Agenda

November 1, 2023

Why is Access Important in Higher Education? 

Presenters: 
Kirsten Behling,  Associate Dean of Student Accessibility & Academic Resources, Tufts University
Andrew Cioffi,  Director of Disability Services, Suffolk University

The Americans with Disabilities Act defines disability as something “that substantially limits one or more major life functions.” This broad definition implies that the number of persons with disabilities continues to rise across the country. As a result, it is important that our institutions of higher education prioritize access to each aspect of what they offer. Access extends beyond the physical environment to include the digital and social environments. It also extends beyond the experience of our students, to our staff and faculty as well. This session will detail what institutions are responsible for, identify where access issues may arise, and offer best practices for how to approach them. It is designed for any higher education administrator interested in access as an inclusive approach to creating a welcoming campus. 
 

Learning outcomes
Participants will be able to:
-Identify the impact that disability may have on a higher education journey (including academic and non-academic aspects),
-Understand the laws that govern access requirements in higher education,
-Identify areas where access may be an issue,
-Become aware of access plans,
-Begin considering how to develop an access plan at their institution. 

Themes:
-Defining disability, including prevalence
-Overview of the laws that govern higher ed
-Identify and consider access solutions 

November 2, 2023

How Do You Make Higher Education Digital Content Accessible? 

When we think about access, we need to extend our thinking beyond the physical environment. As more and more institutions of higher education lean into the power of digital transactions, we need to ensure that each is accessible to all. This session will provide best practices for determining if something is accessible, and if not, how a developer (whether content (faculty, staff, or students) or web) can begin to incorporate access into their work. It will also share different institutional approaches to long-term access adoption plans. 

Presenters: 
Kirsten Behling,  Associate Dean of Student Accessibility & Academic Resources, Tufts University
Andrew Cioffi,  Director of Disability Services, Suffolk University

Learning outcomes:
Participants will be able to:
-Consider a student’s digital journey throughout higher education,
-identify areas where access may be an issue,
-Become aware of digital access solutions and strategies,
-Identify resources at their institutions who may be able to assist this effort.
-Review an Electronic Information Technology policy designed for institutional compliance. 

Themes: 
-Overview of common digital access issues.
-The best practices for reactively fixing access issues.
-Strategies for long-term access considerations. 

December 4, 2023

Strategies for Emphasizing Access on Your Campus 

Access is not the sole job of a disability service provider. Access extends to the entire institution. This session is designed to help institutions consider access as a legal requirement, and identify stakeholders on campuses that can assist with access assurance and resources outside of campus. This session is designed for any higher education official tasked with looking at access on their campus. 

Presenters:
Kirsten Behling,  Associate Dean of Student Accessibility & Academic Resources, Tufts University
Lisa Bibeau, Assistant Dean for Student Success and Disability Services, Salem State University

Learning outcomes:
Participants will be able to:
-Understand the laws that govern access requirements in higher education,
-Review different institutional approaches to inclusive access,
-Identify stakeholders on their campus to participate in the effort,
-Plan out the next 6 months of the institution’s access journey,
-Consider outside support – resources within the community. 

Themes: 
-Overview of the laws that govern higher ed
-Taking a multi-prong approach to access (micro and macro levels)
-Remembering that this requires many people, not just you.