Are you attending the TASSCC 2024? Don’t miss our CTO, Hiram Kuykendall, and Tammy Gardiner, CISA – Executive Director of Digital Accessibility at the University of Houston System. They will present on “Is Accessibility an Obligation or Opportunity,” discussing the transformative shift from a reactive to a proactive approach in digital accessibility. This evolution not only addresses compliance with legal standards but also actively seeks to improve support for students and faculty with invisible disabilities like Dyslexia and ADHD. Learn how the University of Houston System is turning challenges into opportunities for better accessibility.
Abstract
Traditionally, digital accessibility is seen as a requirement due to a complex mix of laws (like Title II, Sections 504 and 508) and administrative rules (such as TAC 213, 206). This approach, which often waited for individuals to ask for accommodations before taking action, proved costly and stressful for students and faculty. In addition, institutions of higher education are seeing an increase in students and faculty with invisible disabilities such as Dyslexia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and broadly classified mental health disorders. This new generation of students is more likely to ask for accommodations and research a university’s accessibility program and favor institutions that appear to address their needs proactively. In response to these cultural and economic motivators, the University of Houston System (UHS) began embracing accessibility as an opportunity rather than an obligation.
In this session, Tammy Gardiner, who serves as the UHS EIRAC, and Hiram Kuykendall from Microassist will cover how UHS is transitioning from being driven by obligations to seizing opportunities through enhancing its accessibility program to being opportunity-driven. They will discuss key motivators for the university, such as wanting to lessen the requirement for people to disclose disabilities, developing support networks, and laying a solid foundation with policy and procedure.
Presenter Bios
Tammy Gardiner
Having served as an EIR Accessibility Coordinator for three Texas universities for the past 12 years, Tammy is committed to providing equal access opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized, such as those with physical or intellectual disabilities. Her career in public service involved multiple areas of information technology, including technical help desk and desktop support, IT Security, IT Audit, Risk and IT Compliance, and Digital Accessibility. She supports the University of Houston System EIRACs at all UH universities, providing accessibility training, tools, and resources to the UH staff, faculty, and students to improve accessible content delivery for everyone.
Hiram Kuykendall
Over the last quarter-century, Hiram has dedicated himself to increasing inclusivity in digital accessibility for both the public and private sectors. Over his career, Hiram has overseen the development of some of the most heavily utilized applications in the public sector and supported the accessibility needs of organizations ranging from the Fortune 500 to small businesses. For the past 14 years, he has increased his scope to include organizational governance, including assisting organizations in creating and implementing actionable policies and procedures. His insights have been featured in publications such as Mealey’s Litigation Reports and the Banking Law Journal. Furthermore, Hiram gives his time to speak on various accessibility topics.
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