Inviting Participation

 

As one of the University’s many diversity efforts, colleges, departments, programs, and student organizations are being encouraged to design programs and activities in ways that welcome participation by members of the disabled community.

If you receive questions about accessibility or a request for accommodation and are not be sure how to respond, obtain the individual's contact information, make sure you understand the question or request, and let them know you will get back to them shortly. If you need assistance in responding you can contact Sue Kroeger at Disability Resources (626-7674 or suek@email.arizona.edu).

Publicizing the Availability of Accommodations

Including a statement about the availability of accommodations is a way of creating a welcoming environment. By encouraging advance inquires, you can identify any needed accommodations early so that they can be implemented in a seamless fashion. Below are four model statements. You should be able to adapt one of them for almost any situation.

Model Statements:

1. Events: (To appear on calendars, posters, flyers and other announcements or advertising for the event.)
• If you have questions concerning access, wish to request a sign language interpreter or disability-related accommodations please contact {insert name and contact information including an e-mail or TTY number}.
2. Web Pages (To appear as text on pages if you are not sure of usability)
• If you have difficulty accessing any portions of this page with adaptive technology, please contact {insert page owner/web master name, e-mail, phone, and TTY if available}. 
• To learn why websites need to be accessible and how to create an accessible website, please visit:http://www.arizona.edu/uaweb/accessible
3. Publications (To appear on catalogs, brochures, and other University publications)
• If you need this information in an alternate format (Braille, digital, tape or large print) please contact {insert name and contact information including an e-mail or TTY number}.
4. Syllabi (To appear on all syllabi)
• If you anticipate issues related to the format or requirements of this course, please meet with me. I would like us to discuss ways to ensure your full participation in the course. If you determine that formal, disability-related accommodations are necessary, it is very important that you be registered with Disability Resources (621-3268; drc.arizona.edu) and notify me of your eligibility for reasonable accommodations. We can then plan how best to coordinate your accommodations.

Accessible Websites

It is the policy of the University of Arizona to ensure that University Web pages will be usable by people with disabilities. Accessible Web pages are those that are constructed to be usable by anyone, including those who use assistive technology to access the content. Examples of assistive technology are screen readers, screen magnifiers, voice recognition software, alternative keyboards, and Braille displays.

The University has comprehensive information on why Website accessibility is important and how to design accessible sites available at: http://www.arizona.edu/uaweb/accessible  Additionally, Dawn Hunziker, Assistive Technology Coordinator at the Disability Resources (hunziker@email.arizona.edu; 626-9409), is available as a resource.

Accessible Audio-Visual Information: Captioning

Using and creating audio and audio/video information with captions is a way to include deaf and hard of hearing individuals without requiring them to seek individual accommodation. By anticipating the likelihood that your VHS or DVD material, Webcasts, iTunes and YouTube videos, and podcasts will be used by a widely diverse audience, you are designing for accessibility. General guidelines for captioning include the following:

1. Instructors should use only videotapes, DVDs, etc. in the classroom that are either closed or open captioned.
2. Web-developers should only post audio content to the Web that includes captions.
3. University personnel who are creating audio or audio/visual materials to promote the University should assure that those materials are captioned.

Disability Resources can provide assistance in adding captioning to pre-existing audio/video materials and in creating captioned media during the production phase. Please contact Carol Funckes at Disability Resources (carolf@u.arizona.edu; 621-3274) to discuss the uses and copyright of your audio/video content prior to its use.