IT Colleagues: from Accessibility Newbies into Accessibility Auditors

Handouts Media

Presented at 9:15am in Meadowbrook I/II on Thursday, November 15, 2018.

Speaker(s)

• Kristen Dabney, Assistive Technology Administrator, Harvard Extension School

Session Details

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

Summary

Tufts Student Accessibility Services office created accessibility testing guidelines designed to help IT professionals complete basic accessibility audits for digital products before they are purchased.

Abstract

As Tufts implemented its accessible procurement protocol, the need for a streamlined accessibility audit process became crucial. For a university to be proactive and evaluate product accessibility before purchase, a comprehensive auditing system must be in place. These audits (completed by our SAS-trained IT team) provide a more in-depth view than that described by a vendor’s VPAT. This simple to use guide enhanced campus-wide buy-in while also making forward progress on procurement audits. Attendees will learn the process used to initiate and develop these guidelines, the arguments successfully used to get the procurement process firmly in the IT office, the training process for IT auditors and best practices for sustainability beyond the initial training workshop. This session will conclude with a walk though of an example application using the guidelines developed by Tufts Student Accessibility Services office.

Keypoints

1. Training guide for IT professionals new to testing accessibility
2. Quick walk through Accessibility Audit process
3. Accessibility Review Instructions + Vendor Accessibility Report Checklist (WCAG 2.1 standards)

Disability Areas

All Areas

Topic Areas

Administrative/Campus Policy, Assistive Technology, Uncategorized

Speaker Bio(s)

Kristen Dabney

Kristen Dabney (they/them) graduated from Grinnell College with a degree in Physics, and later from University of Connecticut with a Postsecondary Disability Services Certification since the Physics degree wasn't saying "I'm interested in accessibility" loud enough. They currently works as an Assistive Technology Administrator at Harvard Extension School after working at several smaller Colleges.

Handout(s)

• IT Colleagues_ from Accessibility Newbies into Accessibility Auditors
• Accessibility Testing Instructions
• Vendor Accessibility Report Checklist
• IT Colleagues_ from Accessibility Newbies into Accessibility Auditors
• IT Colleagues_Accessibility_Auditors