Presented at 8:00am in Plaza Court 1 on Thursday, November 18, 2021.
#34054Speaker(s)
- Michele Bromley, Manager, Digital Accessibility and Content, Portland State University
Session Details
- Length of Session: 1-hr
- Format: Lecture
- Expertise Level: Beginner
- Type of session: General Conference
Summary
One of the biggest barriers to digital accessibility in higher education is limited awareness. This presentation will detail Portland State University’s efforts to facilitate lasting accessibility change through awareness and capacity building, focusing on practical resources, sustainable support models, and strategic communication.
Abstract
Barriers to digital accessibility in higher education are not typically related to willful resistance. More often, it comes down to limited awareness, a measurable lack of practical knowledge related to the need for accessible design. Faculty and staff are often unaware that their digital content might be inaccessible to people with disabilities. This presentation will detail Portland State University’s efforts to facilitate lasting accessibility change through awareness and capacity building. Our efforts have resulted in scalable consultation support; a growing IT Accessibility Knowledge Base; cohort-based certification opportunities; large-scale professional development events; self-paced remediation practicums; and coordinated communications around critical digital accessibility themes. These interrelated and often interdependent efforts have resulted in dramatically increased awareness and associated commitment to digital accessibility change efforts at Portland State University.
Keypoints
- Meaningful accessibility change efforts in higher education begin with awareness and capacity building.
- Modifying existing training systems to include accessibility can be the quickest path to increased awareness.
- Sustainable accessibility support models depend on continued awareness through communication and practice.
Disability Areas
All Areas
Topic Areas
Administrative/Campus Policy, Uncategorized
Speaker Bio(s)
Michele Bromley
Michele Joy Bromley, MA, ADS, CPWA, is a digital accessibility and inclusivity specialist, currently supporting the Office of Information Technology (OIT) at Portland State University (PSU) as the manager of the Digital Accessibility and Content team. Michele is a Certified Professional in Web Accessibility (CPWA) and Accessible Document Specialist (ADS) through the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP). Her primary areas of expertise are project and change management, enterprise service management, and accessible digital procurement, design, validation, remediation, and incident response. She has presented on these topics for the Postsecondary Disability Training Institute, the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD), AHEAD’s Accessible Media, Web and Technology Conference (Accessing Higher Ground), and EDUCAUSE.