Accessibility Solutions

AMAC Accessibility History Incubated at UGA under UGA – RCLD FY07 Georgia Board of Regents Initiative with the charge of developing social entrepreneur model for a centralized material and Assistive Technology training and technical assistance conversion center. FY11 Transition to Georgia Institute of Technology. FY11 The Georgia Assistive Technology Project, Tools for Life transitioned under BOR, Ga. Tech | AMAC through Governor designation. FY12 Re-branding from the Alternative Media Access Center (AMAC) to AMAC Accessibility Solution Center. FY14 AMAC moved under the Georgia Tech. College of Architecture and became one of six Research and Development Centers. Partnerships with the School of Industrial Design and The Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access (CATEA).

AMAC Accessibility provides practical solutions and research for real challenges faced daily by individuals with disabilities. AMAC offers postsecondary education, corporate, governmental and nonprofit membership services, including: Accessible digital content conversion Assistive technology evaluations Assistive technology demonstration lab Assistive Technology training and technical assistance Braille Captioning and Described media services Compliance consultation AMAC Accessibility Services

Georgia's Assistive Technology Act Program. Tools for Life, Georgia's Assistive Technology Act Program, operates under AMAC. Tools for Life offers more options for greater freedom by increasing access to and acquisition of assistive technology (AT) devices and services for Georgians of all ages and disabilities so they can live, learn, work, and play independently in communities of their choice. Tools for Life also runs the Pass It On Center (PIO). Is a national AT reuse technical assistance center which was funded through December The AccessText Network is a membership exchange network that facilitates and supports the nationwide delivery of alternative files for students with diagnosed print-related disabilities. AccessText serves as a national nucleus for post-secondary distribution of approved alternative textbook file exchanges, training, and technical support. Student E-rent Pilot Project (STEPP) is a grant from the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), U.S. Department of Education. The STEPP program is designed to meet the textbook rental needs of any postsecondary student and aims to help improve low-cost access to higher education textbooks for all students, including those with print-related disabilities. Providing Real Opportunities for Income Through Technology (PROFITT) is a comprehensive prison curriculum teaching the specialized, in-demand skill of literary Braille transcription to offenders slated for impending release and return to the workforce. AccessGA is an initiative of the Georgia State ADA Coordinators Office. Its design and purpose is to support Georgia state agency employees and ensure their information technology outlets are accessible to customers possessing a wide range of disabilities. AMAC Accessibility Initiatives

Why AMAC Accessibility Solutions and Research Center? Alternative Media Access Services Accessible Documents and Multimedia Publisher Agreements (AccessText) Braille Captioning and Described Media Grants and Contracts Assistive Technology Evaluation and Distribution (Tools for Life) Office Management Software (SAM) Accessibility Consultation Centralizing Statewide Services: Estimated Savings FY12: $1,987, FY13: $2, FY14: $2,661,486.29

Accessible Electronic Course Materials Lack of accessible marketplace materials Lack of accessible Online Information exchange (ONIX) metadataONIX Lack of one standard flexible digital format Lack of publisher expertise Lack of post-production conversion low-cost technology Lack of DRM access with assistive technology Lack of understanding on accessible course material Lack of LMS integration of accessible course material

AMAC Accessibility AccessText Network| Accessible Textbook Finder ATN Publisher Initiative Searches multiple vendors by ISBN or title, and provides the combined results with links to the source. Accessible Textbook Finder

Assistive Technology Research and Development Lab Georgia Assistive Technology Act All ages and all disabilities AT Demonstrations and Loans AT Assessments Software Downloads, Training and Technical Assistance Software Downloads Telepresence Technologies Wearable Technologies Environmental Access Technologies

Student Accommodation Manager | Data Collection Tool Looking towards make better decisions which impact retention and graduation improvement rates and accommodation budget University System of Georgia (USG) DSP offices are serving 9,895 Students 274 % increase in Veterans served 132% increase in students referred by VOC Rehab 16% increase in requesting distraction free testing 12% increase in request for extended time Technology College System of Georgia (TCSG) o 4,530 Student with Disabilities

Problem #2: ADAAG specifically calls for APPROPRIATE captioning - Only appropriate captioning provides true access to your students, employees, or clients who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. Solution #2: AMAC provides expertise and solutions for schools and organizations serving students who are deaf or hard-of-hearing in any location. AMAC has more solutions

Captioning Services Remote CART Remote Text Interpreting-Captioning Asynchronous text Interpreting (online learning) Captioned Media Closed or Open Captions for videos, movie clips, course materials Audio – transcripts only Professional Minute Writing Solutions Offered

C-Print Captioning display remains on the screen for approximately one minute. A hard copy of the complete discussion is available after a session. Exact technical information and specific vocabulary are captured more often. All of these benefits amount to significantly higher levels of comprehension by the students. The mean percentage of lecture information that students reported they understood with an interpreter was 69.9%, as compared to the mean percentage of lecture information understood with C-Print 84.4%. Stinson, M. (2000) Research Shows……

Needs High-Speed Internet connection. AMAC connects with Guam. Needs good quality external USB microphone. Low language/reading levels – in some cases, a more simplified text can be used. Low vision – we can enlarge the font to make it readable up to a point. Clients prefer close relationship with person supplying accommodations – AMAC captionists form relationships, but in certain situations provide more confidentiality. Is Remote Captioning Always the Answer? No, not always, but almost always.

Non-profit initiative of the University System of Georgia, our focus is on access and education. AMAC will find a solution for your accommodation needs – we created several solutions for various situations. Captioning follows the DCMP standards and AMAC captionists strive for 100% accuracy. AMAC’s captionists have Bachelor’s degrees and beyond and are matched with certain courses due to their specific subject area knowledge. The ADAAA requires subject area knowledge to ensure accurate captioning. AMAC captioning services are available anywhere there is Internet and our members only pay for the service they need. Benefits of AMAC Captioning

Video-clips, movies and pod-casts created for your courses or organization are quickly captioned and returned to assist you in providing access. Need more captions?

For more information: Sheryl Ballenger Contact:

ICT Touch Web Accessibility Web Videos Social Media | LinkedIn Content

Information Communication Technology Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is an umbrella term that includes any; communication device or application, encompassing: radio, television, cellular phones, computer and network hardware and software, satellite systems and so on, as well as the various services and applications associated with them, such as videoconferencing and distance learning.

Free ICT Massive Online Course (MOOC) TBD Module 1: ICT Accessibility | What is ICT, business cases, legal ramifications, and organization ICT accessibility challenges Module 2: ITC Accessibility Design | Guidelines and standards, information architecture, and evaluations Module 3: Mainstream and Assistive Technology | AT history, computer access, operating systems, features, and AT content integration Module 4: Engineering Accessible Content |Post- production PDF, DOC, PowerPoint, Excel, STEM/MathML, and video captioning Module 5: Web Accessibility Evaluation and Design | Accessible web architecture, usability, accessible web evaluation tools, and market products Module 6: Starting and Maintaining an Enterprise Accessibility Operation | Accessibility organizations, challenges, testing, operational models, and centralized center

AccessGA Joint initiative of the state of Georgia’s ADA Coordinator’s Office, AMAC Accessibility Solutions at Georgia Tech, and the Georgia Technology Authority

AccessGA Trainings Presentations – Webinars – Presentations – Onsite Trainings – Archived Topics: – Disability Awareness – Content Remediation – Web Accessibility

AccessGA Website Repository of Presentations, Training and Disability Awareness Resources and Trainings on Content Remediation Information related to Disability Awareness Resources related to ICT Accessibility & the Law Archived Newsletters AccessGA Website:

AccessGA Web Audits Sites Tested Against WCAG 2.0 Level AA Guidelines Web Audit Team – User and Trainer of Assistive Technology – Computer Programmer and Tester of Accessibility and Code Inspection

Problem #1: Providing educational and employment access for students or clients with hearing loss is one of the more expensive and complicated services. Solution #1: AMAC’s captioning & captioned media services are available to AMAC members as a fee for service, but at fee levels that are reasonable and provides cost savings to our members. Have a problem? We can solve it!

What Is Web Accessibility? The inclusive practice of removing barriers that prevent access to websites by people with disabilities. When sites are correctly designed, developed and edited, all users have equal access to information and functionality.

Questions & Comments 26 “Transforming the System, Changing Lives, Strengthening the State” Questions?

For more information: Joy Kniskern Contact:

AMAC is an initiative of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia and is committed to removing barriers for individuals with disabilities by improving the human condition through technology in academic and workplace environments. University System of Georgia AMAC Accessibility Solutions For more information about AMAC services: