To address the rapidly growing need for new tech workers with a user-centered focus and understanding of basic Accessibility principles, the leading companies in the tech sector have banded together with leading academic institutions in a collaboration: Teach Access.

THE TEACH ACCESS MISSION To include and enhance the teaching of accessible design and development principles in undergraduate education

TEACH ACCESS SUPPORTERS - HIGHER ED Here’s the list of academic members.

TEACH ACCESS SUPPORTERS-INDUSTRY Here are the industry members and supporters

TEACH ACCESS SUPPORTERS - ADVOCACY These friends from the disability community are involved and supportive.

INDUSTRY CHALLENGE More Than 3 Million Mobile Apps More than 1 Trillion Web Sites

Accessibility Specialists 5 5,000 : Here’s an example. A thumbnail estimate of many enterprise-sized, name-brand companies, indicates they have well over 5,000 technical positions (engineers, QA, designers, product managers, etc.) creating new stuff every day. But it’s not unusual for these same companies to have only a handful of people whose job title includes “Accessibility.” In many of the major tech companies, that number is about five. Even if these Accessibility teams were doubled, tripled, quintupled, it would never be enough to keep up with the 5,000 technologists who are working furiously to create new apps, web sites and other technology products. And this ratio only holds for those companies that can afford to have a dedicated accessibility team. Most don’t. Including large enterprise and small businesses. As for the thousands of start-ups... Accessibility Specialists Technical Positions 7

THE DEMAND IS INCREASING Global legislation Legal scrutiny Corporate policies User expectations Industry is already feeling this tectonic shift. From a legal perspective, there are more accessibility laws on the books requiring greater accountability–and potential liability–for new products and services. From a corporate perspective, there has never been more demand for faster output, higher quality and user growth—and we expect it to accelerate From a user perspective, a massive shift has taken place. Over the last 8 years, assistive technology has become mainstream and built into every mobile device and users now expect accessibility. They also expect it to be high quality, zero or near zero cost, and available at the same time as new technology is introduced.

PEAT ACCESSIBLE TECHNOLOGY SKILLS GAP SURVEY 70 respondents from tech sector 57%: Products and services are less accessible than desired 63%: Current staff don’t have necessary accessibility skills 60%: It's “difficult or very difficult” to find candidates with needed accessibility skills http://www.peatworks.org/skillsgap/report

“What we have are a few people who know a lot about Accessibility What we need are a lot of people to know a little about it” “What we have are a few people who know a lot about Accessibility. What we need are a lot of people to know a little about it” — Matt May, Adobe [ A member of Teach Access] Matt May, Adobe 10

“What did you learn about accessibility as an undergraduate?” This has many technology companies asking a new question during interviews or new hire orientation: “What did you learn about Accessibility as an undergraduate?” “What did you learn about accessibility as an undergraduate?” 11

Unfortunately, the answer we hear is not the one we hope for. In a word, “nothing.” I think we can all agree that “nothing” is the wrong answer. This is why we created Teach Access. We want to change this answer to “yes” by preparing students with the knowledge they’ll need to be successful in the Tech industry and make new products and technology the equalizer it ought to be for people with disabilities. “Nothing” 12

MISSING FUNDAMENTALS Expectations for accessible product development Knowledge of legal requirements Common types of disability and assistive technology Common barriers to digital accessibility WCAG and other standards and guidelines So what are some of the missing fundamentals that every student should know? After polling the leading Tech companies, here’s the list: Accessibility is expected in commercial product development Accessibility is a legal requirement The common types of disability and assistive technology Common barriers to digital accessibility WCAG and related standards and guidelines

TEACH ACCESS OBJECTIVES Make the teaching of accessibility a curriculum requirement Share industry best practices Scale successful programs nationwide Foster initiatives and incentives that promote teaching accessibility Reward students through experiences, preferred hiring

ACTIVITIES Study Away Silicon Valley Faculty grants Vetted materials: free and open source Accreditation: ABET, ACM, NASAD Marketing, on-campus and off

CONTACT INFO info@teachaccess.org WWW www.teachaccess.org Facebook.com/TeachAccess @TeachAccess

Questions?