1. Empowering Students with Disabilities through an Online Student Support Portal
PRESENTED BY:
Casey Frechette, Ph.D. • Sharon Austin, MSETM, MA
WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO:
Berrie Watson, MCP, MCSE Core • Robert Beasey

2. Empowering Students with Disabilities
through an Online Student Support Portal
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3. Background
In 2015, a USFSP Online Student Support Portal team was tasked with designing a robust web presence that would help USFSP’s online students to accomplish tasks to advance their academic careers without coming to campus.  
27 key stake holders from the institution were interviewed in order to understand the concerns of the university. From those interviews, ten critical concerns emerged. Among those ten critical concerns was one that specifically addressed accessibility.

4. Background
Accessibility for students with disabilities is still a challenge.
Various systems and software packages provide a wide range of support and access to students with disabilities.
As it applied to accessibility, the list item above reflected our concern with both hardware and software. We sought to use standardized, established guidelines concerning the software component, such as using WCAG guidelines, and VPAT.
WCAG: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0
VPAT: Voluntary Product Accessibility Template 

5. The Existing Model

6. The Existing Model

7. The Existing Model

8. The Existing Model

9. The Existing Model

10. The Existing Model

11. The New Model

13. Don’t make me think.

14. The Answer: Bring the Content to the Student

15. Don’t make me think

16. How the problem was solved.
1. Design a custom database and custom coding that would enable students to get information simply by asking for it, rather than having to seek it.
2. Integrate voice as a great time saver for those who have motor skills problems.
3. Develop special interfaces for those who have low-vision problems. (Integrate it directly into the interface. No one should have to download anything)

17. The Low Vision - Poor Motor Skills Initiative

18. Low-Vision Low-Motor Skills Initiative

19. Putting it together with Voice

20. Support the Supporters
All students rely on a support network outside of school. Those with disabilities are especially dependent. The database structure and interface allow support personnel to participate in assisting the student. Enable the supporters as well as the student.
It takes a village to raise a child.

21. Run Anywhere.
Construct the platform so it is able to be run on a mobile phone WITHOUT the need to download an app.

22. Questions?