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Presenter(s)
Jared Smith
WebAIM (Web Accessibility In Mind)
6800 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322
435-797-7024
Mike Lyman
WebAIM (Web Accessibility In Mind)
6800 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322
435-797-8284
DESCRIPTION:
Although all students are guaranteed access to the general education curriculum under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, most online and Web-based content used in K-12 settings is inaccessible to students with disabilities. Implementing a system-wide Web accessibility policy is the most effective method for ensuring that all students can access curricular content that is online. An 8-step process for creating, implementing, and supporting such a policy will be outlined:
1. Gaining Top-level Support
2. Organizing a Web Accessibility Committee 3. Defining a Standard 4. Creating an Implementation Plan 5. Gathering Baseline Information 6. Providing Training and Technical Support 7. Monitoring Conformance 8. Remaining Flexible Through the Changes
We will also showcase how this policy has been implemented in Western Heights School District (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) to increase the accessibility of Web-based content within a state-wide content delivery system.
Gaining Top-level Support
Gaining top-level support for accessibility issues within your organization is vital, as most organizational change cannot occur unless supported from the top. When an organization commits to Web accessibility at a top level, there are three important consequences:
• Increased visibility of the issue throughout the organization
• Planning and dedication of resources to insure success
• Commitment to long-term positive outcomes All three of these are vital to the long-term success of a reform effort.
In order to have an impact on those in upper administration, you must be well informed and able to "make the case" for Web accessibility. In doing so, you can influence decisions that impact the lives of individuals with disabilities in a very real way.
Organizing a Web Accessibility Committee Once the leadership at your organization supports the importance of Web accessibility, a group should be formed to draft accessibility policies and to see the process through its implementation. It is vital that this group be comprised of the major stakeholders of your organization. Those chosen should be respected and have the ability to influence change with their colleagues. They must also be able to commit the time necessary to see the process through. This could be a substantial commitment, sometimes lasting for years.
Defining a Standard
Determine then that the first task of the Web accessibility committee be the development of a Web accessibility standard for your organization. A clear, appropriate standard will enable everyone to understand the level of accessibility your organization will employ. It will also act as a planning guide for developers; they will know precisely what elements they must include in their design to meet the standard. Furthermore, this standard will serve as the template in any future monitoring effort.
Creating an Implementation Plan
An implementation plan will help you execute your standard over time. Your standard won't be taken seriously unless you have an action plan associated with it. Taken together, the accessibility standard and the implementation plan form the Web accessibility policy. The importance of a clearly defined Web accessibility policy cannot be overstated.
When you construct your Web implementation plan, there are four areas that must be addressed in detail and in a written plan. They are:
• Establishing timelines,
• Setting priorities for standards achievement,
• Delegating responsibilities, and
• Monitoring progress.
• Gathering Baseline Information
Once your standard is selected and finalized in your Web accessibility policy, it is time to discover how your organization will fair against this new standard. This information is best gathered through a formal analysis procedure, which then will help you know where to concentrate your reform efforts. Technical people familiar with HTML will need to take part in this process.
The baseline information collected will help you measure your progress in meeting the new accessibility standard. Future monitoring efforts will also benefit from the work completed during this step.
Providing Training and Technical Support Once you have support from the organization, policies and plans in place, as well as a baseline of your current situation, the next step is to provide training and technical assistance for those who place content on the Web. Training is a critical element in the implementation and success of your coordination efforts. Web accessibility may be a brand new issue for many who will be responsible for its implementation. The training and support you provide will be absolutely necessary to help them fulfill the policies that have been established.
Monitoring Conformance The only way to maintain accessibility over time is to have a system in place that makes monitoring possible. Review your implementation plan and evaluate your progress in terms of the timelines and guidelines established. Go through the plan section by section and be certain everything is moving along according to plan. This is the time to make sure that all goals for implementation are being fulfilled.
Remaining Flexible Through the Changes
One thing is consistent across all organizations: things change, and you have to be flexible to accommodate those changes. Web accessibility reform is a dynamic process. There will be changes in staff, standards, and technologies. Your organization must have a system in place to handle these changes. In fact, there should be allowances and provisions made for this in all your policy plans.
The main ideology of the model will apply across all organizations with each entity adapting this basic model to fit their unique circumstances.
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