Presented at 8:00am in Independence on Wednesday, November 16, 2022.
#36243Speaker(s)
- Rachel Elliott, Teaching & Learning Consultant, University of Texas at San Antonio
- Vanessa Garza, Learning Experience Accessibility Specialist, University of Texas at San Antonio
Session Details
- Length of Session: 1-hr
- Format: Interactive/Discussion
- Expertise Level: Beginner
- Type of session: General Conference
Summary
The Digital Accessibility Team at the University of Texas at San Antonio is still in the early stages of shifting our campus culture to be a more proactive approach to accessibility. In this presentation we will share our process of taking the necessary step of creating our “orbit” for campus-wide support and communication. We will share our experience of determining who the key players are, joining existing working groups/committees, and filling the gaps by creating new working groups/committees.
Abstract
The process of shifting a campus culture can be daunting to say the least. The Digital Accessibility Team at the University of Texas at San Antonio hopes to provide insight into some of the steps we have taken to begin this process. In sharing our experiences, it is our goal to demystify key elements of this important work. This presentation will demonstrate how our team determined what important lines of communication and support were needed to be successful in our mission. Attendees will also learn about the kinds of existing workgroups/committees that we felt we needed to join, provide the reasoning behind this choice, and how we went about doing so. Finally, we will explain why we created new working groups/committees and how these filled a need that was not currently being met by other groups. Participants will leave this presentation with an understanding of how we chose to tackle this important aspect of creating a culture shift when you are working as a small team.
Keypoints
- Determine the areas where improved communication is vital.
- Join existing working groups/committees that facilitate direct communication
- Creating essential working groups, committees, and contacts.
Disability Areas
Topic Areas
Accessible Course Design, Accessible Educational Materials, Administrative/Campus Policy, Faculty Development & Support, Uncategorized, Universal Design for Learning, Web/Media/App Access
Speaker Bio(s)
Rachel Elliott
Rachel Elliott, based in San Antonio, Texas, is a seasoned Teaching & Learning Consultant at The University of Texas at San Antonio, where she has significantly contributed to enhancing faculty engagement and knowledge retention. With a Master of Arts in Rhetoric & Composition from Texas State University, Rachel has over four years of experience in professional development facilitation, stakeholder management, and Learning Management System (LMS) support.
At UTSA, she has implemented diverse learning methodologies aligned with emerging research trends. Rachel is skilled in developing effective training strategies that connect learning to business priorities, driving desired outcomes. She has also been instrumental in analyzing course evaluation data to improve the content and effectiveness of various initiatives, including grants and faculty development programs.
Vanessa Garza
Vanessa worked as an educator, developer, and instructional designer before developing a passion for creating accessible content in higher education. Vanessa currently focuses on training and supporting faculty to create accessible content and promote a culture of inclusive education.