Navigating Excellence and Collaboration: Exploring Centers of Excellence and Communities of Practice in Accessibility

Scheduled at 1:45 pm in Colorado I-J on Thursday, November 14.

Speaker(s)

• Kevin Rydberg, Managing Accessibility Consultant, Siteimprove

Session Details

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

Summary

In the journey towards digital accessibility, organizations often start with individual contributors tasked with accessibility responsibilities. As the demand for inclusive digital experiences grows, there's a shift towards Communities of Practice or Centers of Excellence. CoPs promote decentralized learning and innovation, while CoEs centralize expertise and resources. This presentation will compare and contrast both methods, explore their roles, explore their roles, benefits, and strategies.

Abstract

In today's dynamic organizational landscape, the quest for excellence and collaboration remains paramount. This conference session delves into the contrasting yet complementary examples of Centers of Excellence (CoEs) and Communities of Practice (CoPs), offering insights into their roles, structures, and impacts within organizational dynamics. Beginning with an exploration of the fundamental definitions and objectives of CoEs and CoPs, this presentation delves into the workings of their purpose, focus, and structural frameworks. Attendees will gain an understanding of how CoEs serve as centralized hubs of expertise, driving innovation, and strategic initiatives within specific domains, while CoPs foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and professional development among practitioners with shared interests or goals. Through a comparative lens, the session navigates through key dimensions such as leadership and governance, membership and participation, expertise and knowledge sharing, resources and support services, and alignment with organizational goals. Attendees will uncover the different approaches to leadership, decision-making, and community engagement inherent in CoEs and CoPs, as well as the varying methods for sharing expertise, distributing knowledge, and promoting collaboration. The session delves into the broader impacts and implications of CoEs and CoPs on organizational culture, performance, and strategic outcomes. Attendees will explore how CoEs drive excellence, innovation, and organizational alignment, while CoPs foster a sense of community, belonging, and shared purpose among practitioners. Real-world examples will illustrate the practical applications and outcomes of each approach across diverse industries and organizational contexts. This session invites attendees in navigating the complex interplay between excellence and collaboration within organizational dynamics. By breaking down the complexities, participants will gain valuable insights.

Keypoints

1. Organizations are shifting towards collaborative methods like CoPs or CoEs to address digital accessibility.
2. Both CoPs and CoEs play a role in driving organizational change and promoting a culture of accessibility.
3. Both methods promote accessibility collaboration and continuous improvement across departments.

Disability Areas

All Areas

Topic Areas

Other, Uncategorized

Speaker Bio(s)

Kevin Rydberg

Kevin Rydberg is responsible for guiding and supporting businesses and organizations on their journeys to create accessible websites. With more than 20 years of experience in the multimedia and web development space, including enterprise redesign and accessibility overhauls, Kevin is a critical partner for Siteimprove customers when it comes to creating successful and sustainable accessibility programs.

Kevin has spoken and presented workshops at international conferences and events, including the Guelph Accessibility Conference at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, CSUN Assistive Technology Conference, EDUCAUSE Higher Education IT Conference, and the Conference of States Parties to the CRPD (Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities), at the United Nations, New York, NY.

Away from the office, Kevin continues to work on his BBQ skills. His brisket has received high praise from native Texans. He also enjoys traveling with his family to different locations around the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico.