CIC Accessibility Collaboration, A Model for multi-institution collaboration

Handouts

Presented at 8:00am in Windsor on Thursday, November 17, 2016.

#4953

Speaker(s)

  • Joe Humbert, Principal Accessibility Analyst, Indiana University
  • Todd Weissenberger, Web Accessibility Coordinator, University of Iowa
  • Kirk Corey, IT Accessibility Coordinator, University of Iowa

Session Details

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

Summary

This panel session will discuss the model the CIC IT Accessibility Group has been using to collaborate, share resources, and develop best practices with the goal of improving access to IT resources for individuals with disabilities across institutions with the support and active involvement from Institution CIOs.

Abstract

Since 2011 the IT Accessibility Group with representation from all Big Ten universities (plus the University of Chicago) have been collaborating under the auspices of the Committee for Institutional Cooperation (CIC) to improve access to IT resources for people with disabilities across institutions. The group was chartered by the CIOs of the member institutions and has active participation from this leadership. Over the past 5 years the group as collaborated on multiple projects including: accessibility evaluation tools, captioning best practices, an accessible media player, and vendor accessibility guidance. During that time the group has learning what collaboration methodologies do and do not work for a diverse multi-institution collaboration. This panel session will cover the model used by the group for effective collaboration. The model can be adapted by other multi-institutional group to help produce tangible outcomes without overtaxing individual institution or member resources.

Keypoints

  1. How to structure and organize a multi-institution collaboration.
  2. How to collaboratively develop resources for use by institutions with diverse organizational structure.
  3. How to effectively utilize group resources and member efforts to produce tangible and shareable results.

Disability Areas

Cognitive/Learning, Deaf/Hard of Hearing, Mobility, Vision

Topic Areas

Administrative/Campus Policy, Alternate Format, Web/Media/App Access

Speaker Bio(s)

Joe Humbert

Joe Humbert serves as the Principal Accessibility Analyst for University Information Technology Services at Indiana University. In this role, he leads the UITS Accessibility Initiative to ensure the accessibility of Indiana University Information Technologies and services. Joe has worked in the higher education accessibility field since 2003. He has participated on multiple local and national higher education accessibility advisory groups including: CIC, Box.com, Sakai, Canvas and Google. Joe continues working to promote access to the professional and educational opportunities of higher education for all students, faculty, and staff with disabilities.

Todd Weissenberger

Since 2011, Todd Weissenberger has served as the Web Accessibility Coordinator at the University of Iowa. In this role, he leads accessibility efforts pertaining to university web resources, provides guidance and training on accessibility standards and practices, and consults with technical staff, project managers, IT leadership and other campus stakeholders on strategic and tactical approaches to web and IT accessibility. A member of the CIC CIOs IT Accessibility Group since 2011, he currently co-chairs that committee's Accessibility Training and Badging group. Prior to coming to Iowa, Todd served from 2002-2011 as Senior Web Designer and Unit IT Manager at the University of New Mexico Center for Development and Disability.

Kirk Corey

Kirk Corey is the IT Accessibility Coordinator for the University of Iowa. In this role, he and the Web Accessibility Coordinator work together to assess the state of accessibility for the university, provide training and consulting for faculty, staff and students, serve as the liaison to senior IT leadership and to other groups outside of IT, and maintain the university’s IT accessibility policy. Kirk also serves as the IT Director for the College of Law at the University of Iowa.

Handout(s)