Implementing System-wide Web Accessibility

Jonathan Whit ing

Improving Digital Access on the College & University Campus

August 25, 2011

GOALS Consortium(or what I call the “NASCAR slide”)

The need for the GOALS project1. Successful adoption of accessibi l i ty

requires a knowledge of technical as wel l as strategic accessibi l i ty.

2. There are many resources relat ing to technical accessibi l i ty, but very few for strategic access ibi l i ty.

3. There is l i t t le ( i f any) data about the real cost of inst i tut ional access ibi l i ty.

4. Inst i tut ions need solut ions, not more problems.

GOALS model for reform

1. Make a Choice2. Make the Case3. Make a Plan4. Make it Happen

1. Make a ChoiceHow GOALS can help

• Presentat ions ( l ike this one)• Action Paper for Higher Educat ion

Administrators www.ncdae.org/goals /act ionpaper.cfm

• Handouts for recruitment

1. Make a ChoiceLessons learned

• As accessibility gains ground, consider adding more than one person, or splitting the work.

• An accessibility champion can become an accessibility tyrant.

• What happens if that champion moves on?

2. Make the CaseHow GOALS can help

• Action Paper• Resources demonstrating how web

accessibility may tie into regional accreditation

• Templates to help create an accessibility proposal

• Case studies

2. Make the CaseLessons learned

• Ground-level adoption is important.• Look to your University’s mission

statement.• Most people want to do the right thing.• Include people with disabilities when

making the pitch.• If avoiding legal trouble is the primary

motivator, compliance is usually the goal.

3. Make a PlanHow GOALS can help

• Templates to help you form your committee, create a policy, create an action plan

• Best Practice Indicators for Web Accessibility in Higher Education www.ncdae.org/goals/indicators.cfm

• Benchmarking & Planning Tool (Coming next month) www.ncdae.org/goals/planningtool.php

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Screenshot of GOALS benchmarking and planning tool assessment of Indicator 2: Planning and Implementation. Displays progress of team members and progress on the process

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3. Make a PlanLessons learned

• Web Accessibility is often passed around, but sometimes it’s because no one knows where to put it.

• Universities love committees.• Include key players frequently, other

stakeholders occasionally.

4. Make it HappenHow GOALS can help

• Templates and resources added regularly

• Coming Soon: Communities of Practice Resources for Content Creators

4. Make it HappenLessons learned

• Institutional Accessibility is not easy (or everyone would do it).

• You won’t get it all right the first time.• There are more of us than we think. We

need to work together.

GOALS is seeking:• Participating institutions to use

the Self-Study tool. • First 50 institutions receive a free

Premium tool account.• Institutions to take part in our

cost study.

Contact me:jonathan@webaim.org435-797-8284

Thank you!

• More information on the GOALS project- http:/ /ncdae.org/goals

• Additional web accessibil ity resources- http:/ /webaim.org