Keynote presentation by Sarah Horton at the University of Wisconsin System LTDC Virtual Showcase on April 10, 2015.
We typically define accessibility as compliance with standards. For those with responsibility for digital accessibility, compliance can seem daunting, if not impossible. So many factors that influence accessibility fall outside of central control. What about third-party software used to provide central services? What about content provided by faculty and students? What about all the software in use that isn’t even known of, never mind supported, centrally? The digital campus of most colleges and universities is loosely governed, making campus-wide adherence to accessibility standards a challenging goal in higher education.
What if, instead of standards compliance, we define accessibility as making a commitment and demonstrating progress?