Utilizing Campus Resources to Reduce Outsourcing Costs

Date & Time

Friday, March 17, 2023 - 11:20 AM PST  

Location

Grand CD  

Description

In the summer of 2016, 3 blind students enrolled at Salem State University in 3 very different programs. It had been years since we had worked with a blind student, and it was a trial by fire and a lot of learning as we went. Initially we depended a lot on outsourcing textbooks and complex materials to outside vendors, but over time we slowly transitioned to producing all Braille, tactile graphics, and alternative format course materials ourselves, in-house, at a significant cost-savings to the institution. Student workers and investing in a few updated products helped make this happen. When the pandemic came along, we were able to use some of the same work flows and existing students workers to assist faculty in captioning recorded lectures for their online courses. Join us as we share our trials, victories, and practical strategies that worked, and continues to work, for the now 6 blind students we have had (and have) the pleasure of working with, as well as the ways it has helped our university culture overall.

This Presentation Link is provided by the Presenter(s) and not hosted by the Center on Disabilities at CSUN. The Center on Disabilities has confirmed, as of May 8, 2023, content linked is relevant to the presentation, but has not been reviewed for accessibility nor will the Center on Disabilities attempt to remediate any accessibility issues in the linked content. Please contact the Presenter(s) with any accessibility concerns.

 

Audience

Higher Education

Audience Level

Beginning  

Session Summary (Abstract)

We will be sharing lessons learned from working with blind students who have attended our university. We switched from sending textbooks and complex materials to outside vendors, to producing all Braille and tactile graphics ourselves for much less.  

Primary Topic

Blind/Low Vision  

Secondary Topics

Education  

Session Type

General Track  

Presenters

• Jennifer McDowell
  Salem State University
• Lisa Bibeau
  Salem State University

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