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E-Accessibility management in Higher Education Institutions: the Zürich and Leuven files Olga Meier-Popa (University of

Universität Zürich. E-Accessibility management in Higher Education Institutions: the Zürich and Leuven files Olga Meier-Popa (University of Zürich) Koen Neyens (K.U.Leuven). What to expect from this session ?. Introduction E-Accessibility .UZH files .KUL files .UZH + .KUL conclusions

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E-Accessibility management in Higher Education Institutions: the Zürich and Leuven files Olga Meier-Popa (University of

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  1. Universität Zürich E-Accessibility management in Higher Education Institutions:the Zürich and Leuven filesOlga Meier-Popa (University of Zürich)Koen Neyens (K.U.Leuven) 7th International Conference on Higher Education and Disability Innsbruck 2010

  2. What to expect from this session ? • Introduction • E-Accessibility • .UZH files • .KUL files • .UZH + .KUL conclusions • Exchange of practices • Questions 7th International Conference on Higher Education and Disability Innsbruck 2010

  3. E-Accessibility? Access to mainstream ICT products and services by the widest possible number of people, regardless of their age or disabilities, in accordance with the concept of Design for All (definition European Disability Forum) Products and services • should be easy to adapt according to different needs • should use standardised interfaces that can be accessed simply by using assistive technology Riga Declaration “ICT for an Inclusive Society” (2006) and European action plan i2010 (Riga dashboard to monitor) UN convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Art 9 and 21 (www.e-accessibilitytoolkit.org/) Standardization Mandate 376, W3C – WAI - WCAG 7th International Conference on Higher Education and Disability Innsbruck 2010

  4. E-Accessibility? • Rising importance in higher education • Digital learning environments • Educational softwares • Library environments (e.g. Stanford Engineering Library -85% paper collection) • Assistive technology in learning • European framework • Situation in Switserland and Belgium 7th International Conference on Higher Education and Disability Innsbruck 2010

  5. E-Accessibility Situation in Belgium • no formal legislation except Anti-Discimination Law (2007):"Any lack of reasonable adjustments for people with disabilities will be considered as a form of discrimination" • de facto recommendations for web accessibility • research “Accessibility Monitor Belgium” (2007) • Quick-scan web accessibility evaluation (Anysurfer label) of a mixed sample of Belgian websites (n=228) by university college students • 96 % didn’t meet 11/14 criteria (2007)  93 % (2009) 7th International Conference on Higher Education and Disability Innsbruck 2010

  6. .UZH files 7th International Conference on Higher Education and Disability Innsbruck 2010

  7. .UZH files The University of Zurich (1833, origins back to 1525) • The largest from the twelve Swiss Universities • Students: 25 854 • Staff: 7593 (full time equivalents: 5385) • Professors: 512 - with 4490 assistants • 7 faculties: Arts, Economics, Law, Medicine, Science, Theology, Vetsuisse • 160 Institutes, Seminars and Clinics • 128 academic programmes 7th International Conference on Higher Education and Disability Innsbruck 2010

  8. Equal opportunities – Landscape.UZH Legal provisions • Federal legal provisions  general framework 1999 - The Swiss Constitution – no discrimination 2004 - The Federal Law on Equal Rights • Various cantonal laws 2006 – Cantonal Constitution Canton Zurich The Universities are mainly cantonal guided and have a certain autonomy. 7th International Conference on Higher Education and Disability Innsbruck 2010

  9. Equal opportunities policy.UZH 1976 Office for Students with Disabilities at the Institute for Special Needs Education 2003 The Disability Office.UZH is offering access services 2009 New paragraph for the University Decree (approved, yet not published): The University, its faculties and institutes promote the equality of rights of persons with disability and undertake measures to remove the disadvantages.  Assignement for the Disability Ofice 7th International Conference on Higher Education and Disability Innsbruck 2010

  10. Topic E-Accessibility.UZH Hardcore mission • 2004 – Accessibility Workshop UZH • Since 2005 – (active) Tester at the Disability Office 2006 - 2008 Project „UZH accessible“: awareness rising, mapping the problems in the field • access for students with visual impairements to Webinformation, E-Learning, Library research, digital study literature • 2008 – access for students with dyslexia (print disabled)  highly complex problem 7th International Conference on Higher Education and Disability Innsbruck 2010

  11. Organizational complexity.UZH • Dynamic complexity: cause and effect different in space and time • Social complexity: actors have different views and interests • disruptive patterns of change: Emerging complexity - The solution to the problem is unknown - The problem statement itself is still unfolding - Who the key stakeholders are is not clear C. Otto Scharmer (2007). Theory U. Leading from the Future as it Emerges. Cambridge, Massachusetts: SOL 7th International Conference on Higher Education and Disability Innsbruck 2010

  12. A change/developing process.UZH • Halfway between bottom-up and top-down strategy • Assignement from the Disability Commission UZH: a report on the state of affairs and an outline of the necessary actions for the implementation of E-Accessibility at UZH • Scharmer`s Theory U helps seeing, thinking, understanding and acting • Step 1: downloading old patterns • Step 2: mapping the context • Step 3: Stakeholders in dialogue • Step 4: Developing a common vision and the tools 7th International Conference on Higher Education and Disability Innsbruck 2010

  13. Step 1: Old Attitudes and patterns We have a lot to do and no time for accessibility. • “How many students with disabilities are there anyway?“ • „We do not have directly an assignement to implement the accessibility criteria.“ Accessibility makes everything more complicated. • „Just send the student to me and i will show / help her or him.“ Students with disability needing access? • We have a Disability Office for that matter. 7th International Conference on Higher Education and Disability Innsbruck 2010

  14. Step 2: Mapping the context The federal legislation as general background • Federal Guidelines for E-Accessibility: http://www.isb.admin.ch/themen/standards/alle/03237/ • Guidelines and Training of the ACCESS for ALL Trust http://www.access-for-all.ch/ Co-operation: • Swiss Library for Visually and Print Disabled People • NGO`s of People with Visually Impairement and Print disabled Special services at the UZH, mainly: Webinformation-Management, E-Learning, Digital Libraries 7th International Conference on Higher Education and Disability Innsbruck 2010

  15. Step 3: Stakeholders in dialogue Autumn 2010: 1. Kick-off Meeting of an E-Accessibility Network at UZH: • Web- and Informationmanagement • ICT-Training services • OLAT = Online Learning and Training • eLML-Project = eLesson Markup Language • ZORA = Zurich Open Repository and Archive • Library Research-Training 2. Minimal E-Accessibility-Website: general information, our Statement and practical tips for users 7th International Conference on Higher Education and Disability Innsbruck 2010

  16. What did we learn until now 6 years after the becoming effective of the Swiss Federal Law for Equal Rights we can state: • The implementation of E-Accessibility takes time and energy – we celebrate each small step! • It is important to bring ICT-specialists in contact with users with disabilities, so that they see the barriers. • It is good to show them, how small changes can increase the access • Never ask too much, but keep asking. • Shared responsibility of the key stakeholders in E-Accessibility is our vision for the future. 7th International Conference on Higher Education and Disability Innsbruck 2010

  17. .KUL files Katholieke Universiteit Leuven • private catholic university since 1425 • 34 940 students (12 % international) • 8 617 university staff • 8172 university hospitals staff (UZLeuven) • Association K.U.Leuven cooperation with 12 Flemish university colleges (about 80 000 students) K.U.Leuven equal opportunities policy • Masterplan inclusive equal opportunities & diversity policy (2005) • including Education and Examinations Regulation • framework for reasonable adjustments since 2009 • Diversity Policy Department (Rectorial services) responsability of vice rector of Student Affairs • Research coordination (http://www.kuleuven.be/lucide) 7th International Conference on Higher Education and Disability Innsbruck 2010

  18. .KUL files Service for students with disabilities • Interdisciplinary support of students with disabilities since 1973 (founded by Myriam Van Acker) • Disability Office since 2007 (staff 5 FTE) Student Counselling Services Mission: • Organizing the support of students with disabilities • Recognition, registration, needs assessment, coordination of individual and group support program (2,5 FTE disability officers) • Supporting and stimulating the university staff to improve the accessibility of the learning environment (working groups) 2008-2009: 890 students with disabilities registered 7th International Conference on Higher Education and Disability Innsbruck 2010

  19. History e-Accessibility.KUL • Cooperation IBM-K.U.Leuven (05-07) • usability tests K.U.Leuven web pages and Toledo (Blackboard) • training event for web designers K.U.Leuven • donation of reading equipment in 5 university libraries: http://bib.kuleuven.be/praktisch/functiebeperking/leesapparatuur.htm • Conference e-Accessibility May 29 2008 • Project Accessible web portals: development of recommendations for web and document accessibility • AnySurfer accessibility label for K.U.Leuven web pages • Project (AMF) “Digital accessibility and ICT as facilitator for students with dyslexia” (08-09) 7th International Conference on Higher Education and Disability Innsbruck 2010

  20. History e-Accessibility.KUL Working group e-Accessibility (since 2007) formal part of the K.U.Leuven Diversity policy structure Goal: • stimulating the process of making the learning environment and information processes more accessible • sharing and building knowhow within K.U.Leuven services • coordinating initiatives at K.U.Leuven Members: • experts of faculties (Dep. ESAT-Docarch, Educational sciences) • central services: ICTS services, University Library services, Communication service (Internet communication), AVnet (Audio-Visual and New Educational Technologies) • student services: Disability office • students council LOKO www.kuleuven.be/digitaletoegankelijkheid/ 7th International Conference on Higher Education and Disability Innsbruck 2010

  21. E-Accessibility actions.KUL (1) • Recommendations web and media accessibility • based on WCAG 2.0 (and WCAG 1.0) • available on WG website • Recommendations document accessibility • based on WCAG 2.0 and on guidelines outside W3C • available on WG website • Integration of criteria in K.U.Leuven web style guide • Guidelines on Communication Office website • Evaluation of web pages for Anysurfer label 7th International Conference on Higher Education and Disability Innsbruck 2010

  22. E-Accessibility actions.KUL (2) • E-Accessibility portal www.kuleuven.be/digitaletoegankelijkheid/ incl. Dutch mailinglist ICT-DfA-NL • Best practices e-accessibility (AT at exams, student unions’ web access, aDesigner software for faculty website improvement,…) • Information and training • web masters, ICT and educational staff • students (training sessions assistive technology) • student associations 7th International Conference on Higher Education and Disability Innsbruck 2010

  23. E-Accessibility actions.KUL (3) • Developing projects: • improving SAP-based K.U.Loket applications for students • e-accessibility in the concept of learning centers • dyslexia software • video project: information and awareness raising • recommendations for multimedia educational materials • Action plans of the Working group(s) to be presented and discussed at the K.U.Leuven Diversity Board (yearly) to include actions on all policy levels 7th International Conference on Higher Education and Disability Innsbruck 2010

  24. Project ICT for students with dyslexia.KUL DTI Project (gov. funding AMF2008-2009-2010) • opportunity to gain >AT experience as Disability Office • rather limited use in student population (<10/250) • rapidly growing group, educational staff resistance Focus on AT for students with dyslexia: • exploring AT-functionalities within learning environment • improving the conditions to use AT • integrating AT in internal legislation (edu and exa) • working out support (training,…) 7th International Conference on Higher Education and Disability Innsbruck 2010

  25. Project ICT for students with dyslexia.KUL How did we start ? Information sessions (ICT for students with dyslexia, specific software) Invitation to all students with dyslexia to participate: • 1 year free use of the software, additional training • student’s feedback to our services and to companies 2 software packages • Sprint (www.jabbla.com): 15 students • Kurzweil 3000 (www.sensotec.be): 17 students Getting feedback and monitoring the (learning) process by semi-structured interviews (by students MES) 7th International Conference on Higher Education and Disability Innsbruck 2010

  26. What did we learn.KUL • Learning to use AT is time-consuming • Basis computer skills are a precondition • Easy accessible technical helpdesk is a must • Training has to be structured • Learning curve Kurzweil > Sprint • Choice of software depends on learning style and computer skills • Peer learning is important and efficient • ± 30 % of course materials is available in digital format (authors legislation often is an obstacle) • Scan service is needed 7th International Conference on Higher Education and Disability Innsbruck 2010

  27. Conditions of implementation Availability of digital course materials • library of digital course materials via Toledo • committment of publishers/teachers within Authors legislation • agreement with university publishers (ACCO, UP,...) • contract with each student about use of digital formats • scan service Possibility/authorization to use ICT during courses and evaluations (Education and Examination Regulation) Sufficient computer skills (general/specific, early information & training) Facilitate peer learning (zoom sessions) Information educational staff (D-day) 7th International Conference on Higher Education and Disability Innsbruck 2010

  28. .UZH & .KUL common We have the same goal. We both learned that: • Legal provisions and a top-down strategy at the HEI are mandatory. • Then a group of motivated people to carry on is needed (“five people can change the world” - with Scharmer`s words.) • It takes time and personal/ financial resources have to be invested. • Co-operation with other stakeholders is salutary. 7th International Conference on Higher Education and Disability Innsbruck 2010

  29. .UZH & .KUL common Evaluation of e-Accessibility management Succes factors • Possible role of external expertise “The IBM-K.U.Leuven cooperation was highly appreciated by all participants involved. It resulted in a creative process within the K.U.Leuven, enriching diversity, IT policy and internal coordination of services or initiatives”(final report IBM-K.U.Leuven agreement 2008) • Quality of the Working group • balanced composition (members), permanent evaluation needed • clarified mission (transparant, formalized) • Students as expert users involved • No disability scope only 7th International Conference on Higher Education and Disability Innsbruck 2010

  30. .UZH & .KUL common Evaluation of e-Accessibility management • Inclusive policy (committment of responsable policy areas, ownership) • Visibility promotion (existence and role, results,...) • Interaction with sciences: monitoring e-evolution • University staff support • Information and training (including it in existing training programs) • Practical support (e.g. laptops with software for exams) • Showing appreciation to committed staff • Patience ! • Disability office as driving force 7th International Conference on Higher Education and Disability Innsbruck 2010

  31. Exchange of practices ? Position of e-accessibility process coordination or management (ICT-service, Disability office) ? Change in the learning and teaching process (e.g. “accessifying” learning materials by teacher) ? AT officer at Disability office ? Money matters ? 7th International Conference on Higher Education and Disability Innsbruck 2010

  32. Questions ? Accessify ! 7th International Conference on Higher Education and Disability Innsbruck 2010

  33. The end Thank you ! + 7th International Conference on Higher Education and Disability Innsbruck 2010

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