Access through Adaptive Computer Technology and Website Design

Overview

As postsecondary institutions race to bring academia up to speed on the information highway, students with disabilities discover that electronic architects are building an environment with minimal, if any, curb cuts. Identifying physical access barriers to a building is at times obvious, but seeing compliance in the computer world is difficult, if not impossible when one is not cognizant of the issues. With a student's academic success or failure hanging on equal electronic access, it is imperative that institutions facilitate electronic access by understanding and implementing necessary electronic architectural modifications.

In February of 2002, the office of the Illinois Governor followed the Federal Legislative lead and issued an Administrative Order stating that all state agencies are to use the Illinois Web Accessibility Standards in their development of electronic content to better serve, and provide greater access to, citizens with disabilities. The standards are in compliance with, and in many aspects surpass, those of the Section 508 Rehabilitation Act Amendments.

In respect of, and compliance with, this order Southern Illinois University's Disability Support Service (DSS), in conjunction with Information Technology's Computer Learning Centers (CLCs), are coordinating the State training and instruction grant entitled, Access Through Adaptive Computer Technology and Web Site Design.

Our aforementioned goals for this project are twofold. First, we would like to increase the number and diversity of citizens completing training and education programs, consequently increasing recruitment, retention and independence of citizens with disabilities. Secondly, we hope to initiate the continual improvement of productivity, cost effectiveness, and accountability at SIUC and our neighboring community colleges.

We are extremely excited that the state has identified the need for such a project and has given its approval for our Access Through Adaptive Computer Technology and Web Site Design initiative. Such a program affords SIU and the surrounding colleges a unique opportunity to serve the citizens of our state in a technologically progressive capacity befitting institutions committed to equal opportunity and diversity in the academic arena.