Understanding Accessibility and Civil Rights at California State University

Explore the importance of accessibility at California State University, including initiatives and legal obligations for providing universal access. Learn about the civil rights aspect of accessibility, campus-wide approaches, and the role of the Disability Resources Office in ensuring equal opportunities for all individuals.

• Accessibility
• Civil Rights
• California State University
• Universal Access
• Disability Resources

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1. CSU Logo California State University, Accessible Technology Initiative Providing Universal Access - Bridging the Digital Divide Cheryl Pruitt Accessible Technology Director California State University, Office of the Chancellor

2. Agenda What is Accessibility? Three approaches to implementing accessibility Systemwide approach - formal Campus wide approach - formal Grassroots - informal Legal Neglecting Accessibility... A Closer Look Risk Defense CSU logo California State University, Accessible Technology Initiative

3. Who are you? System Administrator Campus Administrator Faculty Staff Legislator Anybody else? CSU logo California State University, Accessible Technology Initiative

4. Digital Divide LMS Library Databases Documents Digital Course readers Websites Accessibility Phones Text books Multi- media California State University, Accessible Technology Initiative

5. Functional Definition of Accessibility Provides student the opportunity to: 1. Acquire the same information 2. Engage in the same interactions 3. Enjoy the same services UDL On Campus: Legal Obligations for Accessibility

6. US Department of Justice 1. Obtain the same result 2. To gain the same benefit 3. or have the same opportunity to reach the same level of achievement as persons without disabilities Food for thought: Department questions whether alternative means would be likely to provide an equal degree of access Americans with Disabilities Act Title II Regulations

7. Accessibility Accessibility is is a civil right a civil right Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA, 1990) Campus violations can result in charges of discriminatory practices by the Office of Civil Rights (OCR). Get buy-in from faculty, staff, and administration on the importance of accessibility as a civil right

8. Are you familiar with the services offered by your campus Disability Resources Office? CSU logo California State University, Accessible Technology Initiative

9. Systemwide Approach Formal California State University, Accessible Technology Initiative

10. CSU ATI Framework: Policy - 3 Priority Areas - Strategies Capability Maturity Model: 25 Goals & 150+ Success Indicators Continuous Business Process Improvement with Strong Executive Support Make a Campus Plan ATI Framework CSU logo California State University, Accessible Technology Initiative Measure Progress Work the Campus Plan CSU Systemwide Audit and Business Services

11. Cultural of Inclusivity Inclusivity Universal Design Legislation and standards OCR: Office of Civil Rights ATI California State University, Accessible Technology Initiative

12. Consistency Collaboration Benefits of systemwide approach Shared Services Increased capacity Reduce duplicated effort Cost savings

13. Campus Approach Formal California State University, Accessible Technology Initiative

14. Executive Support Promote accessibility as a civil right Create a Universal Access Framework Build on existing frameworks Prioritize accessibility work Provide tools and training Provide resources (money and people)

15. Word and PDF remediation tools With Some Funding Captioning service Alternate media services Document remediation services California State University, Accessible Technology Initiative

16. Campus Accessibility Program Does your campus have a formal accessibility program? California State University, Accessible Technology Initiative

17. The Informal Approach Champions Grassroots California State University, Accessible Technology Initiative

18. Informal Approach: Grassroots Are you an accessibility champion? Does your campus have a grassroots accessibility effort? California State University, Accessible Technology Initiative

19. Grassroots Approach You can make a difference! California State University, Accessible Technology Initiative

20. Provide multiple means of engagement: When students do not face barriers to accessing materials their engagement increases. Provide multiple means of action and expression: Allow use of multiple tools and modes for students to communicate their knowledge. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Provide multiple means of representation: Make sure all students can access the materials by offering alternatives to text, audio and visual information. Apply Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.0) to UDL designed content. Make sure all content meets the Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust (POUR) Principles.

21. MERLOT II Open Educational Resources COOL4Ed Accessible etextbooks SkillsCommons

22. Universal Design/Accessibility Recommendations for Online Course Materials CSU Captioning Guidelines Free Training Resources Accessible Syllabus information Word and PDF accessibility training resources

23. What can you do, now? Make sure that web applications are keyboard operable Scan learning materials into text not images Structure documents properly Don t ban student devices important to their success Caption videos Encourage your campus to implement a formal campus wide accessibility effort. California State University, Accessible Technology Initiative

24. Ask yourself: Am I including all my students? California State University, Accessible Technology Initiative

25. Legal What are the risks? California State University, Accessible Technology Initiative

26. Neglecting Accessibility... A Closer Look Look A Closer Office of Civil Rights (OCR) complaints Student complaint Outsider complaint Lawsuits National Federation of the Blind National Association of the Deaf

27. What is the risk? One Activist Has Hundreds of Colleges Under the Gun to Fix Their Websites A veteran disability-rights activist filed the lawsuits says she regards virtually any college as an easy target Last count 2,000 complaints 3 CSU Campuses received complaints 50 Colleges Hit With ADA Lawsuits Blind person visits career fair Experienced barriers when he accessed colleges websites Higher Ed Accessibility Lawsuits, Complaints, and Settlements OCR complaints and resolutions Lawsuits

28. Protecting the Institution Services to students with disabilities Effective Disability Resources Office Grassroots effort Will not protect the institution in the event of a complaint Formal accessibility effort Executive support Build sustainable change through business process re-engineering and by promoting cultural change Support the effort with funding and staff Document your efforts

29. Questions California State University, Accessible Technology Initiative