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Promoting Accessibility Across the California Community Colleges with the Accessibility Capability Maturity Model

Handouts

Scheduled at 9:00 am in Colorado G-H on Thursday, November 14.

#39552

Speaker(s)

  • Dawn Okinaka, Director, California Community Colleges Technology Center
  • Christine Fundell, Program Manager-Section 508, California Community Colleges Technology Center

Session Details

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

Summary

The California Community Colleges Accessibility Capability Maturity Model (CCC ACMM) promotes a cultural shift by infusing accessibility into processes and procedures. The CCC ACMM provides a roadmap that promotes student equity and boosts compliance efforts through an iterative approach. This session will introduce the CCC ACMM, provide an overview of the CCC Accessibility Center’s systemwide rollout, and discuss how building capacity with a maturity model increases proactive accessibility.

Abstract

With 1.8 million students at 117 colleges, the California Community Colleges (CCC) is the largest system of higher education in the country. The CCC Accessibility Center is proud to introduce the Accessibility Capability Maturity Model (ACMM), a flexible framework that takes the broad concept of accessibility and breaks it down into achievable goals and milestones so colleges and districts can drive accessibility forward.

The CCC ACMM promotes a cultural shift for colleges and districts by incorporating accessibility into existing business processes to achieve higher levels of accessibility maturity, while respecting current resources. The CCC ACMM mitigates risk through iterative improvement and proactively addresses Office of Civil Rights (OCR) settlement requirements in a manageable timeline based on campus resources. The ACMM also aligns with Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility efforts.

This session will introduce the CCC ACMM goals and milestones, provide an overview of how the CCC Accessibility Center is rolling out this effort across the system, and will explore why building capacity with a maturity model is an effective method to increase proactive accessibility across all college programs and activities.

Topics and Key Points - The California Community Colleges Accessibility Center developed a capability maturity model to align proactive accessibility efforts across the system - Capability maturity models provide a path toward college-wide accessibility through iterative improvement across achievable, measurable milestones - The CCC ACMM promotes a cultural shift that incorporates accessibility into existing business processes in order to achieve higher levels of accessibility maturity throughout the institution

Keypoints

  1. A Capability Maturity Model framework drives accessibility forward.
  2. Accommodations do not equal equity. Implementing an ACMM can reduce the cost of providing accommodations.
  3. CCC ACMM incorporates accessibility across existing processes to increase accessibility maturity in colleges.

Disability Areas

Topic Areas

Accessible Course Design, Faculty Development & Support, Other, Procurement, Uncategorized, Web/Media/App Access

Speaker Bio(s)

Dawn Okinaka

Dawn Okinaka is the Director of the California Community Colleges Accessibility Center. Dawn has more than fifteen years of accessibility subject matter expertise, having worked with government agencies, technology vendors and higher education, including the California State University system, California State Department of Social Services, and the State University New York (SUNY) as an Accessibility Subject Matter Expert and trainer. Her extensive work in higher education accessibility initiatives includes developing processes, procedures and best practices related to accessible procurement, web and instructional materials for the California State University Office of the Chancellor. Dawn has been with the California Community Colleges Accessibility Center for more than three years.

Dawn has a Master of Arts in Education Technology and a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science and Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis in Ethnic Studies, both from California State University, Sacramento. She also holds a Trusted Tester Certification for website testing. She is a member of professional organizations including the International Association of Accessibility Professionals, Access Technology in Higher Education and the Association on Higher Education and Disability.

Christine Fundell

Christine Fundell joined the California Community Colleges Accessibility Center as the inaugural 508 Program Manager in October 2022. Christine has been committed to accessibility in higher education for over 15 years, with focus on developing policies, procedures and best practices to ensure digital inclusion of all students, faculty and staff.

Handout(s)