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Creating a Cross-Institutional Equally Effectve Alternate Access Plan (EEAAP) Template: CSU and CCCs

Handouts

Scheduled at 11:15 am in Denver 1-3 on Wednesday, November 13.

#39951

Speaker(s)

  • Leon McNaught, Director, Digital Accessibility and Equity, California State University
  • Tom Siechert, Procurement Accessibility Specialist, 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: Beginner
  • Type of session: General Conference

Summary

The Equally Effective Alternative Access Planning (EEAAP) process is a core component of an articulated accessible procurement framework. Colleges can leverage the process to reduce user frustration, develop alternative means of access, and pre-plan for individualized accommodations.

This presentation discusses the benefits of a standardized process between the California Community Colleges and the California State University system, combined totaling 140 colleges and over two million students.

Abstract

Equally Effective Alternative Access Plans (EEAAPs) are a critical component of a fully articulated, accessible procurement process that reviews Information and Communication Technology (ICT) purchases for accessibility conformance. Accessibility validation processes identify real-world functional barriers, determine which user groups will be impacted and how, and serve as a foundation for developing plans to ensure an alternative means of access for users who otherwise would be blocked from using the technology.

Before this new harmonized framework was developed, most EEAAPs created didn’t meet the legal requirements to be considered equally effective, and many plans didn’t include a defined alternative means of access (e.g., not actually EEAAPs).

A new partnership between the California Community Colleges and the California State University system aims to refine existing EEAAP processes to ensure one of three clear outcomes:

1. Define an alternative means of access that is Equally Effective 2. Define an alternative means of access that is partially Equally Effective 3. Document effort to try to define an alternative means of access; Proactively communicate accessibility evaluation results, including describing the functional impact of barriers and noting the requirement to provide accommodations

In the CSU and CCC systems, proactive processes are leveraged to reduce end-user frustration and communicate with stakeholders. If a fully equally effective alternative access plan cannot be created, engaging in the process still collects valuable information that can be used to provide partially effective alternative access or workarounds and helps colleges proactively plan for addressing the needs of specific users who will need individualized accommodations.

Keypoints

  1. An EEAAP is created before individualized accommodations.
  2. A valuable EEAAP identifies barriers and impacted users and suggests alternatives or workarounds for ICT.
  3. The EEAAP process informs whether an Equally Effective Alternative is viable or if accommodations are needed.

Disability Areas

All Areas

Topic Areas

Procurement, Uncategorized

Speaker Bio(s)

Leon McNaught

Leon McNaught is the Director of Digital Accessibility and Equity for the California State University (CSU) system. Primarily, this work involves oversight of the Accessible Technology Initiative (ATI), a CSU system-wide Capability Maturity Model framework to improve digital accessibility among the 23-campus CSU. ATI focuses on three priority areas: web, instructional materials, and procurement. Leon’s previous work involved ATI implementation at the campus level since 2004, most recently at Cal State LA and, prior, at CSU San Bernardino.

Leon’s other work includes accessibility consulting, and he is the Chair of the board of Blindness Support Services in Riverside, CA. Leon has worked in the field of assistive technology and accessibility in higher education for over two decades, which provides a breadth of experience in an ever-changing field.

Tom Siechert

Tom is the Procurement Accessibility Specialist for the California Community Colleges Accessibility Center. He has 21 years of experience in higher education, which included 17 years serving as an IT Procurement Officer, and 7 years leading the development of a standardized accessible Procurement framework for a large university system.

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)