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Short Abstract
Discover how Coppin State University empowered faculty to transform digital accessibility in their courses. This session explores our journey of collaboration, tools, and strategies that sparked a campus-wide shift towards inclusivity, aligned with new ADA guidelines. Leave with practical insights for driving faculty engagement in accessibility initiatives.
Extended Abstract
Introduction: In the evolving landscape of digital education, accessibility is crucial to creating an inclusive learning environment for all students. Coppin State University has embarked on a transformative journey, focused not only on compliance but on building a campus culture where accessibility is a shared value. This session will delve into how we successfully engaged faculty in driving digital accessibility within their courses, highlighting our strategies, data insights, and the tools we employed to foster change and increase awareness.
1. Understanding Faculty-Centric Accessibility Challenges:
Initial Barriers: We begin by exploring the specific accessibility challenges faculty faced, from limited resources and knowledge gaps to concerns about workload and technical skills.
Listening to Faculty Needs: Through surveys and focus groups, we gathered insights from faculty, identifying key areas where support was needed to help them embrace accessibility in their course design.
2. The Power of Faculty Engagement:
Creating Accessibility Champions: We discuss how we cultivated a group of dedicated faculty champions who led by example, sharing their successes and practical strategies with colleagues.
Importance of Inclusivity and ADA Compliance: Emphasizing the importance of digital accessibility for inclusivity, we highlighted the implications of new ADA regulations, fostering a shared commitment to proactive compliance across departments.
3. Leveraging Data and Blackboard Ally Insights:
Using Ally to Drive Engagement: Blackboard Ally provided faculty with accessibility scores and actionable feedback, making it easy for them to identify and address content barriers.
Transparency and Accountability: By sharing Ally data on course accessibility, we created transparency around accessibility scores, encouraging faculty to continually improve their course content.
Feedback Loops: Faculty feedback was instrumental in adjusting our approach, ensuring the tools and resources provided aligned with their needs.
4. Building a Supportive Accessibility Framework:
Targeted Training and Resources: We developed faculty-focused workshops, one-on-one support sessions, and accessible resource guides, empowering faculty to take ownership of accessibility improvements.
Faculty Development and Recognition: Recognizing faculty efforts and success stories was critical in building momentum, fostering a sense of pride in creating inclusive courses and encouraging ongoing engagement.
Policy Alignment and Best Practices: The latest ADA guidelines served as a foundation for our framework, providing faculty with clear, up-to-date compliance practices.
5. Outcomes, Lessons Learned, and Next Steps:
Faculty-Driven Transformation: The progress we’ve made underscores the impact of faculty engagement in accessibility, with increased Ally scores and broader adoption of accessible practices.
Lessons for Ongoing Success: We share the lessons learned, including the importance of consistent support, open feedback channels, and celebrating small wins.
Future Goals: Building on this foundation, we aim to scale the accessibility champion model across departments and further integrate accessibility into professional development.
6. Interactivity and Engagement Strategy:
Case Studies and Success Stories: We’ll showcase real examples of faculty-driven accessibility improvements, illustrating the impact of Ally and faculty collaboration.
Data-Driven Discussion: Attendees will explore anonymized Ally data visuals and discuss how analytics can drive similar engagement in their institutions.
Interactive Q&A: Attendees can ask questions, share their own faculty engagement strategies, and discuss challenges and solutions for building faculty-led accessibility initiatives.
Takeaways: Attendees will gain:
Actionable Engagement Strategies: Effective methods for fostering faculty buy-in and driving accessibility improvements in course design.
Insights into Data-Driven Accessibility: Techniques for leveraging Ally data to motivate and support faculty in achieving higher accessibility scores.
Tools for Cultivating an Inclusive Campus Culture: Practical steps for embedding accessibility practices within institutional culture, aligned with ADA compliance and inclusivity goals.
1. Understanding Faculty-Centric Accessibility Challenges:
Initial Barriers: We begin by exploring the specific accessibility challenges faculty faced, from limited resources and knowledge gaps to concerns about workload and technical skills.
Listening to Faculty Needs: Through surveys and focus groups, we gathered insights from faculty, identifying key areas where support was needed to help them embrace accessibility in their course design.
2. The Power of Faculty Engagement:
Creating Accessibility Champions: We discuss how we cultivated a group of dedicated faculty champions who led by example, sharing their successes and practical strategies with colleagues.
Importance of Inclusivity and ADA Compliance: Emphasizing the importance of digital accessibility for inclusivity, we highlighted the implications of new ADA regulations, fostering a shared commitment to proactive compliance across departments.
3. Leveraging Data and Blackboard Ally Insights:
Using Ally to Drive Engagement: Blackboard Ally provided faculty with accessibility scores and actionable feedback, making it easy for them to identify and address content barriers.
Transparency and Accountability: By sharing Ally data on course accessibility, we created transparency around accessibility scores, encouraging faculty to continually improve their course content.
Feedback Loops: Faculty feedback was instrumental in adjusting our approach, ensuring the tools and resources provided aligned with their needs.
4. Building a Supportive Accessibility Framework:
Targeted Training and Resources: We developed faculty-focused workshops, one-on-one support sessions, and accessible resource guides, empowering faculty to take ownership of accessibility improvements.
Faculty Development and Recognition: Recognizing faculty efforts and success stories was critical in building momentum, fostering a sense of pride in creating inclusive courses and encouraging ongoing engagement.
Policy Alignment and Best Practices: The latest ADA guidelines served as a foundation for our framework, providing faculty with clear, up-to-date compliance practices.
5. Outcomes, Lessons Learned, and Next Steps:
Faculty-Driven Transformation: The progress we’ve made underscores the impact of faculty engagement in accessibility, with increased Ally scores and broader adoption of accessible practices.
Lessons for Ongoing Success: We share the lessons learned, including the importance of consistent support, open feedback channels, and celebrating small wins.
Future Goals: Building on this foundation, we aim to scale the accessibility champion model across departments and further integrate accessibility into professional development.
6. Interactivity and Engagement Strategy:
Case Studies and Success Stories: We’ll showcase real examples of faculty-driven accessibility improvements, illustrating the impact of Ally and faculty collaboration.
Data-Driven Discussion: Attendees will explore anonymized Ally data visuals and discuss how analytics can drive similar engagement in their institutions.
Interactive Q&A: Attendees can ask questions, share their own faculty engagement strategies, and discuss challenges and solutions for building faculty-led accessibility initiatives.
Takeaways: Attendees will gain:
Actionable Engagement Strategies: Effective methods for fostering faculty buy-in and driving accessibility improvements in course design.
Insights into Data-Driven Accessibility: Techniques for leveraging Ally data to motivate and support faculty in achieving higher accessibility scores.
Tools for Cultivating an Inclusive Campus Culture: Practical steps for embedding accessibility practices within institutional culture, aligned with ADA compliance and inclusivity goals.
Presenting Speakers
Wendy Torres
Senior Instructional and Digital Accessibility Specialist at Coppin State University
Wendy Torres is the Senior Instructional and Digital Accessibility Specialist at Coppin State University, where she plays a pivotal role in enhancing digital learning experiences. With over 23 years of teaching experience, she has dedicated her career to advancing accessible and innovative education. A member of the Maryland Technology First team—a statewide committee advancing assistive technology—she co-chairs Coppin’s AI Policy team and has led multiple initiatives to incorporate immersive technologies, such as virtual reality, into forensic science education. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran and digital accessibility advocate, Wendy is deeply committed to equitable learning and is a frequent presenter at national conferences, sharing insights on digital tools, instructional design, and universal design for learning. Currently pursuing her doctorate in education with a focus on adult leadership, she is also a passionate mentor, guiding faculty in creating inclusive, data-driven learning environments.
Empowering Change: Our Journey to Drive Digital Accessibility with Faculty Engagement
Track
Learning Design, Instruction, and Open Pedagogy
Description
4/1/2025 | 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM
Evaluate Session
Modality: Virtual
Location: Zoom Room 6
Track: Learning Design, Instruction, and Open Pedagogy
Session Type: Education Session (45 min)
Institution Level: Higher Ed
Audience Level: All
Intended Audience: All Attendees
Special Session Designation: For Educators at Community Colleges, Focused on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB), For Educators at HBCUs, For Instructional Designers, For Leaders and Administrators
Location: Zoom Room 6
Track: Learning Design, Instruction, and Open Pedagogy
Session Type: Education Session (45 min)
Institution Level: Higher Ed
Audience Level: All
Intended Audience: All Attendees
Special Session Designation: For Educators at Community Colleges, Focused on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB), For Educators at HBCUs, For Instructional Designers, For Leaders and Administrators