Building an accessible campus experience: Tools to remove obstacles and reduce friction

Handouts

Presented at 8:00am in Colorado I-J on Thursday, November 17, 2022.

Speaker(s)

• Laura Miller, Director of Business Development, Vispero
• Mike Wood, Strategic Accounts Manager, Vispero

Session Details

• Length of Session: 1-hr
• Format: Interactive/Discussion
• Expertise Level: All Levels
• Type of session: General Conference

Summary

What are the appropriate tools for an accessible campus experience? How can you leverage technology and tools to improve accessibility and remove barriers to access, learning, and student life? From hardware to self service kiosks, digital technology and more, what is included in your responsibilities as you focus on improving the experience for blind and low vision users on campus? What barriers to accessibility still exist and how can they be overcome using assistive technology?

Abstract

This will be an interactive discussion to list pain points and barriers to accessibility and then identify and discuss tools to reduce friction.

Discussion of example pain points: Digital accessibility, Physical closed systems (lockers, library checkout, bill payment, etc.), In person classroom educational experience etc.

Discussion of example solutions: Services to make digital assets accessible, Access to blind/low vision software such as screen reader and zoom, Kiosk accessibility software and services, OCR or physical magnifiers, and more.

Keypoints

1. Barriers to accessibility exist across the campus experience, across various areas of ownership
2. Once barriers are identified, ownership of the problem/solution should be clear/determined.
3. Solutions are easily identified and include a list of tools that include easy access to assistive technology

Disability Areas

Vision

Topic Areas

Assistive Technology, Uncategorized

Speaker Bio(s)

Laura Miller

Laura Boniello Miller brings a wealth of experience in the area of kiosk system software and hardware, having spent six years in the kiosk industry across vertical markets such as: museums, libraries, higher education, health care, government, and more. She is a Corporate Business Development Manager for the JAWS Kiosk program at Vispero, parent company of TPGi and Freedom Scientific, to name a few. She writes & speaks prolifically on all things kiosk-accessibility related. Prior to her move to the kiosk industry, Miller spent 5 years working in Higher Education Admission at Franklin & Marshall College. She graduated from Yale University (BA) and the University of Pennsylvania (MS) studying Organizational Behavior and Educational Leadership.

Mike Wood

Michael Wood has been working in the Assistive Technology and Low Vision/Blindness field for 17 years. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business and Marketing before beginning his career in Assistive Technology. He is a member of the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired and the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Professionals. Currently his position has him focusing on supporting students and educators in the Blindness and Low Vision areas by providing software and hardware to help individuals succeed with independence.?

Handout(s)

• Vispero Deck

Douglas Gerry

Douglas Gerry is the National Director of Software Sales for Vispero. He grew up in Maine and moved back to Maine to be close to his family after 30 years in California. Douglas has spent more than 20 years working in the assistive technology industry. He made a change of career from owning a restaurant in San Francisco after losing much of his site in the mid-90s. It was at this time that Douglas was first exposed to the power of assistive technology, specifically JAWS. He got his first start with ALVA, a braille display manufacturer as a regional sales manager. He has since been a sales director for a video magnifier manufacturer, and the general manager for an assistive technology distributor in California. Douglas credits assistive technology for much of his own personal and professional success. Over the years he has seen how assistive technology opens doors and fosters independence for many who are blind or vision impaired. Today Douglas is proud to be part of the Vispero team where he continues to use Assistive technology to reach his own professional goals and by doing so he hopes to make a difference for others.