs:

    Documents 1-3 pages (fact sheets, flyers, posters):

    Required for publications with significant space limitations such as pamphlets, postcards, advertisements and one-page announcements (flyers and posters).

    The University of Connecticut complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding non-discrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action, including the provision of reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. Extension program participants with disabilities may request reasonable accommodations to address limitations resulting from a disability. For more information, please contact the UConn Extension Civil Rights Liaison at extensioncivilrights@uconn.edu.

    La Universidad de Connecticut cumple con todas las leyes federales y estatales aplicables en materia de no discriminación, igualdad de oportunidades y acción afirmativa, incluyendo la provisión de adaptaciones razonables para personas con discapacidades. Los participantes de los programas de Extensión con discapacidades pueden solicitar adaptaciones razonables para atender las limitaciones derivadas de una discapacidad. Para más información, comuníquese con el Enlace de Derechos Civiles de UConn Extension al correo electrónico extensioncivilrights@uconn.edu.

    Documents 4 pages or longer:

    In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

    Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

    To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

    1. Mail:
      U.S. Department of Agriculture
      Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
      1400 Independence Avenue, SW
      Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
    2. Fax:
      (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
    3. Email:
      program.intake@usda.gov

    For Documents in Spanish use:

    El Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos (USDA) prohíbe la discriminación en todos sus programas y actividades por motivos de raza, color, origen nacional, religión, sexo, identidad de género (incluyendo la expresión de género), orientación sexual, discapacidad, edad, estado civil, estado familiar/parental, ingresos derivados de un programa de asistencia pública, creencias políticas, represalias o venganza por actividades realizadas en el pasado relacionadas con los derechos civiles (no todos los principios de prohibición aplican a todos los programas).

    La información del programa puede estar disponible en otros idiomas además del inglés. Las personas con discapacidades que requieran medios de comunicación alternativos para obtener información sobre el programa (por ejemplo, Braille, letra agrandada, grabación de audio y lenguaje de señas americano) deben comunicarse con el Área de la misión, agencia u oficina del personal responsable, o con el TARGET Center del USDA al (202) 720-2600 (voz y TTY) o comunicarse con el USDA a través del Servicio Federal de Transmisión de la Información al (800) 877-8339.

    Para presentar una queja por discriminación en el programa, el reclamante debe completar un formulario AD 3027, Formulario de queja por discriminación del programa del USDA (PDF, 293 KB), que se puede obtener en línea, en cualquier oficina del USDA, llamando al (866) 632-9992, o escribiendo una carta dirigida al USDA. La carta debe contener el nombre, la dirección y el número de teléfono del reclamante, y una descripción escrita de la supuesta acción discriminatoria con suficiente detalle para informar al Subsecretario de Derechos Civiles (ASCR, por sus siglas en inglés) sobre la naturaleza y la fecha de la presunta violación de los derechos civiles. La carta o el formulario AD-3027 (PDF, 293 KB) completado debe enviarse al USDA por medio de:

    correo postal: U.S. Department of Agriculture
    Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
    1400 Independence Avenue, SW
    Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; o´

    fax: (833) 256-1665 o´ (202) 690-7442;
    correo electrónico: program.intake@usda.gov

    Esta institución ofrece igualdad de oportunidades.

    If content space is an issue (ads, postcard-sized promotional materials):

    Use this sentence ONLY if space is an issue AND the document is smaller than 8.5 x 11:

    UConn complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding non-discrimination, equal opportunity, affirmative action, and providing reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. Contact: extensioncivilrights@uconn.edu.

    For Social Media/Graphics:

    This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

    For Spanish Version:

    El compromiso de UConn Extension es de brindar acceso igualitario y participación plena a personas con discapacidades en todos nuestros programas y actividades. 

    For programs funded by USDA-NIFA:

    How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint | USDA

    Civil Rights Discrimination Complaints | National Institute of Food and Agriculture (usda.gov)

    For UConn questions or more information, please contact:

    Associate Vice President, Office of Institutional Equity

    241 Glenbrook Road, Unit 4175, Storrs, CT 06269-4175;

    Phone: (860) 486-2943

    Email: equity@uconn.edu

    Website: equity.uconn.edu