[Athen] EASI: Planning a 4-part Webinar series on social media and accessibility

[Prof Norm Coombs]

I am looking for helpers and for ideas.  EASI provides Webinars on a 
variety of topics.  Social media is so popular that we need to address it
........ ..... ....... ......

First I need to confess that I have deliberately tried to avoid social 
media and therefore am more ignorant than I should be.  I still doubt that 
I'll ever become a fan.  However, EASI (Equal Access to software and 
information) is dedicated to helping people, especially those who are not 
technical wizards about technology and accessibility.  I admit that I have 
been proven wrong as I thought these things would be a short-lived fad and 
quickly fade away.  I feel it is our responsibility to gather information 
on social media, what it is and how it works and especially how it can 
function for people with disabilities.  So, here I am eating my words and 
planning to sponsor a 4-part series of Webinars.

Being more or less ignorant, I am looking for people who know something and 
who are somewhat fans of these media.

I approached Jennison Asuncion, Co-Director with the Adaptech Research 
Network,  to take the lead in planning a series and in locating people who 
would be willing to help put on these Webinars.

I am asking him to disseminate this plea for help and to take the helm in 
getting the project planned and started.  I am picturing 4 hour-long 
Webinars starting about mid October and going into mid November ending 
before the US Thanksgiving.

Next is which social media should we cover?
Fortunately, I have a good friend, Dr. Denise Wood, from the University of 
Southern Australia who has jumped into Second Life working with various 
people and exploring ways to make this advanced technology more accessible 
for people with all disabilities.  She has volunteered to do one of these 
Webinars which leaves us 3 others to decide on and plan.

I assume we want to cover Twitter, Myspace, facebook, maybe Linkedin and 
blogs.  I need advice.  Can some of these be merged into a single 
presentation?  Which ones would best fit together if we do that?  Would we 
want to include youtube in the series or is it different enough to leave 
out?  Would it merit a single Webinar of its own?

Please interact with Jennison at jennison at adaptech.org Suggest format 
ideas. Volunteer for some part of the series.  Norm Coombs
CEO EASI
Professor Emeritus RIT.