The recent update to Title II of the ADA brought accessibility into the spotlight throughout higher education. For Miami faculty, staff, and students, the annual Access For All: Accessibility Symposium represents the perfect opportunity to build skills and knowledge. 

This year’s Symposium is scheduled for October 23 in the Shriver Center. Join us for the whole day, or stay for as long as you wish. Participants who register by Oct. 15 are invited to enjoy a complimentary lunch

The day begins with a continental breakfast at 8:30 a.m. Visit with colleagues, then find a seat for the 9 a.m. keynote.

This year’s keynote speaker is Brian Trager, Chair of the Information and Computing Studies Department at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf at Rochester Institute of Technology. Professor Trager’s keynote, “Access to Human Connection: Technology, Accessibility, and the Journey Ahead," will draw from his own journey as a deaf person and his work in education, research, and accessibility to explore how people, technologies, and unexpected opportunities shaped his understanding of access.

The morning continues with breakout sessions designed to introduce participants to a variety of accessibility topics. 

Session 1

• Beyond the Brochure: Universal Design in Study Abroad - Tom Webb, Associate Vice President of Accessibility, Wright State University. Get tips for accessible marketing, pre-departure planning, student support, and faculty preparation.
• Planning for Accessibility: Considerations for Creating a Year-long Accessibility Plan - Katie Gibson, Information Services Librarian; and Carla Myers, Coordinator of Scholarly Communication, Miami University Libraries. Learn how the Miami Libraries prioritized accessibility, including recommendations for offices and copyright considerations.

Session 2

• Deafness is a Spectrum - Erin (Airza) Bosley, ASL Instructor, University of Pittsburgh. No two deaf people are alike, and no one-size-fits-all approach works for deafness or for the services meant to support it. So what does deafness look like?
• When Cognitive Science Meets Note-Taking Technology - Hope Sweeney, Accommodations Coordinator, Miller Center for Student Disability Services, Miami University. Participants will explore a practical decision framework for matching apps to student barriers.

Afternoon sessions: BYOD

After lunch, participants can attend one of two afternoon hands-on training sessions. Bring your own device!

• Catching Issues Before They Publish: Practical Accessibility with WAVE and Pope Tech. Laura Fathauer, Senior Web Accessibility Specialist, AccessMU Center; and Jessica Rea, Director of Web Marketing, University Communications and Marketing. Bring your laptop and get ready to fix real issues in real time to ensure campus digital spaces meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards and stay ahead of ADA Title II requirements.
• Accessible Media, Incredibly Fast and Absolutely Everywhere: Canvas Studio Workflows. Pruthvi Patel, Technical Support and Training Specialist, Miami Online. Review captioning and transcript requirements for online media and discover video production best practices to make creating accessible content simple.

For additional information and registration, visit the Access for All Symposium website.