Establishing an Existing and Emerging Technologies

Committee on your CampusAHEAD 2014

Presented by UAB Disability Support Services and UAB Legal Counsel:

Allison Solomon, MS, CRC: Director, DSS Valerie DuBose, M.Ed, CRC: Assistant Director, DSS Brittany Gregg, MA, ALC: Counseling & Services Coordinator, DSS Cary Wahlheim, UAB Legal Counsel

Disability Support Services at UAB

• What our school looks like• Approximately 20,000 students (436 of which

are registered with DSS)• A public urban institution included in the “Urban

13” with students from 45 states and 69 countries

• UAB does not operate within a typical Student Affairs model• Current model allows for more direct

communication with the Provost

President

Provost

Vice Provost for Student & Faculty Success

Executive Director for Retention Initiatives & Academic Engagement

Disability Support Services

What is an Existing & Emerging Technologies Committee?

• Group of campus administrators with the authority and influence to generate and affect policy decisions

• Goals: • ensure accessibility of technologies used at UAB• increase awareness of UAB’s responsibility to make choices

and develop policies with accessibility in mind

• What’s in a name?

Why Now?

• Recent case law• 2010 joint DOJ / DOE “Dear Colleague” letter • South Carolina Tech resolution agreement• Louisiana Tech University settlement• University of Montana resolution agreement

• It’s the right thing to do!!

Behind the Scenes: History and Timeline

• Web and Technology Access Committee (2008)• ADA Technology Compliance Meeting (2011)• Committee Development Phase (2011 – 2013)• Invitation from President to committee members (Sep. 2013)• 1st EETC meeting - introduction of members, committee goals (Nov. 2013)• 2nd EETC meeting - accessibility considerations when entering into contracts

and working with vendors (March 2014)• 3rd EETC meeting - accessibility considerations for web design, EIT policy

(June 2014)

Developing a Committee: Identifying Key Administrators

What administrators / departments can you identify?

Vice Provost Legal Counsel ADA/504 Compliance Officer

Disability Services Procurement Institutional Effectiveness

Retention Initiatives E-Learning Faculty Senate

Academic Technology Libraries Human Resources

Media Relations PR / Marketing SOM Student Services

Developing a Committee: Needs Assessment

What areas have you identified at your institution that are in need of improvement?

•university contracts, choosing to purchase software and hardware

•creating databases

•developing and maintaining webpages and building online classes

•planning and implementing university events

•faculty development opportunities

Committee’s Impact on Campus

• Captioned videos• Building design• Contracts regarding the

purchase of software• Web and EIT policy

development• Committee members have

become the “go to” person for accessibility in their department / area

Disability Support Services Existing & Emerging Technologies Committee:

Committee member photo June 2014

Rolling with Resistance

• Present the committee as an investment• Who is willing to “sell” the committee with you?• Cultivate relationships with key administrators• Be willing to commit to teaching others• Attitude is everything• Be realistic!

Tips and Resources

• Engaging with your institution’s legal counsel• What resources are available for those who do not have

access to legal counsel?

• What about the “1 person” disability services office?• Accompanying tool kit (ahead.org, 2014 Conference

Handouts)• Contains additional information and resources including

case law summaries, 4 phases for establishing a committee, sample committee invitation letter and agendas, etc.

Questions?

Contact us:UAB Disability Support Services UAB Legal Counsel

Allison Solomon Cary Wahlheim

Valerie DuBose (p) 205.934.3474

Brittany Gregg ctw@uab.edu

(p) 205.934.4205

(f) 205.934.8170

dss@uab.edu

www.uab.edu/dss