Ways you can create a culture of inclusion. If we understand how we can create inclusion, we can envision a UW-Madison where everyone belongs.
We believe everyone should be able to participate, and that means accessibility is our shared responsibility.
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Everyone's role
Accessibility is a shared commitment to your fellow Badgers, and it’s the right thing to do. All we have to do is make the commitment and understand our role. If we are accountable to each other we begin to understand that disability is widespread, often nonapparent, and accessibility starts with all of us.
The impact
By understanding the experiences of people with disabilities we can empathize better. We can create a more inclusive environment that allows all people the agency to reach their goals and participate fully. The UW-Madison community includes people with a range of disabilities such as:
- Mental health conditions (depression, bipolar disorder)
- Learning disabilities (dyslexia, dyscalculia)
- Health conditions (cancer, asthma, diabetes)
- Mobility conditions (arthritis, paralysis)
- Sensory-related disabilities (deaf or hard of hearing, blind or low-vision)
Make a commitment
Make a commitment to help create a more inclusive University community. All you have to do is start small.
- Ask questions & be curious: Ask questions about accessibility in your classroom, work spaces, meetings, and the larger university. Ask how accessibility aligns with your unit’s strategic goals and guiding principles. Ask your supervisor about making accessibility part of your everyday work. Ask your managers how you can help them make accessibility a priority.
- Learn: Take the Disability and Ableism Awareness Training, or learn how to create accessible digital experiences or in-person events.
- Report issues: Report a physical or digital accessibility barrier.
- Community awareness. Build or join a community of people, such as the Digital Accessibility Community of Practice or the Design Community, who practice accessibility in their work. Talk about and learn accessibility principles.
- Access to resources and experts. Actively seek out the knowledge and expertise you need to get started. Not sure how or where to get started? Contact the ADA Coordinator.
- Laws and policies. Know what’s required of the law and UW-Madison.
Students
UW-Madison values the contributions of each person and respects the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experiences, status, abilities and opinions enrich the university community.
Faculty and Staff
Accessibility is a shared responsibility, not a system. It becomes system-wide but it starts with an individual practicing accessibility. It takes all of us working together to achieve the university’s mission.
Content Creators/Designers
Including everyone who creates or shares words, images, communications, and videos through digital or print media.
As content creators, we have the power and responsibility to create an informative, persuasive, and entertaining experience for users of all ability levels. The most accessibly-designed tool can still be “broken” if we, as content creators, neglect to pay attention to the accessibility of our content or the functional needs of our audience.
Event coordinators, facilitators, and presenters
UW-Madison hosts multiple events every day, and by policy we are committed to providing equal access for these events.
Event coordinators, presenters, and facilitators play essential roles in providing equal opportunities for all audience members to access and engage with their content.
Keep in mind that disabilities can be apparent or nonapparent, permanent or temporary, disclosed or undisclosed. Whether you’re presenting to a vast group of strangers or giving a project update to a small group of colleagues, it isn’t always possible to know who or how many audience members need accessibility measures, such as captions, image descriptions, strong color contrast, or accessible furniture. Therefore, the most practical approach is to always use good digital and physical accessibility practices when you present.
Web developers
Developing accessible digital experiences is a critical part of creating an inclusive university. From a developer’s perspective, the goal is to code a website or web application that, at minimum, meets Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 AA standards.
Technology purchasers
Before a big purchase, the wise shopper gathers requirements, performs research, and conducts a review of potential solutions. At the university, your digital technology pre-purchase checklist must include an evaluation of the extent to which a product is accessible and how a vendor meets accessibility standards.