0:00:01.048,0:00:05.071
(Michael K. Young) We are committed to the notion[br]that everyone should have an opportunity

0:00:05.071,0:00:06.769
to participate in higher education

0:00:06.769,0:00:10.068
whether it be from the learning perspective[br]or the research perspective

0:00:10.068,0:00:13.251
or an opportunity to work here at this institution.

0:00:13.251,0:00:19.853
We benefit from that because we get to enjoy the talents and the skills of those people who come in,

0:00:19.853,0:00:21.984
and also their perspective

0:00:21.984,0:00:25.835
which in many cases will be different [br]from the perspective of others on campus.

0:00:25.835,0:00:29.095
So accessibility becomes a very important [br]value at the university.

0:00:44.430,0:00:46.969
(Tracy Mitrano) [br]We're a leading university globally.

0:00:46.969,0:00:51.886
We want the best talent in the world [br]for our students, our staff, and our faculty.[br]

0:00:51.886,0:00:55.635
And we want to be sure if that talent has a disability

0:00:55.635,0:00:58.663
that they know that we are a welcoming community.

0:00:58.663,0:01:04.029
(Pablo Molino) We're competing with other[br]prestigious and highly accomplished institutions.

0:01:04.060,0:01:09.544
We want to make sure that we can target the[br]right candidates to join our community

0:01:09.544,0:01:13.075
regardless of their disability status.[br]

0:01:13.075,0:01:17.747
(Pete Siegel) We want to do everything we can to ensure that they have the same access

0:01:17.779,0:01:22.747
[br]to smart faculty, to fellow students, and to the resources at UC Davis.

0:01:22.747,0:01:28.693
[br](Edward Ray) In fact, we genuinely believe that excellence is achieved through diversity

0:01:28.693,0:01:34.837
and that a commitment to equity and inclusion really enriches each of our lives.

0:01:34.837,0:01:41.757
(Linda Cahill) It would be inconceivable not to have a social conscience at least,

0:01:41.757,0:01:49.994
and be completely committed to making our resources at Barry University accessible to all students.

0:01:50.055,0:01:55.075
(Edward Ray) We believe that the use of technology[br]can be very powerful.

0:01:55.075,0:02:00.716
It connects people to each other, but it also enhances their learning capabilities;

0:02:00.716,0:02:06.509
it increases what they can do through their research and creative work;

0:02:06.509,0:02:10.632
it really makes it possible for them to have a more powerful impact

0:02:10.632,0:02:15.171
in the world and that's basically what we're all about.

0:02:15.171,0:02:18.022
And we want that to be true for every member of our community,

0:02:18.022,0:02:26.520
regardless of limitations, of physical, spacial, time or other dimension.

0:02:26.526,0:02:28.279
(Hernan Londono) As an IT professional,

0:02:28.279,0:02:34.978
sometimes some of us concentrate in the technical side of the house only

0:02:34.978,0:02:39.295
and we forget that finally the technology is to serve the people.

0:02:39.295,0:02:43.728
(Michael K. Young) What the university offers and makes available has to be offered to everybody.

0:02:43.728,0:02:48.712
We can't afford to waste the talents or the brilliance or the minds of anybody

0:02:48.712,0:02:54.045
and making things accessible allows everybody to engage in the university.

0:02:54.045,0:02:58.829
Equal opportunity is a part of our value system, but it's also required by law.

0:02:58.829,0:03:02.929
(Pete Siegel) Compliance is extremely important. Compliance is the law.

0:03:02.929,0:03:06.767
But that isn't the motivator for most of us at universities.

0:03:06.767,0:03:12.561
Our motivation has always been to provide[br]easily accessible tools,

0:03:12.561,0:03:15.760
excellent experiences for our students,

0:03:15.760,0:03:19.255
and really to give them the sense that this is a place they want to be,

0:03:19.255,0:03:22.519
a place they want to learn, a place where[br]they can thrive.

0:03:31.010,0:03:34.353
(Michael K. Young) Universal design is a very[br]powerful concept because what it means is

0:03:34.353,0:03:38.338
we look at the issue of accessibility at the[br]outset rather than

0:03:38.338,0:03:43.087
buying something or engaging something or developing something that we have to retrofit

0:03:43.087,0:03:46.104
which not only makes it cheaper and more efficient

0:03:46.104,0:03:48.204
it likely makes it much better

0:03:48.204,0:03:51.735
in terms of both the quality of the product and the accessibility to those

0:03:51.735,0:03:53.984
all the people that we want to be able to use it.

0:03:53.984,0:03:59.501
(Tracy Mitrano) I think the other direction that colleges and universities could and should take

0:03:59.507,0:04:02.402
is to think about accommodation

0:04:02.402,0:04:06.435
as really the beginning of the conversation about disability.

0:04:06.435,0:04:10.886
It was the appropriate measure that was taken in the Americans with Disabilities Act

0:04:10.886,0:04:12.985
that was passed in 1990

0:04:12.985,0:04:15.251
and that's well over a generation ago.

0:04:15.251,0:04:20.946
I think now we really have to think less about how we're going to measure

0:04:20.946,0:04:24.159
specifically this accommodation or that accommodation

0:04:24.159,0:04:28.708
and recognize that we can make accessibility open and available

0:04:28.708,0:04:34.053
so that individual staff, faculty or students do not have to go to get an accommodation.

0:04:34.068,0:04:36.044
It will be automatically available

0:04:36.044,0:04:39.744
in the webpage that they visit, in the device that they use.

0:04:39.744,0:04:44.710
(Brady Deaton) We envision a campus that has a concept of universal design

0:04:44.710,0:04:47.412
in all aspects of information technology,

0:04:47.412,0:04:50.054
that a student is not impeded in any way,

0:04:50.054,0:04:54.147
but in fact, that technology is utilized not only directly by those who benefit

0:04:54.147,0:04:58.280
because of certain challenges they may have,

0:04:58.280,0:05:04.421
but also is illustrative to the broader student body and to the faculty and to alums

0:05:04.421,0:05:06.773
about what an inclusive learning environment is.

0:05:06.773,0:05:11.269
(Pete Seigel) We have some things we have to learn in order to move into accessibility space,

0:05:11.287,0:05:15.549
but the basic goals and the basic values are things we already know and love.

0:05:15.549,0:05:18.302
Then we bring in things like universal design,

0:05:18.302,0:05:22.636
the notion that if we design things well right from the start

0:05:22.636,0:05:25.070
they actually aren't more expensive.

0:05:25.070,0:05:29.138
This is something that we can fit into even our very, very tight budgets.

0:05:39.338,0:05:44.249
(Eileen McDonough) We make a great effort[br]in our graduate and our undergraduate counsel

0:05:44.249,0:05:53.441
to make sure that faculty and deans are aware[br]that in program design, in offering a new major,

0:05:53.471,0:05:58.558
that they take into account that they might have to have specialized software available

0:05:58.558,0:06:03.033
and they have to build that into their program[br]development.

0:06:03.033,0:06:10.650
And then to certainly just be aware of all the different ways that students can learn,

0:06:10.650,0:06:16.400
to help faculty and deans understand the concept of universal design.

0:06:16.400,0:06:22.066
(Gerry Hanley) The first step really needs to be an assessment of where we are

0:06:22.066,0:06:28.513
so we can then inform our planning process, develop plans, implement a project,

0:06:28.513,0:06:32.065
and then really assess the results of it.

0:06:32.065,0:06:37.024
(Pablo Molino) Key to our approach to making[br]sure that our campus and our technology is

0:06:37.024,0:06:41.074
accessible to people with disabilities, is[br]to ensure we do this by design.

0:06:41.074,0:06:46.752
This is not an afterthought that we do after we have implemented a new classroom.

0:06:46.752,0:06:52.903
Instead, this is something that we do from the initial conception of a new project or idea.

0:06:52.903,0:06:58.233
The same way we do this for privacy and security, we do this for accessibility.

0:06:58.233,0:07:00.944
(Bruce Maas) It is less costly, in the long run

0:07:00.944,0:07:06.210
to be thinking through the issues of accessibility comprehensively.

0:07:06.210,0:07:11.010
Therefore, having a plan for accessibility ensures that from the beginning

0:07:11.010,0:07:16.048
we think through our issues with regard to the delivery of our services.

0:07:16.048,0:07:23.001
Doing so in a strategic way means that we[br]can hold down costs over the long haul and

0:07:23.001,0:07:27.617
actually deliver better services in the bargain.

0:07:27.617,0:07:33.585
(Brady Deaton) It is very important that a university follows a policy and a process[br]

0:07:33.585,0:07:36.003
that is a can-do kind of process.

0:07:36.003,0:07:39.535
It assumes that we are going to undertake the investments that we need,

0:07:39.535,0:07:42.018
we're going to demonstrate the value that we need,

0:07:42.018,0:07:43.863
that not only address the needs of students

0:07:43.863,0:07:48.446
who may be challenged with vision or hearing or other disabilities

0:07:48.446,0:07:52.131
but also draw on the technology

0:07:52.131,0:07:55.429
that is not only exciting for those people who are developing the technology,

0:07:55.429,0:07:58.780
it's intellectually exciting, it provides new jobs for that matter,

0:07:58.780,0:08:03.114
and it stimulates learning in so many parts of the university.

0:08:03.114,0:08:09.929
So that attitude of the university administration, as well as faculty and staff and students,

0:08:09.929,0:08:12.589
becomes very very important because everyone gains from this.

0:08:12.589,0:08:14.772
It's a win-win situation.

0:08:14.772,0:08:17.304
(Tracy Mitrano) A policy really is an important way to go

0:08:17.304,0:08:20.809
because it will focus everyone's attention.

0:08:20.809,0:08:23.121
It's also probably the way that you have to go

0:08:23.121,0:08:27.081
now that there are legal pressures on higher education in this area.

0:08:27.081,0:08:33.061
The second thing I would say about policy is there are[br]really two types in general.

0:08:33.061,0:08:35.657
One is a policy that you have because you have a law,

0:08:35.657,0:08:40.090
for example the Family Education Rights Privacy Act Policy,

0:08:40.090,0:08:45.029
so you want to be clear and sure that you're going to have compliance on your campus.

0:08:45.029,0:08:49.540
There's another kind of policy that I would call aspirational policy

0:08:49.540,0:08:52.923
and maybe accessibility fits a little bit in both

0:08:52.923,0:08:56.642
but you most certainly can err on the aspirational side.

0:08:56.642,0:09:00.707
An aspirational policy is something you establish for your institution

0:09:00.707,0:09:04.141
as a path moving towards something, moving forward.

0:09:04.141,0:09:07.434
It does not have to have one hundred percent compliance

0:09:07.434,0:09:11.611
because it's really a direction that you're setting strategically for your institution.

0:09:11.611,0:09:19.746
(Gerry Hanley) I'd say another critical aspect around our strategy is a shared governance strategy.

0:09:19.746,0:09:30.615
Because education is a shared responsibility across faculty, staff, students, venders,

0:09:30.615,0:09:36.496
all of us working together have to share in that responsibility.

0:09:36.496,0:09:43.619
Now, a shared governance process means if you are responsible in delivering the service,

0:09:43.619,0:09:47.356
then you have an opportunity to share in governing

0:09:47.356,0:09:51.356
how we're going to manage the implementation of these services.

0:09:51.356,0:09:53.157
(Brady Deaton) The administrators of the university

0:09:53.157,0:09:57.822
must reflect the values that demonstrate the importance of this to the learning environment

0:09:57.822,0:10:01.257
and it has to be built in then to every aspect of what we do.

0:10:01.257,0:10:04.975
(Michael K. Young) Right now we have a number[br]of projects and initiatives underway at the UW

0:10:04.975,0:10:07.393
in which we're testing new technologies.

0:10:07.393,0:10:11.043
Accessibility is an important consideration in these evaluations.

0:10:11.043,0:10:12.457
Many of the vendors we work with

0:10:12.457,0:10:16.808
have completed Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates or VPATs,

0:10:16.808,0:10:19.530
which offer a checklist of accessibility criteria

0:10:19.530,0:10:23.496
and vendors' self-assessment as to how well they meet those criteria.

0:10:23.496,0:10:27.779
It's a good starting point, but we go beyond that[br]to ask a vendor specific questions

0:10:27.779,0:10:31.028
and to test their products with respect to accessibility.

0:10:31.028,0:10:37.796
(Gerry Hanley) We begin with our vendors saying (a) this is not only important,

0:10:37.796,0:10:41.928
that this is required for working with the CSU.

0:10:41.928,0:10:45.846
Every student who comes into our institution

0:10:45.846,0:10:50.480
we have to provide equally effective access to those services

0:10:50.480,0:10:54.175
and you are a partner in delivering those services to us.

0:10:54.175,0:10:56.875
So we will tell you what we need

0:10:56.875,0:11:03.176
and then we will help you inform your staff, educate your staff,

0:11:03.176,0:11:08.172
provide them some consultation and guidance in partnership with us,

0:11:08.172,0:11:11.757
so you can deliver the successful service for us.

0:11:11.757,0:11:17.860
(Pat Burns) So we work with our vendors to try to put pressure on them to make things accessible.

0:11:17.860,0:11:25.157
We actually have a purchasing process where we work through and ask the issues about accessibility

0:11:25.157,0:11:29.324
for software and hardware that we buy as well.

0:11:29.324,0:11:33.823
(Bruce Maas) Individual efforts really need to be able to scale well.

0:11:33.823,0:11:39.923
If we go about things in an ad hoc approach, one by one, we're not likely to get the same results

0:11:39.923,0:11:43.858
as if we work together as a community in higher education,

0:11:43.858,0:11:47.923
to work with vendors to improve accessibility[br]for everyone

0:11:47.923,0:11:50.371
with regard to the products that are offered.

0:11:50.371,0:11:55.269
That's a much more pragmatic approach rather than institution by institution.

0:11:55.269,0:12:02.003
(Gerry Hanley) Making accessibility a priority[br]in their development roadmap

0:12:02.003,0:12:05.609
is going to be driven by the market demand.

0:12:05.609,0:12:13.459
And if an institution never says a word, the vendor isn't going to do anything about it.

0:12:13.459,0:12:16.923
So if we begin to communicate our demands collectively,

0:12:16.923,0:12:21.372
then the vendor will recognize the market value of accessibility.

0:12:21.372,0:12:26.897
(Joel Hartman) As we acquire IT resources, we have to embed accessibility in our contracts.

0:12:26.897,0:12:31.323
As we develop resources, we have to employ[br]universal design in our thinking about how

0:12:31.323,0:12:36.831
to make these resources available and we have[br]to continue to monitor students to see if

0:12:36.831,0:12:39.894
we're really delivering to them the resources[br]in a form that they can actually use.

0:12:50.385,0:12:54.177
(Michael K. Young) Accessibility requires effort[br]on the part of everyone in the higher education community...

0:12:54.177,0:12:57.155
faculty, staff, technology vendors.

0:12:57.170,0:13:00.475
If we all do our part, our institutions can provide everyone

0:13:00.475,0:13:06.498
with an equal opportunity to participate. And we all benefit from the perspectives of a diverse group.

0:13:06.498,0:13:11.985
(Hernan Londono) Having that peace of mind that we are doing all we can to provide an accessible campus is...

0:13:11.985,0:13:18.010
gives us a lot of pride and we feel very happy about what, what we do.

0:13:18.010,0:13:23.060
(Linda Cahill) Why wouldn't we make our campus[br]accessible to students with disabilities and

0:13:23.060,0:13:28.315
why wouldn't we do everything we could to[br]see the technology is accessible to our students?

0:13:28.315,0:13:34.325
(Tracy Mitrano) The spirit of what has made[br]higher education the jewel in the crown of American society

0:13:34.325,0:13:38.123
is part and parcel of the message of accessibility.

0:13:38.123,0:13:43.139
(Edward Ray) Every way in which we touch the lives[br]of others, whether it's in the classroom,

0:13:43.139,0:13:49.356
the laboratory, through live performances,[br]through events on campus,

0:13:49.356,0:13:56.279
we want everyone who comes here and creates those experiences to be as fully engaged

0:13:56.279,0:14:02.680
and as fully benefited by the activity as possible.

0:14:02.680,0:14:10.640
And that simply can't be done if people have artificial challenges or barriers to try to overcome.

0:14:10.640,0:14:14.728
I would say to those out there who are just getting started

0:14:14.728,0:14:18.535
or maybe struggling to figure out how to use technology

0:14:18.535,0:14:22.734
to advance accessibility on their campuses

0:14:22.734,0:14:26.592
that there's no such thing as a bad time to start.