Taming an 8,000 lb.

Gorilla
or
Training the CSU
on
Accessibility

Jean Wells
Accessibility Whisperer
Higher Ground 2008
The Accessible Technology Initiative (ATI)
• Vision: To create a CULTURE of access for an inclusive learning
and working environment.
• Mission: To help CSU CAMPUSES in carrying out EO926 by
developing guidelines, implementation strategies, tools and
resources.
• Principle: To apply UNIVERSAL DESIGN, an approach to the
design of products and services to be usable by the greatest number
of people including individuals with disabilities.
• Strategy: To stimulate COLLABORATION to effect changes that
will ultimately benefit all.
 The “M” Word
• September 1, 2010: Implementation of an accessible
procurement process for all E&IT acquisitions less than or equal
to $15,000 to be determined by this date, following evaluation of
campus progress reports.
• Fall Term, 2012: Instructional materials and instructional
websites for all course offerings will be accessible.
• May 15, 2012: All websites at the CSU should fully conform
to Section 508. Once again, undue burden plan requirements
(as described above) apply.
 Pop Quiz
Who is Touched ATI Mandate?
So Why Does the Gorilla Weight 8000 lbs?
• No Plan is In Place
• Resources Are Missing
• 44,000+ to train (faculty & staff)
• 3 faculty trainers for every 3000 faculty
• Resistance to change
• Staff and faculty are already overworked
• No budget
• No incentives
• No one knows what to train
• Very few even know what “Accessibility” means
What Do We Have Here?
 Assessing the Situation
• 23 campuses began creating the same training.
• There is no way to aggregate the training or share
resources.
• Very few knew where to learn how to train people or what
to train them.
• Needed to decide who would provide training.
• Nothing was available that was scalable to reach the
number of people needing training.
• No one owns the training so nothing is sustainable.
• No timeline has been created.
• Who should be involved? Who are the experts? Who will
be leaders?
 Where Did We Start?

• Gather a Team
• Develop Goals, Objectives, & Strategies
• Survey CSU for Training Developed
• Determine a Delivery Platform
• Review Training Outside the CSU (peer review)
• Identify Gaps & Build Needed Resources
• Find Partners & Knowledge Experts
 Strategy for Scalable Training
Examples of Scalable Teaching
• Lynda.com
• Atomic Learning
• Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
• CSUMB site

Scalable Needs
• Available 24x7
• Variety of Learning Modes (video, text, audio, etc.)
• Easy to navigate
 If We Build It
Will They Come?

Incentivizing:
• Release Time
• Money
• Food
• On Demand
• Support
• Tenure Support
 What About the Culture?
• Vision: To create a CULTURE of access for an
inclusive learning and working environment.
• Characteristics of our Culture
• Mandate to Shift to this is Who We Are
• Bipolar Strategy – combination of top-down
initiatives with bottom-up involvement
• Multiple Cultures (Faculty, Staff, Students
• Magnitude
• Attitude shift from “NO” to Acting Responsibly and
Consciously
 Elements of a Cultural Shift
Ooops!
• Too Drastic: Resistance
• Too Slow: No Action

Examples of a Gradual Accessibility Shifts

• Elevators & Ramps
• Captions on TV
• Accessible Parking Spaces
• Water Fountains
• Curb Cuts
• Doors
 Managing Change
• Sharing the Ownership of Change

• Raising Consciousness - Facilitating Change & Self-Responsibility

• Marketing

• Communicating, Communicating, Communicating

• Providing Tangible Outcomes at Every Level

 CSU Steps to Shifting the Culture
• Provide Information
• Conferences (CalWAC & Section 508)
• Regional Meetings with Teams
• Campus Visits
• Spotlight our Champions
 Shifting the Culture (Cont’d)

• Communicated Attitudes that Increase the

Willingness to take Action
• Hilary Nixon, San Jose State University
• Increase Awareness
• Do Not Disturb
• Involve the World Outside
• Maria Shriver
• Justice Moreno
 What Works?
• Produce: Organize educational events
• Design: Design quality development with learning in mind
• Cheerlead: Be available to provide support
• Network: Encourage exchange of ideas and materials
• Get Involvement/Build Community
• Find Shareable Resources
• Survey
• Aggregate
• Promote
• Leaders & Ambassadors

• Motivational Listening
 The Power of Intention
(Individual Shift)
Avoid resistance.
Want more for others than you want for yourself.
See yourself as the change you expect.
Remember you can never resolve a problem by
condemning it.
Appreciate that which is valuable, not what is worthless.
Stay conscious of your intention.
Practice allowing… the path of least resistance.
Key Trait: Perseverance
 Ernst Mohr, President
University of St. Gallen, Switzerland

“Colleges and universities must spend their time

inventing and planning for the future rather than
defending the past. If they do not, they will end up
like those frogs whose only choice is to die fast or to
die slowly.”
 Thank you!
Jean Wells
jwells@calstate.edu

ATI Web Site: www.calstate.edu/accessibility