In 2015, the University of Maryland created a 3-year IT Accessibility Plan focused on improving and (re)designing on-campus technologies. Specifically, they focused on web accessibility, course (re)design, multimedia development, eLearning tools, and assistive technology tools. This plan was created and implemented by the university's Division of IT, with recommendations from the campus' IT Accessibility Committee, a group comprised of individuals from across campus. In this webinar, Ana Palla-Kane (IT Accessibility Specialist) and Susan Johnston (Instructional Designer) will dive into the design and implementation of their IT accessibility plan, providing an inside look into the university’s own strategies and structure. They will discuss the specific steps taken by the Division of IT in designing and implementing the plan, as well as provide insight into first-year successes and challenges. Topics will include: How to design an IT accessibility plan Steps in implementing an IT accessibility plan Successes and challenges faced after the first year implementing a campus-wide IT accessibility plan

1. HOW THE UNIVERSITY OF
MARYLAND
IMPLEMENTED A
CAMPUS-WIDE IT
ACCESSIBILITY PLAN
Ana Palla-Kane
IT Accessibility
Specialist
University of Maryland
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Susan Johnston
Instructional Designer
University of Maryland

2. University of Maryland
IT ACCESSIBILITY PLAN
From Design to Implementation
Ana Palla-Kane & Susan Johnston
Academic Technology & Innovation
Division of Information Technology
University of Maryland, College Park, MD

3. University of Maryland
College Park, MD
UG Students 27,443
Grad Students 10,697
Faculty 4,467
Academic staff 4,248
Admin staff 5,134
Approx. 52,000
12 academic units
60+ administrative units

4. UMD IT Accessibility Services
Accessibility & Disability Service Office
- Accommodations for qualified students
- Adaptive Technology Lab and the Alternate Text Unit
• Training on the use of adaptive technologies
• Assistive hardware and software technologies
• Technology assisted exams
• Assistance in identifying/developing technology
• Converting and delivering course texts and exams into Kurzweil files, audio files,
large print versions, braille printouts, etc.
- Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services
- Captioning, audio-description
- ASL interpreters

5. UMD IT Accessibility Services
Division of Information Technology
Goal to create and maintain an inclusive educational and working
environment for people of all abilities
- Web Accessibility Services and Scanning Tool
- Course Accessibility
- Canvas tools, training and consultation
- Video production and captioning service
- Procedures for procurement of eTools

6. IT Accessibility Plan - DIT
Development and Approval Process
• Development as a proactive measure
• DIT Leadership commitment
• IT Accessibility Committee – March 2015
• Campus wide representation
• Approval November 2015
• Information Technology Council
• The President’s Commission on Disability Issues
• UMD 3-year IT Accessibility Plan

7. Areas
The University of Maryland IT Accessibility Plan
focuses on the following strategic areas:
1. Web Accessibility
2. Multimedia Development
3. eLearning Tools
4. Course (re)design
5. Adaptive Technology Tools

8. 1. Web Accessibility
Principles
• Web accessibility standards should be widely recognized
throughout the campus community
• Web designers, developers and Web content managers should
be able to scan and fix existing and new websites and Web
applications for common accessibility guidelines
Implementation
• UMD Web Accessibility Standards - WCAG 2.0 AA | Dec 2016
• Pilot enterprise-wide licensed software that enables UMD users
to scan websites and applications for accessibility compliance
• Web accessibility plan (audit, reporting, training)
• Partnership with University Relations
• Training and workshops

9. 2. Multimedia Development
Principles
• Technological resources for closed captioning and audio
descriptions should be made available for instructors
• Academic and administrative units should make existing and new
public (procured and developed) multimedia accessible when
possible.
Implementation
• Established requirement to caption all media produced by DIT to
instructors
• Training and knowledge articles on how to caption
• Exploring models for captioning and transcription services

10. 3. e-Learning tools
Principles
• eLearning tools (existing and new) should meet accessibility
requirements for compliance.
• Faculty and staff currently using eLearning tools that do not meet
appropriate requirements should provided alternative tools.
Implementation
• Set guidelines for procuring accessible technology
• Development of accessibility compliance checklist for
evaluation and testing of tools and software
• Identify and document alternative tools or strategies that provide
similar functionality and that are compliant to replace the non-
compliant tools

11. 4. Course (re)design
Principles
• Web-based (ELMS - Instructure’s Canvas Learning Management
• System) instructional materials should be accessible.
• Instructors should have abundant and usable resources and information to
help them (re)design accessible courses.
• Instructors should have abundant learning opportunities and personalized
instructional design services to (re)design accessible courses.
Implementation
• Accessible course checklist | UX and Universal Design
• Canvas Design Tool Accessibility Checker
• Accessibility training of instructional designers
• Consultations, workshops and trainings to faculty
• Implementing University of Central Florida open source tools for CANVAS
• UDOIT - Accessibility check and fixes
• Quiz Extensions tool

12. 5. Adaptive Technology Tools
Principles
• Students, faculty and staff and visitors with disabilities should
have equal opportunity to attend, interact and succeed through
access to UMD adaptive technology resources and services
Implementation
• Identifying existing assistive technology tools currently being used
at UMD and assess how these resources are meeting the needs
for all students, faculty and staff registered with the Accessibility
and Disability Service (ADS)
• Developing a plan for procurement, deployment and maintenance
of adaptive technologies at UMD. Currently managed by ADS

13. Leveraging collective expertise and
resources
University System of Maryland
IT Accessibility Guidelines | under development
• Web accessibility
• Accessibility of course materials and online courses
• Captioning
• Procurement
• Library information accessibility
Big Ten Academic Alliance
IT Accessibility Group
• Sharing best practices
• Guidelines for procurement document

14. Actions
• Determining and re-evaluating priorities
• Collaborating with units across campus
• Providing knowledge and awareness at all levels
• Changing the view of accessibility as a financial burden
• Connecting and seeking support inside and outside the
university (USM, BTAA-ITAG,EDUCAUSE, NFB, others)
• Focusing on our vision

15. QUESTIONS
Ana Palla-Kane
anapalla@umd.edu
Susan Johnston
sbj@umd.edu
itaccessibility@umd.edu

16. Q&A
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