Help Make Campus Technology More Accessible

The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Community Engagement and the Office of Information Technology (OIT) are commissioning a study of how CU-Boulder addresses accessibility requirements related to technology. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements have been firmly established around spaces and buildings, providing a framework for campus construction to follow strict standards for accessibility in the physical world. As this transformation has not yet happened in the digital realm, this study’s goal is to lay the foundation for technology accessibility for our campus. The study will highlight and provide plans for moving forward collaboratively in areas such as policy, compliance, training, support, and governance of IT accessibility efforts across campus.

We are seeking participants for the study steering team to help guide the efforts and undertake the study. The steering team participants will produce a strategic direction and action plan based on the study engagement. The effort is expected to last from August through February 2013, with meetings once a month through the summer, and bimonthly beginning in November. Participants should expect to spend approximately 15 to 20 hours during the study, primarily in meetings and conducting document reviews. Staff from Disability Services and OIT will be responsible for research and writing between meetings.

If you are interested in joining the study’s steering team, please contact Michelle Clifford at cliffm@colorado.edu or call her at 303-492-4136. You can learn more about the accessibility study and track its progress at https://oitwiki.colorado.edu/display/study/Accessibility.

This important work will help shape our campus for the future making it a more welcoming environment for those with disabilities and providing lasting benefits to the campus community. We hope you consider lending your insights and efforts to the accessibility study.

Thank you,

Robert Boswell
Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Community Engagement

Larry Levine
Associate Vice Chancellor for Information Technology and CIO