Assistive Technologies and Universal Design: Are Your IT Resources Accessible to All Students, Faculty, and Staff?

Thursday, May 5, 2005, 9:00 am - 3:30 pm
University of Washington
South Campus Center Room 348/350
Seattle, WA

Moderator
Sheryl Burgstahler, Director DO-IT, AccessSTEM, UW Accessible Technology Svs; Co-Dir, AccessIT
www.washington.edu/doit

Description: This peer workshop focuses on ways to insure that technology resources are as accessible as possible to all members of your institution. We will discuss issues related to legislation, assistive technology, and universal design of IT as well as relevant policies, procedures, training, technical support, and resources. The discussion will provide opportunities to share promising practices and approaches to this very important topic.

Discussion in this program may lead you to answers to questions for your campus that include:

• Are our websites accessible to everyone; if not, do they need to be; if so, how do we accomplish this?
• What steps can we take to assure our computer labs are accessible to all students?
• What are requirements for providing assistive technology for students with disabilities? Who should pay for it? Where should it be located?
• How can we assure that our distance learning courses are accessible to all students?
• Should accessibility be considered in the IT procurement process
• How do the approaches of universal design vs. accommodations apply to IT?
• What promising practices have other campuses instituted to assure the accessibility of IT?

Workshop size: One staff member per NWACC institution may register on a first-come first-served basis. Additional seats may be available after the registration deadline.

Registration: Register online at http://administration.reed.edu/nwacc/retreat/. Deadline to register is Friday, April 15, at 5 pm (pacific time).

Food Service: Continental breakfast, snacks, and lunch will be provided. Dietary preferences may be requested on the web registration form.

Location: South Campus Center Room 348/350
http://www.washington.edu/home/maps/?South+Campus+Center

Directions:

• From I-5
  1.From I-5 north or southbound, take the NE 45th Street exit.
  2.Head east on NE 45th Street.
  3.Continue east about 4/10 of a mile to 15th Avenue NE and turn right (south).
  4.Head south approximately 7 blocks crossing the NE Pacific Street intersection.
  5.At the bottom of 15th Avenue NE bear left onto NE Boat Street which becomes Columbia Road.
  6.The campus gatehouse (Gate #6) will be straight ahead. Stop there for directions and to purchase a parking permit. If you pay the daytime rate (6 a.m. - 4 p.m.) for your parking permit but stay less than 4 hours, stop at the gate as you leave for a partial refund.

• From SR- 520
  1.From SR-520 east or westbound, take the Montlake Blvd NE exit.
  2.Turn north onto Montlake Blvd and continue north [toward Husky Stadium].
  3.Stay to the left as you cross Montlake Bridge and as the lanes fork just past the bridge.
  4.Turn left (west) onto NE Pacific Street at the first traffic light after the bridge.
  5.Continue west on NE Pacific Street to 15th Avenue NE and turn left (south).
  6.At the bottom of 15th Avenue NE bear left onto NE Boat Street which becomes Columbia Road.
  7.The campus gatehouse (Gate #6) will be straight ahead. Stop there for directions and to purchase a parking permit. If you pay the daytime rate (6 a.m. - 4 p.m.) for your parking permit but stay less than 4 hours,
  stop at the gate as you leave for a partial refund.
  

Parking: Most visitors will be assigned to the S-1 parking garage when purchasing a permit. The S-1 parking garage has three levels. Sky bridges connect the top level of the garage to the South Campus Center at the east and west ends of the building. There is an entrance to the second floor west end of South Campus Center from the mid-level of the garage. These entrances do not have stairs. Access from the lower level of the garage is by stairway.

Travel Reimbursements: Workshop attendees are responsible for their own travel and lodging costs. Attendees traveling to workshops from 75 to 200 miles away (one way) are eligible for a travel reimbursement of up to $100. Those attendees traveling from more than 200 miles away are eligible for reimbursement of 50% of travel costs, to a maximum of $500. Reimbursement requests need to be submitted within 14 days of the event and require original receipts.

Lodging: The following hotels are located near the University:

Silver Cloud Inn - University District
5036 25th Avenue NE
Seattle
206-526-5200

University Plaza Hotel
400 NE 45th
206-634-0100

University Inn
4140 Roosevelt Way NE
206-632-5055

Questions: Please contact NWACC at nwacc@reed.edu

Readings: Participants may wish to look at the following web pages before the workshop.They are part of the DO-IT website at http://www.washington.edu/doit/.
AccessWeb
http://www.washington.edu/doit/Resources/accessweb.html
AccessDL
http://www.washington.edu/doit/Resources/accessdl.html
AccessIT
http://www.washington.edu/accessit/index.php
For information on our technology accessibility services at the University of Washington, consult:
Access Technology Lab
http://www.washington.edu/computing/atl/
UW Web Site Accessibility
http://www.washington.edu/computing/accessible/index.html

Sheryl Burgstahler, Ph.D.
Director DO-IT, AccessSTEM, UW Accessible Technology Svs; Co-Dir, AccessIT
Computing & Communications
University of Washington, Box 355670
Seattle, WA 98195
206-543-0622 FAX 206-221-4171
http://staff.washington.edu/sherylb
sherylb@u.washington.edu