Rose Padacz University of Waterloo Office for Persons with Disabilities Web Advisory Committee AODA Accessibility Standards

Agenda Overview - AODA Legislation 5 Accessibility Standards Information & Communication Standard Implications for Universities & UW Solutions What does accessibility mean? Who does it benefit? Bill 508 (ADA) software compliance Web Accessibility Standards (Eva) Q&A

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) Goal: To create an inclusive, accessible province by 2025 Systematic removal of barriers across the province 5 Standards Developments committees to lead the way with endorsement by Minister and Queen’s Park Ontario is a pioneer, launching this legislation ( which applies to both private and public sector)

AODA (2005) Purpose The AODA was implemented to elevate awareness regarding barriers to full community participation faced by persons with disabilities in the province of Ontario The AODA is a legislative document, established to embellish the existing obligations under the Ontario Human Rights Code ( Goal: To create an inclusive, accessible province by 2025 Systematic removal of barriers across the province 5 Standards Developments committees to lead the way with endorsement by Minister and Queen’s Park Please visit the AODA Website for an overview of the Act and Accessibility standards at

AODA Implications for Universities How does the Act apply to Post-secondary Education systems? Scheduled Organizations under the Act Class III Under Accessible Information & Communication Standards Universities are encouraged to think strategically regarding levels of access to programs, services and facilities for students, faculty, staff and community users with disabilities Universities must create programs, policies and encourage practices to promote accessibility in the learning environment

AODA 5 Accessibility Standards Built Environment (Public Review 2009) Customer Service ( Launched 2008 – Compliance by December 2010) Employment (Review 2009) Information & Communication (Under Review – Compliance once approved Dec. 2011) Transportation

AODA Accessibility Standards 7 1) Accessible Built Environment (Proposed Standard) To address access into and within buildings and outdoor spaces and expected to build on Ontario’s Building Code – enhance accessible environments Public review on proposed standard in ) Accessible Customer Service The Customer Service regulation came into force on January 1, Compliance to implement Training by 2010 COU developing an On-line web based training tool (for faculty, staff and students) will be available for universities to adopt August Training for UW - roll our across campus for F’ Partners (IST, OPD, OHD, HR, Student Life Office, WAC, others..)

Accessibility Standards Development 8 3)Employment Accessibility Proposed standard expected to address employment practices and could include recruitment, hiring, and retention policies and practices. Public review is underway and proposed standard to be available later in ) Accessible Transportation Proposed standard expected to address the removal of barriers in access to transportation and aspects of accessible public transportation Final proposed standard posted on the Ministry of Community and Social Services website in January 2009 along with supporting summaries

Information & Communication Standard Accessibility requirements for: 4 broad categories of communication IT based information & communication systems Business enterprise systems Individual accommodation Implement by January 2011 with report on compliance by December 31, 2011

Accessible Information & Communication 10 Proposed standard expected to address the removal of barriers in access to information and could include information being provided in person, through IT, print, a website or other means Spirit of the Legislation (Universities) To purchase, upgrade, deliver educational materials or other publications in simultaneous accessible formats (all modes eg. audio, electronic and print) If audio, captioning or transcription will be required Individual accommodation will still be required (Student, OPD, faculty or department to co-ordinate requests to ensure timely delivery)

Impact for Universities Implications & Questions such as: Copyright – exemption clause for access to materials (permission to post material on-line) Libraries – acquisitions Publishers Purchasing Electronic Classrooms

Issues & Impact Timelines for Compliance Paradigm shift from Individual Accommodation to Integrated approach to Accessibility of Information, Communications & Technology ( Deliver accessible formats simultaneously) Libraries Current recommendation is to provide new journals purchased in electronic format with individual accommodation of existing acquisitions (scan to electronic text to be used by adaptive technology eg. JAWS, Kurtzweil), archives exempted Interface between business practices in Ontario, Canada, USA and other countries Buy in from Publishers

Why Change? Accessibility Benefits Everyone We are a global institution, accessible web design supports web search engines  Universal Instructional Design,  Simultaneous Access to environments, lecture and research materials Appeals to all meta-cognitive learning styles ( auditory, visual, kinesthetic) if material is made available in all formats Supports optimal learning practices (Adult learning pedagogy) 1500 students at UW with Disabilities, many faculty and staff Benefits those with low vision, legally blind, hearing loss or profoundly deaf or those with physical disabilities, learning disabilities (enables screen reader access) Its the right thing to do!

Solutions Underway & Proposed PACDI – (working with publishers, government, IT folks to create solutions) PAFSE pilot project underway MET, MTCU supported pilot (building on-line repository of alternate format to text, digital collection to share across provincial universities) Partner with other universities, Council of Ontario Universities (COU), IDIA to develop collaborative solutions for universities, templates, guidelines and checklists for accessible web design Consider joint application to Accessibility Directorate Enabling Change Grant

UW Solutions To Promote Accessibility UW Plan for Integration & Compliance (Accessibility Standards Committees to determine impact, collaborate to create solutions in all 5 areas) Customer Service Standards– COU Supported Solution for Universities On-line web Based Customer Service Training Tool for Universities in development – Available summer 2009 to modify for UW rollout for Fall 2009 Partnership/Collaborative OPD, IST, OHD, HR, ITAC, Student Life, others….Web Advisory Committee??

UW Solutions To Promote Accessibility Accessible Web Design WC3 Standards 2.0 – UW in compliance as of 2005 Alternate format Solutions - Transcription team connected with OPD Library contact with Resource Services Library(RSL) to request alternate format of text in advance of lectures High Speed Scanners and Adaptive software now available in DP Library, OPD in Education & Technology Lab, Student Life Centre Goal to purchase and deploy additional scanners at HR, OHD, CTE? Other UW locations to be made available for immediate transcription

UW Solutions Determine possible Partnerships with companies such as Apple, IBM, Accessibility Divisions for Voice Recognition and Captioning solutions (possibly Pilot UW as R&D site, etc.) Content Management Systems – UW Library Systems Recommendation that new journals be electronic, current collections can be scanned within hours and modified to alternate format for individual use as needed (Archives are exempt from legislation)…. Recommend use of voice recognition technology to faculty and course instructors (R&D Applications?) Possible interface with mobile technology projects such as Velocity for portable, accessible solutions

UW Solutions Purchase site license for adaptive software (install Kurtzweil 3000 and other software solutions) Load on student lab servers within faculties Consult with OPD, Ambassadors and grad student users as experts to provide feedback on new developments or to test sites, user interface with software Users to purchase portable technology ie. Screen readers, JAWS, Kurtzweil, that allow for electronic interface with lecture environment, websites and workplace Students use software and hardware solutions to interface with lectures and on-line learning environment (Access BSWD Bursary Provincial/Federal funds for students via OPD and Student Awards or ADP program for funding to purchase individual technology products for faculty and staff) – Learn more about the software they use…..ET Lab Demonstrations – Free trial downloads

UW Solutions Electronic Classrooms - Create and post electronic accessible format wherever possible ( adapt others as needed for individual accommodation) Encourage use of tablet computers in delivery of Math, Science and Engineering faculties (electronic interface with user) Recommend accessibility specifications /design of future On-line Environment (OLE project) project is underway (Andrea Chappel) specifications to include recommendations for accessibility Purchase and use Software for curriculum design that includes accessibility features (ADA 508 compliance), many include inherent accessibility features (eg. Camtagia has captioning features)

UW Plan to roll out to campus (Accessibility Standards Committees) Possible web experts in each faculty? Other possibilities? Eg. IST presentation Friday morning on captioning Thank you for your time and efforts to promote and ensure Accessibility in IT environments for students, faculty and staff and visitors to the University of Waterloo! Questions Over to Eva ( Accessible Web Design)