#41201
Speaker(s)
- Alison Haynes, Assistant Director, Digital Accessibility and Divisional Communications, Kent State University
Session Details
- Length of Session: 1-hr
- Format: Lecture
- Expertise Level: All Levels
- Type of session: General Conference
Summary
ChatGPT-4o has become my go-to partner for digital accessibility work—saving time and supporting strategy, communication, and execution. In this session, I’ll share real examples of using AI to evaluate tools, review VPATs, build working groups, generate poll questions, draft comms, and more. Whether you're AI-curious or already experimenting, you’ll walk away with practical ways to make ChatGPT part of your process.
Abstract
When you're leading digital accessibility efforts across a large university system, the work spans everything from high-level strategy and stakeholder engagement to hands-on tasks like VPAT reviews and screen reader testing. It’s fast-paced, unpredictable, and requires constant pivots between communication, compliance, and technical execution.
That’s where ChatGPT has become an indispensable partner—one that has saved me dozens of hours while helping me move faster, think more clearly, and stay focused on the big picture.
In this session, I’ll walk through how I’ve used ChatGPT as a trusted collaborator across nearly every area of my accessibility work. Together, we’ve evaluated global LMS tools, reviewed VPATs and RFP submissions, and even unpacked formal accessibility complaints.
I’ve relied on ChatGPT to turn scattered feedback into strategy, crunch messy data into insights, and co-create everything from poll questions and breakout activities to working group names and statewide collaboration ideas (hi, ODAWG!).
Whether you're looking to streamline content creation, brainstorm ideas faster, or just need an always-available thought partner, this session offers a real-world look at the powerful—and practical—ways AI can support your accessibility mission.
*Abstract joint composed by Alison and her AI partner
Keypoints
- Integrating AI into accessibility workflows allows more cognitive bandwidth for human-only work
- ChatGPT can speed up common enterprise-level accessibility tasks at organizations of all sizes
- Effective prompts can save time, maximize efforts, and improve accessibility knowledge
Disability Areas
All Areas
Topic Areas
Accessibility and Accommodation in the Current Political/Legal Environment, Artificial Intelligence, Uncategorized
Speaker Bio(s)
Alison Haynes
Alison Haynes directs digital accessibility and divisional content strategy for the Division of Information Technology at Kent State University. Under her leadership, digital accessibility’s profile has grown exponentially. In tandem with Student Accessibility Services, Alison launched The Equal Access Academy in 2022, which has had over three thousand attendees of accessibility-related trainings. The Inside Equal Access newsletter, also launched in 2022, reaches thousands each month and serves as a platform for storytelling, inspiration, and accessibility tools. Creating the Equal Access Cooperative and co-chairing the Equal Access Committee have provided an umbrella under which many teams on campus work together to remove barriers for students and employees. Alison's communications for the Division of Information Technology focus on advocating for both abled users and those with disabilities by teaching clear storytelling, plain writing, and accessible design. Alison’s master’s degree is from Kent State University in User Experience Design.