[Athen] Institutions Accessibility Plans

[Sheryl E. Burgstahler]

IT accessibility is about the purchase, development and deployment of IT so leadership should be in the central IT department. Disability services offices along with many other campus units (e.g., risk management, online learning, teaching and learning centers, student services…) should be engaged in the campus-wide efforts as well. We do this in several ways at the University of Washington. I co-direct an IT Accessibility Task Force that includes representatives from multiple units across the UW, including branch campuses. We also engage about 100 IT Accessibility Liaisons from many units on campus to help promote the development, procurement and use of accessible IT in their areas of influence. We provide training to these folks and others campus-wide (e.g., at the web developers monthly meetings, at the online instructors sig). Sometimes training is co-sponsored by a relevant campus unit. 

The biggest distinction we make about the provision of accessible IT campus wide between our disability services offices (we have one for students and one for faculty/staff/visitors) and our Accessible Technology Services is that disability service units provide accommodations for individuals with disabilities who use them, and this might include remediating PDFs, captioning videos, etc., for specific individuals. We work proactively to make IT accessible, usable, and inclusive campus-wide. We, for example, offer limited free captioning of high-impact academic and administrative videos; disability services steps in and captions videos when there is a need for a accommodation for a specific person. We work to reduce the number of inaccessible PDFs on campus; disability services remediates inaccessible PDFs for which specific individuals with disabilities need access.

Sheryl Burgstahler, Ph.D.
Director, UW Accessible Technology & DO-IT, UW-IT
Affiliate Professor, Education
University of Washington, Box 354842
Seattle, WA 98195
206-543-0622          FAX 206-221-4171
http://staff.washington.edu/sherylb
sherylb at uw.edu


> On Nov 29, 2017, at 10:46 AM, Rovner, Amy <arovner at shoreline.edu> wrote:

> 

> Hi Serena,

> 

> We have a cross-campus workgroup that has crafted our Accessible IT Policy and Procedures and is now working on the finer points of purchasing flow, training, etc.  Our SSD office is an integral part of the conversations along with leaders from IT, eLearning, Library, Institutional Research, our Registrar, faculty, Communications and Marketing, Financial Services, Human Resources (and I'm probably forgetting someone too).  SSD folks input is essential because they are the most knowledgeable about the ADA, 508 and can share the impact on our students when IT is not accessible.  Our Associate Dean for Student Support Programs (including SSD) was very involved in the Policy & Procedures creation process for the same reasons.

> 

> Creating an accessible (IT) campus is a responsibility for everyone because it touches almost every area of what we do and, happily, our campus has embraced the work.

> 

> During our Opening Week this year, most of our workgroup members jointly presented an overview of the new policy, background on the legal aspects, etc.

> 

> Hope this is helpful!

> 

> Best,

> Amy

> 

> Amy Rovner, MPH RD

> Accessible IT Coordinator

> eLearning Instructional Designer

> Shoreline Community College

> arovner at shoreline.edu <mailto:arovner at shoreline.edu>

> 

> 

> eLearning Service Help Center <https://help.shoreline.edu/hc/en-us>

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> From: athen-list <athen-list-bounces at mailman13.u.washington.edu <mailto:athen-list-bounces at mailman13.u.washington.edu>> on behalf of Thompson, Rachel <rsthompson2 at ua.edu <mailto:rsthompson2 at ua.edu>>

> Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2017 9:27 AM

> To: Access Technology Higher Education Network

> Subject: Re: [Athen] Institutions Accessibility Plans

>  

> Serena,

>  

> Our disability services colleagues were involved in the initial discussions about the need for a technology accessibility plan, but due to their office short-staffed, we have handled everything since then and just inform them of developments. My area handles technology accessibility training and, as far as I know, our DS office does not offer training to the campus. They do help faculty and students in one-on-one sessions as needed for accommodations assistance. 

>  

> Hope this helps,

> Rachel

>  

> Dr. Rachel S. Thompson 

> Director, Emerging Technology and Accessibility 

> The Office of Information Technology

> The University of Alabama

> A207 Gordon Palmer Hall

> Box 870248 

> Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 

> Phone 205-348-0216

> rsthompson2 at ua.edu <mailto:rsthompson2 at ua.edu> | http://accessibility.ua.edu <http://accessibility.ua.edu/>

>  

> From: athen-list [mailto:athen-list-bounces at mailman13.u.washington.edu <mailto:athen-list-bounces at mailman13.u.washington.edu>] On Behalf Of Serena Johnson

> Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2017 9:38 AM

> To: Athen list serve (athen-list at u.washington.edu <mailto:athen-list at u.washington.edu>) <athen-list at u.washington.edu <mailto:athen-list at u.washington.edu>>

> Subject: [Athen] Institutions Accessibility Plans

>  

> Good Morning:

>  

> Question….I’m interested in knowing how involved the office of Disability Services has been in the creation/ implementation of your institution’s Accessibility Plan?

>  

> Were there any trainings provided by the office of Disability Services regarding accessibility, the ADA, Section 504, roles and responsibilities, etc.?

>  

> How could the offices of Disability Services be a part of the implementation of the Accessibility Plans? 

>  

> Thank you in advance, and I really appreciate your time and feedback!

>  

>  

> Serena

> Serena Johnson, MSW,LCSWA

> Director of Disability Services

> Central Campus, Terrell 200

> 704-330-2722 x3461

> 704-330-6230 fax

> serena.johnson at cpcc.edu <mailto:serena.johnson at cpcc.edu>

> Disability Services Blog:  http://blogs.cpcc.edu/disability-services/ <http://blogs.cpcc.edu/disability-services/>

> http://www.cpcc.edu/disabilities <http://www.cpcc.edu/disabilities>

>  

>  

>  

> 

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