Web Accessability Group
Mission: The Web Accessibility Group (WAG) was formed as a sub-committee of the Information Technology Council, and was originally requested to develop and recommend a policy statement on web accessibility. These WAG recommendations eventually became official policy as a part of this HSU Executive Memorandum.
WAG has since redefined its role, focusing now on the facilitation of a campus-wide Web accessibility awareness campaign.
Committee
Members:
Matt Koelling, Web Coordinator, Student Affairs
Ralph McFarland, Director, Student Disability Resource Center
Gary Noar, Programmer/Analyst, Enrollment Management
Riley Quarles (Chairperson), Coordinator, Courseware Development Center
Andrea Schwandt-Arbogast, University Webmaster
Jeremy Shellhase, Systems Librarian, University Library
Cassandra Tex, Assistive Technology Specialist, Student Disability Resource Center
Joan Van Duzer, Technology Consultant, College of Professional Studies
Meeting Times:
The first Monday of the month from 10 to 11 am
Location:
Varies - will be announced through the ITC list.
Recent and Proposed Activities
WAG has identified the following items as potential facets of a campus-wide Web accessibility awareness campaign:
- Create an informative Web site to include the following (~wag site):
- Policies
- Actual 508 documents
- HSU executive memorandum
- Campus committees – membership – missions - activities
- WAG
- Resources – links
- Computer Access Lab – Cassandra in Library
- W3C guidelines
- Beyond ALT text
- Examples of 508 compliant multimedia and how to’s
- Video with captioning from CATS list
- Audio and slides with captioning
- Before and afters
- List of recommended compliance checkers
- Bobby
- Lift
- Verify
- Dreamweaver module
- A prompt
- Policies
- Offer classroom presentations by WAG committee speakers in appropriate courses, such as Computing Sciences, Art, Journalism, and other courses that teach Web design.
- Offer informative presentations regarding Web accessibility related issues at Deans and Department Chair’s meetings.
- Participate in the development of Web accessibility on-line course to be shared with all CSU campuses
- Offer campus tour of labs that have incorporated assistive devices, etc.
- Create informative posters to raise Web accessibility awareness.
- Create brochures as to be used as handouts after meetings and workshops
- Create and distribute flyers in campus mail
- Send bulk email announcements regarding upcoming WAG presentations
- Investigate CSU system-wide purchasing availability for ADA compliance checking software (SWAT) Bobby, Lift, Dreamweaver, etc.
- Organize and facilitate an Awareness Week Conference with a renowned keynote speaker, and offering workshops and videos (previous TIGERS grant).
- Identify potential empathetic campus collaborators, to include, but not limited to the Student Disability Resources Center, the Web Accessibility Group, the Working Group on Assistive Technologies, Community Relations, Instructional Media Services, HSU Compliance Officer - Dawn Hill, and the Multicultural Center.