Presented at 3:30pm in Westminster IV on Thursday, January 1, 2019.
#29780Speaker(s)
- Kristen Dabney, Assistive Technology Administrator, Harvard Extension School
Session Details
- Length of Session: 1-hr
- Format: Lecture
- Expertise Level: Beginner
- Type of session: General Conference
Summary
Like many universities, there is an increased demand for accessibility staff to be involved in policy implementation in addition to the one on one support they provide to students with disabilities. This is one person’s lessons learned while balancing both modes of support throughout the academic year.
Abstract
Due to the time-consuming nature of developing university-wide accessibility policies and subsequent implementations, it can be challenging to manage these initiatives while continuing to meet the daily demands of an AT specialist position, such as providing direct accommodation support to students, especially for those requiring in-depth alternative text conversions (such as digital or Braille). Over the last two years, I have worked to balance both of these responsibilities, requiring that I streamline my alternative text conversion processes to make more time for collaborating with campus partners to develop and implement university-wide policies for procurement and digital accessibility. This talk will focus in depth on the processes I utilized in my role to balance multiple priorities, as well as the hurdles faced, and lessons learned in the process.
Keypoints
- Approaches to streamline and organize alternative text process
- Working with campus partners to increase accessibility, often through policy work implementation
- One method of balancing individualized support and accessibility policy implementation
Disability Areas
Topic Areas
Administrative/Campus Policy, Assistive Technology, Uncategorized
Speaker Bio(s)
Kristen Dabney
Kristen Dabney (they/them) graduated from Grinnell College with a degree in Physics, and later from University of Connecticut with a Postsecondary Disability Services Certification since the Physics degree wasn't saying "I'm interested in accessibility" loud enough. They currently works as an Assistive Technology Administrator at Harvard Extension School after working at several smaller Colleges.