The Lowell School Committee and Lowell Public Schools is committed to ensuring that communications for district-sponsored programs, events, and activities are accessible to district students, staff, families, and community members with disabilities. The Web is an increasingly important resource in many aspects of life: education, employment, government, commerce, health care, recreation, and more. Our goal is to provide all users of our websites, including users with disabilities, with meaningful accessibility in this online environment. The district follows standards that are generally based on the standards used by the federal government for technology accessibility for individuals with disabilities and web content accessibility guidelines developed by the World Wide Web Consortium. The district’s websites are regularly tested and reviewed by users to verify that the websites are compliant with applicable standards.

The purpose of this section is to provide information about accessible technology and resources to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to access website content, software and equipment.

Resources

Our Resources webpage includes detailed information and guides to assist in making documents, communications, web content and technology accessible for all. We continue to update information and resources, so please check back to make sure you have the most up-to-date information.

LPS Accessible Educational Resources Page

Equal Access is the Law

In addition to the day-to-day importance of website and technology, access for people with disabilities is the law. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and applicable MA state laws prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities.

People with disabilities must be afforded equal access, regardless of their disability, to programs and services that are provided by the district.

Equal access and nondiscrimination require that the district:

1. Ensures that communications with people with disabilities are as effective as communications with others,
2. Makes reasonable modifications to policies and practices, and
3. Removes communication barriers to ensure an equal opportunity to access website content, software and equipment. 

Lowell Public Schools is committed to making sure its technology, including websites, content pages, and software programs meet guidelines for equitable access and recognized accessibility standards.

Lowell Public Schools ADA Notice

Lowell Public Schools ADA Grievance Procedure

Lowell Public Schools Web and Technology Accessibility Frequently Asked Questions

Access Request for Lowell Public School’s Web Content or Technology

The Lowell Public School is committed to providing access to all individuals—with or without disabilities—seeking information on our website. To provide this information, we've created our website based on the standards outlined in Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (as amended). Section 508 requires that all individuals with disabilities have access to and use of information and data, comparable to that provided to individuals without disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on us.  As such, the Lowell Public Schools will make all reasonable modifications to policies and programs to ensure that all individuals have an equal opportunity to enjoy all of its programs, services, and activities. 

Regardless of the reason (disability, language, lack of technology, difficulty accessing information on the website, etc.), if you are unable to access content on the district’s website, have questions about the accessibility of content or technology used by the district, and/or would like to report barriers to accessing any technology used by Lowell Public Schools, including this website, please contact our accessibility coordinator listed below.

John Overton
Lowell Public Schools Accessibility Coordinator
978-674-2159
webmaster@lowell.k12.ma.us

Family Resource Center Technology Access

The Lowell Public Schools provides access to a computer that parents, students and members of the community make use to access the Lowell Public School’s Web Content.  The computer is available to be used on the premises of the Family Resource Center on a first come first serve basis.  The Family Resource Center is located at 155 Merrimack Street, 1st Floor, Lowell, MA 01852.  The contact number is 978-674-4321 and the hours are from 8:30- 4:00 pm.