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Announcing an open position at the new National Center on Accessible
Information Technology in Education, AccessIT!
The AccessIT center, at the University of Washington in Seattle, is funded
by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research
(NIDRR) of the U.S. Department of Education. The purpose of AccessIT is to
coordinate a nation-wide effort to assist educational and governmental
institutions to reach the goal of making education-based information
technology (IT) accessible to all students and employees, including those
with disabilities.
We have an open position for the AccessIT center. It is described below.
Following the description is further information about the AccessIT
center. Those interested in the position are encouraged to apply by
October 10, but applications will be accepted until the position is
filled.
POSITION OPENING
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Senior Computer Specialist
Reference: PC13655
General Duties/Description: As Senior Computer Specialist you will be
expected to stay abreast of information technology (IT) used in
educational settings and of features that make technology accessible to
people with disabilities. This includes staying abreast of hardware and
software products that can make standard technology accessible to people
with disabilities. You must be able to develop accessible Web sites and
distance learning courses and also be able to select technology interface
options for students, educators and other staff with disabilities in
precollege, college and other educational settings. Understand how the
ADA, Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and other legislation and case
law apply to IT access in pre-college, postsecondary and employment
settings.
You must be able to share guidelines and strategies for making IT
accessible to everyone in educational settings with stakeholders who have
a variety of roles, interests and technical expertise, including
teachers, students, administrators, parents and hardware/software
developers. You will; provide technical assistance and consultation to
internal and external constituents remotely and on-site; contribute to
materials development, and assist with training and presentations; provide
assistance in-person, by phone and via the Internet nationwide.
Duties also include; developing print, multi-media and Web-based
information and training materials; delivering training to educators and
service providers nationwide; collaborating with staff of the UW Adaptive
Technology Lab, C&C Client Services and other campus units as well as
government, employers and professional organizations nationwide to share
information and resources.
Requirements: Master's degree preferred. Experience working with
individuals with disabilities to include a broad knowledge of assistive
technology used by people with disabilities; knowledge of legal issues
regarding accessible IT, and knowledge of guidelines and strategies for
making Web pages and distance learning courses accessible to all people.
Experience working in an educational institution, such as a K-12,
postsecondary or technical school.
Salary: Salary and benefits are competitive. Salary is commensurate with
qualifications and experience.
How to Apply: Send a resume and letter describing relevant experience and
education to:
Mr. Robert Weinstein, Computing and Communications
Box 354842, University of Washington
4545 15th Ave N.E.
Seattle, WA 98105
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The University of Washington is an equal opportunity, affirmative action
employer.
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AccessIT
National Center on Accessible Information Technology in Education
Access to Information Technology is essential for full participation in
todays high tech society. Technology that is inaccessible to people with
disabilities interferes with their ability to participate fully in
education, employment and the community. Although progress has been made,
there are still significant challenges to the full participation of people
with disabilities in American society. Business, education, government,
and other stakeholders need to be more fully aware of legal issues,
technology solutions, and implementation strategies in order to develop
appropriate policies and procedures in order for the vision to become
reality regarding equal access to technology for people with disabilities.
AccessIT Goals
The AccessIT center, at the University of Washington in Seattle, is funded
by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research
(NIDRR) of the U.S. Department of Education. The purpose of AccessIT is to
coordinate a nation-wide effort to assist educational and governmental
institutions to reach the goal of making education-based information
technology (IT) accessible to all students and employees, including those
with disabilities. Educational-based IT is any technology used by students
and employees in educational settings, including:
o Computers
o Software
o Web pages
o Telecommunications
o Fax machines, copiers, printers, kiosks and other information
transaction and office equipment
AccessIT Audiences
AccessIT employs a combination of proven practices in a concerted national
effort to make education-based IT accessible to students and employees
with disabilities. High quality training and technical assistance is
provided where it has the greatest impact. Existing infrastructures for
information dissemination and technical support are utilized. Working
primarily through the established network of ten NIDRR-funded Disability
Business Technical Assistance Centers (DBTACs), its efforts reach
elementary, secondary, and postsecondary educational entities of all
types.
Most who participate in AccessIT activities fall into three categories,
those who:
1. develop policies and make decisions regarding planning for and
procuring IT;
2. implement IT (including regular and special educators, computer
lab staff, library staff); and
3. use accessible IT or advocate on their behalf (including students
and employees with disabilities, their families and advocates).
AccessIT Activities
As part of its nation-wide outreach activities, AccessIT:
1. Compiles, redesigns, and develops materials to assist educational
entities and their constituents to understand and fulfill their legal
obligations to provide accessible IT.
2. Conducts a national information dissemination campaign utilizing
multiple formats and venues, to raise awareness of accessible
education-based IT and inform target audiences about the availability of
technical assistance from the DBTACs and others.
3. Develops, disseminates and provides technical assistance with
implementation of policies, procedures, and practices that promote the use
and procurement by educational entities of accessible IT that meets
recognized standards and applies universal design principles.
4. Coordinates with and provides training, materials, and technical
assistance to the DBTACs in support of their technical assistance efforts
to educational entities on accessible IT.
5. Provides training, materials and technical assistance to staff at
the U.S. Department of Educations various IT initiatives, and coordinates
efforts with relevant Federal agencies and programs to assure that
strategies for achieving accessible IT are used and promoted in all of
their activities and programs.
AccessIT Partners
AccessIT brings together partners with substantial expertise, resources
and dissemination channels. The University of Washington's Center for
Technology and Disability Studies (UWDCTDS) and Disabilities,
Opportunities, Internetworking and Technology (DO-IT) lead the efforts of
AccessIT.
AccessIT partners include the Pacific Northwest Disability Business
Technical Assistance Center (PNWDBTAC), Equal Access to Software and
Information (EASI), the Washington Education Association (WEA), and
Microsoft Corporation. AccessIT activities are coordinated with relevant
Federal agencies and NIDRR-funded Rehabilitation Engineering Research
Centers on IT Access and Telecommunications Access and the IT Technical
Assistance and Training Center (ITTATC) at Georgia Tech, who targets
businesses and corporations with activities whose goals are similar to
AccessIT. AccessIT coordinates its dissemination efforts with its project
partners, as well as with all NIDRR-funded centers, including The National
Center on Secondary Education and Transition (NCSET) and The National
Center on the Study of Postsecondary Education Supports (NCSPES). People
with disabilities are involved in all project activities.
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Sheryl Burgstahler, Ph.D.
Assistant Director-Information Systems, Computing & Communications
Director, DO-IT
University of Washington, Box 354842
Seattle, WA 98195
(206) 543-0622 FAX (206) 685-4054
http://staff.washington.edu/sherylb
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