Technology AccessIn Post-Secondary

Education

Ron StewartManaging Consultant

AltFormat Solutions LLC

Developing and Implementing

an Institutional Plan

Mission

Universal Access

to all Institutional

Programs, Services

and Facilities

Our Basic Responsibility

To provide “Equal and Equitable Access”

to all of our facilities, programs and

services.

Goals for the First Five Years

Promote the independence of individuals with disabilities

Provide cost effective solutions targeted to the areas of highest need

Lower costs of providing traditional services

Promote and develop a learning community among all participants

Promoting Independence

Use unmodified technology whenever

possible

Implement modifications that can be rapidly learned and used

Implement modifications that are easily transferred to the work environment

Implement modifications that are easily generalizable, not domain or content specific

Cost Effectiveness

Analyze campus wide needs and strategically locate technology

Leverage existing systems when possible

Target acquisition to meeting the highest area of need

Develop a long term strategic plan, and plan your acquisition accordingly

Lower Costs

Use “off the shelf” technology when possible

Replace traditional “labor intensive” accommodation models

Analyze the learning situation and make modification based on pedagogy

Multipurpose technology resources

Building a Learning Community

Reduce all barriers to full inclusion

Develop collaborative partnerships

Develop solutions based on “real world” needs and goals

Develop long term solutions based on the needs of the campus community

Implications for Education Programs

Equal and Equitable Access

All programs, services and facilities are equivalently accessible for all students faculty and staff members.

The sole limitation is:

“Reasonableness”

Specific Program Obligations

Provide Reasonable Accommodations.

Access to Publications.

Access to Sites and Facilities.

Access to Programs:Educational TechnologyWeb ResourcesCoursepacks and CoursewareInteractive CoursesSMS, LMS and CSM Systems

Required Academic Accommodations

Electronic TextbooksBrailleEnlarged PrintNotetakers , Real Time Captioning

and/or Computer Assisted NotetakingInterpreters, Real Time Captioning

and/orComputer Assisted Notetaking

Accessible or Alternative TestingAccess to Appropriate Assistive

Technology

Access to the Learning Space

Is the Environment Accessible?Is the AT compatible with the IT?Does the User have the Skills?

IT SkillsAT Skills

Have Options been Identified?Inaccessible System ComponentsEssential Elements of InstructionImpact on Teaching and Learning

Making It Work

Policy Development

Comprehensive policies and procedures need to be developed and maintained to insure that all technological systems that are purchased or developed that are functionally usable with commonly available access technologies such as screen readers, magnifiers and voice input systems. These polices must not just address the needs of students, but also faculty and staff.

Purchasing

Purchasing protocols need to be developed to insure that vendors and contractors are required to comply with the institutional specifications implemented. As a part of the acquisition process accessibility evaluation protocols should be implemented as a part of the overall RFP approval process. It is not sufficient to just provide a statement of accessibility but to insure that appropriate institutional needs and requirements are adequately addressed.

Content Accessibility

Institutional wide criteria need to be developed and implemented to insure the accessibility of all online content and applications. An accessibility evaluation protocol should be developed as a part of an overall quality assurance process to insure that all new resources are in compliance with the established criteria. The responses received should also be comprehensively evaluated to insure compliance with institutional requirements.

Facility Accessibility

Institutional Facility specifications need to be developed/modified to insure that all technologically mediated classrooms and labs are in compliance with applicable requirements for physical accessibility and that all user operated equipment controls and devices are fully accessible to individuals with mobility related disabilities. Sole compliance with applicable building codes is not sufficient; these specifications should be developed as a part of the overall institutional philosophy around accessibility.

Central Coordination

Development of an institutional wide system of accessibility oversight is highly recommended. The implementation of an "Access" advisors program for all major units and departments related to technology accessibility is critically important.

Centralized Coordination

A secondary recommendation would be that this program be developed under the oversight of an overall coordinator of Technology Access & Accessibility. This position also needs to be at a high enough level with the administrative structure to insure its effectiveness.

Centralized Procurement and Selection

Development of guidelines for the procurement of equipment, software, maintenance and repair.

Development of a centralized repository of adaptive software and hardware.

Development of a mechanism for the timely delivery and installation of required accommodation equipment and software in a distance location.

Cooperative Oversight

The development of a system wide committee to oversee the provision of the accommodation requirements of individuals with disabilities who are involved in the variety of distance programs provided.

Must include the representation of all Stakeholder groups to be effective.

Training and Awareness

Development of a structured program of education and awareness for the campus community should be implemented. Specific requirements for designers and developers should be added to selective position descriptions to insure a skill base for accessible design is present within the various developer and designer groups

For More Information

Ron Stewart

E Mail: Ron@altformatsolutions.comWWW: www.altformatsolutions.com