Upcoming Accessibility Events

Summary

Attend University accessibility events sponsored by the Accessibility Ambassadors and other community groups.

Upcoming Events

Accessibility & Websites: Bridging the Gap

Members of the UMN community are invited to a virtual event on web accessibility. Join online for a day of presentations and hands-on clinics designed to help you make your digital content more inclusive and accessible.

9:30–9:55 a.m.: The University of Minnesota Policies That Promote Accessibility: Past, Present, and the Future

The University of Minnesota promotes and cultivates accessibility through two policies that serve to guide technical and non-technical staff, managers, developers, designers, procurement agents, and others. Both University policies were established in the early 2000’s and have been a positive impact to many at all system campuses over the years. The focus of this session will be on the Accessibility of Digital Content and Information Technology policy. Participants will learn about the most recent iteration of the policy, which aims to be transformative and contain applicable procedures that cover all aspects of the university’s operations where accessibility is incorporated as a critical element.

The audience will:

  • Learn about the deep history of the University’s commitment to accessibility.
  • Understand the meaning and significance of digital accessibility and how our policy specific to digital content and information technology supports efforts in a shared responsibility model.
  • Gain perspective on how people with disabilities interact with content and the barriers encountered on websites and mobile apps that are not well designed
  • Understand the exceptions and how they apply to the institution.
  • Be able to explain aspects of the business case for digital accessibility, and know where to find more resources
  • Understand the policy landscape and liabilities associated with digital accessibility
Presenters

Khaled Musa is the Director of the Office for Digital Accessibility.

Enjie Hall is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator.

10:00–10:50 a.m.: Pope Tech Accessibility Dashboards

Pope Tech will provide an overview of how to use their platform to scan websites and review results. They will also provide some instruction and practical tips for identifying, understanding, and fixing common accessibility issues.

Presenters

Mark Pope is the Director of Customer Success at Pope Tech. He has been helping website owners and content creators simplify their web accessibility since 2018. Before joining Pope Tech, he was a lecturer in higher education.

Jay Pope is a web accessibility specialist and CEO at Pope Tech. His mission is to help organizations improve web accessibility. Prior to working at Pope Tech, Jay was a front-end developer and web team lead at Utah State University.

11:00–11:50 a.m.: Editoria11y Drupal Module

Join Dimitri Tadege and Priya Bhamidipati as they provide an overview of the Editoria11y Drupal Module, a powerful tool designed to enhance accessibility and streamline the editorial process. They will discuss why this module is important, who can benefit from it, and how to get started. Explore its key benefits, understand its limitations, and experience a live demo. They’ll also share helpful resources to ensure you can make the most of this module. This presentation is ideal for anyone aiming to improve accessibility and optimize content workflows!

Presenters

Dimitri Tadege is a senior developer and technical team lead at University Relations. He develops websites and leads a team of web developers. He also developed the Folwell web theme in collaboration with the Drupal team in OIT.

Priya Bhamidipati is a Web Developer 2 at University Relations. She develops and supports websites, with a strong focus on creating accessible web solutions.

1:00–2:30 p.m.: Afternoon Clinic

This is an opportunity to ask questions, seek advice, and connect with others around the following topics. Please note that each clinic will occur simultaneously in separate Zoom breakout rooms.

  • Using Editoria11y/Drupal Content
  • Interpreting and Prioritizing Pope Tech Errors
  • Using Pope Tech Behind Authentication
  • Accessibility Policy Questions

What to Expect

  • Engage with experts from Pope Tech, the Drupal team, University Relations, and the Office for Digital Accessibility.
  • Gain practical skills to improve your website’s accessibility.
  • Network with peers and learn from their experiences.
  • Explore tools and strategies for fostering inclusivity in your digital spaces.

Date and Time

Presenters

  • Various
    University of Minnesota

Registration

We are committed to making this event accessible. CART services will be provided for all morning presentations. ASL interpretation, CART for afternoon clinic breakout sessions, and additional accommodations are available upon request through the registration form. Providing two weeks’ notice (by January 28) will help us to better fulfill requests.

The registration form will ask about your interests, the websites you manage, which sessions you’d like to attend, and any questions you have.

Register for the event.