The Stories Behind UD, Accessibility and Diversity: A Video Curriculum for Faculty Allison Kidd, Marla Roll, Craig Spooner Assistive Technology Resource Center Colorado State University Accessing Higher Ground Conference, November 15, 2017

About Us Assistive Technology Resource Center Be Reel Parthena Marla Roll Director, ATRC Assistant Professor, OT Allison Kidd AT-IT Coordinator, ATRC Accessibility Specialist, ATRC Craig Spooner OT Collaboration, ACCESS Project Be Reel Parthena Shari Due, Director/Producer Mona Maser, Filmmaker Social Justice Focus, Story-Telling Approach

Agenda Background of our video project Project’s approach Video sample Feedback Sign-up option Marla

History of Accessibility Initiatives at CSU Universal Design / UDL ACCESS Project Tutorials Accessibility Policy Accessibility By Design Website (Free tutorials) Inclusion Tie-in to the Diversity / Inclusivity initiatives Social Justice Audience Experiences? Marla We have lots of tutorials, how-tos, that we’ve built up over the years, but the missing piece was the story-telling aspect as an emotional hook / motivation. Experiences with initiatives, trainings, awareness, getting faculty on board?

Background: Need for Campus Motivation Accessibility Policy Top-down mandate helps bottom-up initiatives gain ground Still need a way to get campus on board Awareness Education Motivation No Policy? Motivating people is even more important without a top-down mandate Marla

Philosophical Approach – Social model of disability Social justice lens in contrast to medical model Environment is the disabling factor Portray disability for what it is, NOT with pity or as “inspiration porn.” Avoid portrayal of people overcoming their hardship Emphasis on changing the design of information Faculty training prioritized over individual accommodations Marla (Consider ways to thread Sue Kroeger’s content into our initiatives)

New Approach: Story-Telling Videos It’s about people, not policy Story-telling through videos, first-person perspectives Example: StoryCorps Diversity – many voices Motivate faculty Tutorials already exist, need to increase participation Craig

Inclusion & Exclusion “Design has the power to make us feel competent or incompetent; it has the power to include or exclude us” Elaine Ostroff – founding director of the Institute for Human Centered Design Craig

Grant – CSU Ventures Needed funds for videos CSU Ventures funds commercialization of intellectual property Grant expectations Commercialization (nominal fee to cover costs) Benefits beyond CSU Not CSU-Centric Craig

7 Potential Videos Diversity & disability (apparent/non-apparent) with stories Legal context, rights & responsibilities with stories Learning preferences Faculty benefits – teaching & research Student benefits – diverse students, diverse technologies AT users talking about challenges, accessible vs. inaccessible, apparent (screen reader) & non-apparent (PDF) disabilities “Top tips” teaser preview – of how-to modules (Word, PDF, PPT, etc.) Craig This is how we imagined the videos before we made contact with any potential participants. Open to change given feedback and what comes out in the actual footage. Discussion point – are there areas that you would or wouldn’t include in your own trainings and awareness campaigns? Others that are missing?

Student Perspectives: Themes Stories of inclusion & exclusion Challenges and successes of AT users How students have been impacted – both when AT works and when it doesn’t Both apparent and non- apparent disabilities Diverse technology, learning preferences, needs etc. Students without disabilities also benefit from UD materials Allison

Faculty Perspectives: Themes Faculty’s #1 motivating factor: “What’s in it for me?” – Gaier Dietrich, HTCTU Ways that UD makes their workflow more efficient Benefits for teaching & research It’s not a huge burden Faculty stories are important Faculty who have seen benefits of UD to themselves Potential to be highly motivating to other faculty Allison

Faculty Benefits for Teaching & Research Headings in Word Formatting & Organizing Sections Searchable PDF Reduce time searching for quotes, terms PowerPoint Slide Layouts Reduce time editing slides Website Heading Structure Better search visibility Other? Allison

Prep for Watching Video Sample This is just a sample of overall content and approach Began filming in Summer & early Fall We still need more footage, especially of students All of the themes are together in the trailer, but will be more distinct in the final videos Consider: Identify themes that are present What needs more attention? Do you think stories like this could motivate faculty? Allison

Video Trailer

Identify Themes Present What messages did come through? What messages are still lacking? Did you find the stories effective? Are there other stories that we need to tell? Craig

Video Trailer (Repeat)

Feedback What did you think of the style of the video? Would this motivate your faculty and staff? Would you use this on your campus? Which aspects might you incorporate? Craig

Delivery Options Preferred format Delivery method Mp4, streaming, download… Delivery method Vimeo Channel with download option Individual videos, or whole package Ideas for dissemination? AHEAD Store? Craig

Sign-Up & Contact Info Sign-up for video info: Sign-up Sheet atrc@colostate.edu CSU Team: marla.roll@colostate.edu allison.kidd@colostate.edu craig.spooner@colostate.edu Be Reel Pictures: Shari Due: 970-590-4078 Parthena Productions: Mona Maser: 970-690-4078 Marla / Allison

Q & A Marla