Moving from a Web Policy to an EIT Standard: Success and Growing Pains We Experienced

Handouts

Presented at 9:15am in Cotton Creek II on Thursday, November 16, 2017.

Speaker(s)

• Dean Brusnighan, Assistive Technology Specialist, Purdue University

Session Details

• Length of Session: 1-hr
• Format: Lecture
• Expertise Level: Beginner
• Type of session: General Conference

Summary

This session will review Purdue University’s journey from a policy covering only web accessibility to one encompassing electronic and information technology (EIT) accessibility. We’ll discuss our implementation plan and ongoing support strategy. We’ll share what worked well, and lessons learned along the way.

Abstract

Purdue University had an existing web accessibility policy. During summer 2017, it was replaced with a standard that addresses electronic and information technology (EIT) accessibility. (A standard is like a policy but in theory easier to modify later.) Our EIT accessibility standard encompasses web, instructional materials, procurement, and several other categories.

Knowing that other universities might be considering EIT accessibility policies, we want to share our experiences regarding implementation. We will discuss how the implementation plan and ongoing support strategy was created, then put into action. We’ll share what worked well during implementation, and what was less successful. We will identify lessons learned as well as things we would do differently if we could.

Following our conversation about implementation, we will discuss the challenges of ensuring compliance with this new standard.

Keypoints

1. Key ingredients of creating an implementation plan and ongoing support strategy
2. Pain points we experienced and what we would do differently if we could
3. Challenges of ensuring compliance

Disability Areas

Topic Areas

Administrative/Campus Policy, Uncategorized

Speaker Bio(s)

Dean Brusnighan

Dean Brusnighan is an Assistive Technology Specialist on Purdue University’s West Lafayette campus. His primary focus is on long-term and campus-wide IT accessibility needs. He consults with faculty and staff, and provides training on creating inclusive instructional materials. Dean advocates for improved accessibility policy and practice. He is also an active member of the Big Ten Academic Alliance IT Accessibility Group.

Handout(s)

• Purdue University 11 Key Accessibility Questions for Vendors AHG 2017
• Purdue Web Policy to EIT Standard AHG 2017