1. 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

2. 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

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

4. 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?

5. 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

6. 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)

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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?

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. Video Trailer

16. 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

17. Video Trailer (Repeat)

18. 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

19. 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

20. Sign-Up & Contact Info
Sign-up for video info:
Sign-up Sheet
CSU Team:
Be Reel Pictures:
Shari Due:
Parthena Productions:
Mona Maser:
Marla / Allison

21. Q & A
Marla