services For people with a disability accessibility to information technologies resources involves the user having access to assistive technology (AT) and the universal usability of IT resource which include hardware, software, operating systems, web content other digital resources.
Universal usability can be achieved by systemically integrating accessibility features and solutions within the technology design, development and deployment. The challenge is to create resources that allow AT to function effectively with them.
To facilitate the creation and availability of accessible IT resources by NC State faculty, staff and others developers, the Coordinator of University IT Accessibility provides tools, tutorials, training, testing, consulting and other services to ensure the design and deployment of a barrier free IT environment.
Accessible Web and Online Content
Services include consultations on design, evaluation against accessibility standards and testing for usability with popular assistive technologies such as screen reading and screen magnification software. In addition we provide:
- Software tools: NC State has site licenses for a number of tools to help author, evaluate, retrofit and create accessible web content.
- Training: There are numerous campus-wide workshops on creating and retrofitting content to be accessible to and usable by the full campus community. In addition, staff and faculty can arrange custom workshops for their web /content development teams.
- Tutorials: NC State has developed many tutorials to help web developers create accessible webpages and other online content
- Accessibility Awareness Workshops: Staff is available for workshops, presentations and demonstration with the goal to proactively promote an awareness and understanding of current and emerging accessibility issues and solutions. In addition, to these free services, ITD/Computing Services Publications, designers of the award-winning Computing Essentials web site, offers accessible web design services to campus departments and programs for a fee. For more information see Publications@NC State, or contact IT Publications, 919 513-4085.
Computing Labs and other IT Collaborations
Collaborate with developers and stake-holders to evaluate, test and help implement accessibility solutions to meet the needs of online, virtual, mobile and other evolving learning environments. Some major projects:
- To facilitate access to student computing labs, collaborate with ITD systems and Computing Services to distribute assistive technology software to student computing labs.
- In collaboration with the College of Engineering and HPC and Grid Computing services, implemented solutions for accessibility of remote access to the Virtual Computing Lab (VCL).
- Provide consultation, evaluating and testing service to RMIS staff on the accessibility and usability of web applications and administration resources developed by them. Example: the redesigned Registration and Records site, ("PackTracks").
- Principles of accessible design incorporated in the new NC State Web Page
Software and Web Application Evaluation and Testing
IT Accessibility staff work with the campus stakeholders and vendors to test the accessibility and usability of products with assistive technology and provide assistance and technical support as needed to promote the development and purchase of software that complies with accessibility standards. Some examples:
- Testing and evaluation of the Accessibility of four Synchronous Learning Management Systems (SLMS), in collaboration with the recent UNC System's SLMS task-force
- Worked with Elluminate Live! to enhace the accessibility of synchronous learning management systems.
- Member of ATHEN taskforce eveluating the accessiblity of ITunes
- Working with vendor on accessibility of WebCT Vista / BlackBoard, in collaboration with Blackboard Accessibility Interest Group at University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign
Special Projects
- Participate in taskforce, workgroups and other university-wide collaborations to ensure accessibility of technology integrated in the learning environment.
- Collaborate with university constituencies to help develop and write policies, standards, guidelines, procedures, and best practices for the accessibility of the university's information and communication technology resources.