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Embracing Accessibility in the Whole Organization: New Approaches and Resources

Chris M. Law, Accessibility Track Consulting, LLC

Chris M. Law, Accessibility Track Consulting, LLC, “Embracing Accessibility in the Whole Organization: New Approaches and Resources”24th Annual Mid-Atlantic ADA Update, September 14-15, 2017

Embracing Accessibility in the Whole Organization…

1. What we mean by ‘The Whole Organization’

2. Success Factors

3. Available Step-By-Step Guidance

4. What can I do with the Resources?

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1. The Whole Organization

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No one ever listens

to me.

Policy

We don’t discriminate in our employment policy!What do you mean…

“accessibility in product development”?

No, We don’t have policy for that.

What do you mean… “our

website should be

accessible”?

Why would a blind person be using our

systems? No, I can’t help you.

HR

We’re getting people with disabilities on board.

Training and support… we’re on it!We’re an inclusive company!

ACME Corporation

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Executive

Marketing Procurement R&D

Design PrototypingIT

DevelopmentTesting

Security Team Usability Team

Interface Functionality

Accessibility Team

IV&V

HR IT SupportCustomer Service

Administration

Let’s focus our changes here!

Executive

Marketing Procurement R&D

Design PrototypingIT

DevelopmentTesting

Security Team Usability Team

Interface Functionality

Accessibility Team

IV&V

HR IT SupportCustomer Service

Administration

Um… Why don’t we focus here instead?

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0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

USBLN IAAP G3ict ATIA W3C-WAI

Organizational memberships of professional accessibility associations

HR

Policy

USBLN

IAAP

G3ict

ATIA

2. Success Factors

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"I'm not your inspiration, thank you very much."

Stella Young, 1982-2014

"All you need to do is..."

AGENDA

• We're gonna tackle diversity!

1. Gender

2. Race

3. Sexuality

4. Religion

(and maybe some day...)

?. Disability

... one of these things is not like the others

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How's it going for your employees with disabilities?

Excellent! No complaints

so far!

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Organizational Success factors...

1. Adopting the social model of disability

2. Establishing executive-level backing

3. Establishing accessibility as a priority on the agenda

4. Taking a planned, proactive approach

5. Making accessibility a shared task

6. Providing enabling resources

7. Providing sources of accessibility expertise

Source: Chris M. Law, 2010. "Responding to accessibility issues in business"

RMIT University PhD Thesis

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3. Available Step-By-Step GuidanceA. The Accessibility Switchboard from the

National Federation of the Blind

B. Maturity Assessments

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Does Accessibility Have to be expensive?• Short answer: No, but it can

get expensive if you let it.

• In-Depth answer:

• Increasing efficiency is

better than increasing

costs

• Ten ways to be more

efficient with ICT

accessibility

1. ..29

The NFB Center of Excellence in Nonvisual Access to Education, Public Information, and Commerce (CENA)

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Give me the Roadmap!1. Establish executive

support

2. Gather knowledge

3. Establish

Stakeholders

4. Conduct a maturity

assessment

5. Design and plan the

new systemSource: The Accessibility Switchboard "A Roadmap for

Organizational Accessibility for Large ICT Vendors” 32

“If you ever really want to

understand something,

try to change it”

—Edgar Schein

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Step-by-step guidance… vetted by the Community of Practice• A roadmap for organizational

accessibility for large ICT

vendors

• An introductory guide for

small businesses and startups

• Introducing organization-wide

accessibility approaches: a

guide to making a successful

pitch

• How can I provide an

accessible work environment?

• Beyond offering employees a

complaint process: proactive

measures to tackle

accessibility issues

• How to approach change

makers: what are the pros

and cons of various options?

• Higher Education Accessibility

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Maturity Assessment (OMB)

Category

• Acquisition

• Development Life- Cycle

• Testing & Validation

• Complaints Process

• Training

Level

1. Ad Hoc

2. Planned

3. Resourced

4. Measured

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From DHS Section 508 Organizational Maturity Assessment Forms (www.dhs.gov/interagency-trusted-tester-program)

4. What can I do with the resources?

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Explore and share the posted resourceswww.accessibilityswitchboard.org

People in business / industry

• Switchboard Guides

• Maturity Assessments

• Connect people with

Subject Matter Experts

Consumers with disabilities

• Switchboard Guides

• Consumer Demand

• Contacting industry

• Switchboard consumer

contact forms (to NFB)

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TECHNICAL

• Websites

• Tech Support

• Employee technology

• Product development

NON-TECHNICAL

• HR / EEO

• Customer relations

• Buildings and facilities

• Corporate Social

Responsibility

Get involved in future developments…