This report, prepared by the Training Subcommittee of the IT Accessibility Task Force, provides a summary of research conducted between June 2021 and March 2022 and proposes a model and recommendations for follow-up tasks. To prepare recommendations, the subcommittee assessed the nature of training at UW, identified existing IT accessibility trainings, collected information about asynchronous online training platforms, and reviewed examples from peer institutions.
The findings from this research inform our recommendation for packaging and promoting accessibility trainings in three categories, which vary by goal, length of training, and target audience, as shown in the table below. The table includes examples of existing trainings, as well as gaps where possible future trainings may be warranted.
For an inventory of existing trainings, see our Training Opportunities web page.
For additional details about the research that led to these recommendations, see the full report (a Google doc).
Accessibility Trainings in Three Categories
| Basic Trainings | Modular Trainings | In-depth Trainings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goal | To raise awareness about digital accessibility and available resources for learning more | To provide basic foundation skills in specific functional areas | To build on foundation skills and develop solid digital accessibility skills |
| Length of trainings | Short sections integrated into existing trainings | 5 minutes – 1 hour | Several hours |
| Target audience | All UW employees | UW employees with particular job functions | Members of the IT Accessibility Liaisons network |
| Example topics | High level messaging: Our websites, digital documents, videos, and software we purchase could be erecting barriers to people with disabilities if not created properly. Learn about accessibility (with common examples that most audience members can relate to). | Introductory trainings in:
|
Same as Tier 2, but more advanced. |
| Existing trainings |
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| Possible future trainings | DEI training, required for UW employees via SB 5227 | Series of short 5-minute trainings |