Previous ProposalReturn to ScheduleNext Proposal

The Anatomy of an IT Accessibility Coordinator

Proposal No: 2712

Bios & Handouts

Speaker(s)

  • Greg Kraus, Principal Accessibility Specialist, Interactive Accessibility
  • Kara Zirkle, IT Accessibility Coordinator, George Mason

Disability Area:          


Topic Area:                  


Length of Session (in hours): 1-hrFormat: Lecture Expertise Level: BeginnerType of session: Not provided

Summary of Session

What does an IT Accessibility Coordinator do? Learn from experienced IT Accessibility Coordinators how a coordinator can both fit into and transform your campus accessibility efforts. Find out what has worked well for them, what has not worked well, and what challenges they still face.

Abstract

Many universities are creating positions for IT Accessibility Coordinators to help them create more accessible campuses, but what exactly does an IT Accessibility Coordinator do? What makes a good coordinator? What can a coordinator realistically accomplish and what unrealistic expectations can be placed on them? In this panel, three accessibility coordinators will give their perspectives on the roll of the coordinator within IT accessibility efforts on their campuses. They will share what strategies have worked well for them and the challenges they have encountered. Their stories will reveal that every campus accessibility effort is a unique journey, and that universities wanting to pursue positions like this cannot expect cookie cutter answers.

Keypoints

  1. Accessibility coordinators are involved in many different levels of accessibility implementation.
  2. Coordinators are not enough by themselves. Campuses must also develop support structures around them.
  3. Each campus is unique and must find a skill set for a coordinator that matches their needs and culture.

Speaker Bio(s)

Greg Kraus

Greg Kraus is the Principal Accessibility Specialist at Interactive Accessibility. He brings a breadth and depth of accessibility experience that is both engaging and transformative for organizations. Greg combines his experience of implementing accessibility at the institutional level with his technical ability to develop innovative software solutions. Greg takes a people-centered approach to accessibility – accessibility is about people who need access to products and services, and it’s about people who will be making changes to their own workflows in order to deliver accessible products and services. He meets people where they are, creates a vision for where they need to be, and then journeys with them to make it a reality. Previously Greg worked at NC State University as the IT Accessibility Coordinator. Where he developed many innovative accessibility solutions. He also led national accessibility efforts as the EDUCAUSE IT Accessibility Constituent Group Leader.

Kara Zirkle

Kara Zirkle is the IT Accessibility Coordinator at George Mason University. (can pull full bio from other proposals)

Handout(s)

bool(false)