Accessibility Updates John Jones Director, Media Resources Center

Accessibility Updates WSU’s Agreement with the NFB Timelines Important Concepts Updates and Progress The work of the Ad-Hoc Committee Faculty Senate Accessible Instruction Committee

Review the Timeline WSU Signs Agreement with National Federation of the Blind in 2016 WSU Accessibility Committee wrote Accessibility Policies in 2017 WSU Faculty Senate produces statement on Accessibility in Spring 2018 Final Target Date: all instructional content will be accessible by July 29, 2020

Important Concepts from the Agreement Includes all content (required & optional/enrichment, academic and non-academic, online and face-to-face) Requires access to the same content or an equally effective alternative Access should be available at the same time as other students

Accessibility vs Accommodations Accommodations are for individuals and are reactive Accessibility is for populations, and is proactive Accessibility is a lower standard Accessibility should make content available to all, in equally effective ways, at the same time.

Wichita State’s faculty statement on accessibility (1/2) “The Faculty at Wichita State University are committed to providing the highest quality instruction for all students. As a part of that commitment, we make continual efforts to seek new information and methods to teach in our subject areas. Instructional content at WSU is the responsibility of the faculty teaching each individual course; the accessibility of that content is also the responsibility of that faculty, and as we do many other critical issues, we will take accessibility into account as we consider textbooks, resources, and tools for our classes … (continued) In response to the agreement, a faculty senate sub-committee was organized to look at accessibility issues surrounding textbooks and other class resources. On April 23, 2018, the Faculty Senate ratified the following statement regarding accessibility and course materials: “The Faculty at Wichita State University are committed to providing the highest quality instruction for all students. As a part of that commitment, we make continual efforts to seek new information and methods to teach in our subject areas.   Instructional content at WSU is the responsibility of the faculty teaching each individual course; the accessibility of that content is also the responsibility of that faculty, and as we do many other critical issues, we will take accessibility into account as we consider textbooks, resources, and tools for our classes. 

Faculty Senate statement (2/2) Accessibility is not the only consideration when choosing a text, but we understand its importance to our students, and we are committed to making accessible choices when they are available and the choice does not have a negative impact on the quality of the course in other ways. We will discuss the need for accessibility with publishers when we have the opportunity. We will learn what we can about accessible instruction – both in general as it is being made available by the university, and from other leaders in our fields of study.” Accessibility is not the only consideration when choosing a text, but we understand its importance to our students, and we are committed to making accessible choices when they are available and the choice does not have a negative impact on the quality of the course in other ways.   We will discuss the need for accessibility with publishers when we have the opportunity.  We will learn what we can about accessible instruction – both in general as it is being made available by the university, and from other leaders in our fields of study.” This faculty support is critical to achieve the goal of having all course content accessible by July 29, 2020.

Accessibility Progress Highlights Faculty Statement on Accessibility Accessibility Training Development Ability Ally & Foundations of Accessibility (revised) Accessibility Training for Faculty & Accessibility Training for Staff Additional (optional) accessibility training in development Blackboard Ally Text Size Guideline Stickers Wichita.edu web site accessibility

Faculty Senate Accessibility Committee Charge (proposed) The committee works to develop practices and standards that are consistent with the university’s commitment to provide education that is accessible to all, and that are also consistent with academic integrity and academic freedom To continue to work of the ad-hoc committee in the development of guidelines for textbook and resource adoption To research accessibility challenges and find appropriate solutions To promote instructional practices for access and full inclusion.  To develop requests for necessary training and support for instructional staff in the effort to make content accessible To participate in the work of the University Accessibility and Accommodations Committee organized by the Accessibility Coordinator (Molly Gordon)

Support for Faculty Instructional Design and Access Blackboard & Accessibility Labs Meetings & Consultations with departments, etc. Training (online, F2F events, etc.) ITS training (Office training now includes accessibility) WSU Library & subject matter librarians Other Media Resources Center teams

Questions? John Jones, Director, Media Resources Center john.jones@Wichita.edu x7751