NCDAE Accessibility Newsletter - December 2012
Happy Holidays! The staff of the NCDAE wish you a happy holiday season with friends and family. May the coming year help us all achieve a more accessible world!
Featured Resource: GOALS Presents New Video Focused on Accessibility in Higher Education
Entitled "A Personal Look at Accessibility in Higher Education," the video highlights the experiences of students and faculty with disabilities in higher education.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQGFshzLPXE
Featured Article: Looking to the Work of Others as You Create Your Institution's Web Accessibility Policy
This post provides examples of web accessibility policies in higher education.
http://ncdae.org/blog/web-accessibility-policy/
GOALS Interest Survey
The GOALS Project has created a survey to help us identify resources and share experiences that could benefit the readership. The survey should take less than five minutes to complete.
http://ncdae.org/goals/survey/interest/
Importance of the GOALS Cost Case Studies
The field is replete with logical statements about how web accessibility presents cost savings and benefits, yet is devoid of cost or benefit data to support such claims. This article outlines the efforts of the GOALS Project to study the costs and benefits of web accessibility in higher education.
http://ncdae.org/resources/articles/casestudies.php
Web Accessibility Template Examples for your Reaffirmation Portfolio
Last month, GOALS introduced a Template for Institutional Web Accessibility Activities that can be used to promote accessibility efforts during reaffirmation of accreditation. This month, we have presented three examples of how these templates can be used as part of a reaffirmation portfolio.
http://ncdae.org/goals/accreditation/example.php
In the News
International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Countries around the world joined together on December 3 to celebrate this year's theme of "removing barriers to create an inclusive and accessible society for all." Events were held at the UN Headquarters and around the world.
http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=1597
President Obama joined in with an official proclamation.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/12/03/presidential-proclamation-international-day-persons-disabilities-2012
UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Treaty Falls Short In US Senate
In an ironic turn, the day after the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, a Senate vote to ratify the UN treaty fell five votes short (61-38 in favor of ratification) and did not pass.
http://www.boston.com/politicalintelligence/2012/12/04/treaty-for-the-disabled-falls-short-ratification/Esvyz2zFLGdVzX5j42TSLM/story.html
Access Denied
Campus Technology Magazine looks at three key elements of a more proactive approach to accessibility on campus. The article features a discussion with NCDAE's own Cyndi Rowland and GOALS Evaluator Lani Van Dusen among others...
http://campustechnology.com/Articles/2012/12/04/Access-Denied.aspx