September 2023 Meeting

Meeting Date
  • Opening quotation 
    • “Inspiration, that word is often used as a disguise for pity. If you feel inspired, make a commitment today to do one thing to make your community more accessible.”- Haben Girma
  • Agenda: 
    • Invited Guests: 
      • Stephanie Rosen, IT Accessibility Assistant Director, Information Technology Services
      • Digital accessibility at the University of Michigan
        • What is digital accessibility?
          • Digital information and experience can be accessed, participated in, understood and used by all.
          • Equitable access without barriers
          • Achieved by setting standards and practices that center around users with disabilities
          • Examples of digital accessibility
            • Closed captions
            • Text description for images
            • Interface that works with mobile and voice control
            • Adding an online event with multiple modes of participation
          • Accessibility technology is not only for people who use assistive technology but is also for people who do not. It is useful for people with and without disabilities.
        • Understanding Accessibility
          • The standards that we use are Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 AA
          • Law and policy require accommodations
          • Culture and collective access
            • Including everyone
            • It is a collective responsibility to create access for all of us
        • Where we are now
          • Where we are now
            • We are following legal guidelines
            • We have an internal U of M policy
              • Standard Practice Guides (SPG 601.20)
              • Need for further support and resources for all of U of M
          • What can you expect in the next year
            • Digital Liaison network
              • Representatives from every unit of U of M to facilitate the work of aligning the policy and achieving accessibility. It is meant to allow for communication in order to learn, share emerging solutions, to share resources and to collectively work through shared processes.
            • Training 
              • You can look for digital accessibility training for all of the university available from a central hub on the accessibility website
              • You can also pursue training outside of U of M.
            • Resources and support
              • Ready to use resources for processes that all units might engage in. 
                • Including:
                  • Templates for managing data
                  • Prioritization
                  • Assessment
                  • Action
                  • Clear guides for engaging with vendors of information and electronic technology
                  • Steps for planning alternative access whenever technology does not meet standards or needs
            • Strategy and solutions
              • Add-ons for improving accessibility, additional training, resources for additional accessibility functions. 
      • How can you get involved
        • Contact us:
        • Q and A
          • Posed questions from presenter: What resources, training, and support do you or your unit need with respect to digital Accessibility? What would motivate you or your unit to join the digital Accessibility Liaison Network, where can we do better at the university? What else should we think about?
          • Does the office do onboarding activities with staff to make people aware of the tools that are available.
            • It is an area their office can concentrate further on. The office is doing some outreach for this purpose.
          • Needs: most of our PhD forms are PDFs, i'd love to learn how to make these accessible, and ensure that our portal is accessible, too.
          • Are there efforts on campus to make VR learning on campus more accessible?
            • The team is willing to work on this subject. There is an interest group that works with this topic.
          • Extended descriptions of audio visual content. Is there a tool that does that? A tool to help develop and deliver descriptions of content. How does one provide this if a professor were to show a film.
            • Not aware of any tools to meet that need besides subtitles or audio-visual descriptions provided with some movie access. Could possibly work with AI technology for this.
          • To ask questions to their team, especially ones that require follow up questions. Our TDx contact form is at https://teamdynamix.umich.edu/TDClient/30/Portal/Requests/TicketRequests/NewForm?ID=YILIsUWthww_&RequestorType=Service 
    • Stephanie Beatty & Casie Watson, Sign Language Interpreters, Equity, Civil Rights and Title IV
      • Website: https://ecrt.umich.edu/ 
      • Email: [email protected] 
      • Slides: https://drive.google.com/file/d/14VHiF4mmQRseMhs-oULPGe_cCVVNAd-G/view?usp=sharing 
      • Offices under ECRT
        • Title IX, intake and support, civil rights, sexual and gender based misconduct, prevention education, assistance and resources, and disability and accessibility (ADA).
      • An introduction into the team was presented on the slides.
      • The role of ECRT ASL interpreters
        • Provide ASL interpreting services for members of the University of Michigan community.
          • Priorities listed in order:
            • University employees, deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, other (events when hosts want to make the event accessible). Where there is no specific department or unit that covers this type of thing this department may be able to assist. Other events are conditional and their team makes a decision based on the situation.
            • They can provide financial support for real time translation or CART services.
      • When should you request an interpreter?
        • If you are a supervisor of a department with a deaf employee or deaf employees and you are:
          • Hosting an event, training, performing annual reviews, or having a meeting with a deaf employee, or anytime your staff requests access. This means an event is happening and your deaf staff member needs access.
          • If you are hosting an event and have a confirmed deaf attendee.
          • If you are hosting an event and want to make an event accessible it is based on the team's availability.
      • How to request 
      • Why are interpreters needed?
        • ASL is not the same as english. It requires a rearranging of language. It is not word for word. It requires a high level of knowledge of deaf culture and the language along with requiring a strong grasp of the English language.
        • Tips for you when you have an interpreter at an event, meeting, etc.
          • The interpreter is not the focus. Do not focus on the interpreter, shift your focus to the deaf person.
          • It sometimes takes a minute for the interpreter to interpret and it will not be immediate. Give the interpreter a minute.
          • People will ask for the interpreter to stop interpreting. This denies the deaf person access.
          • It is harder for interpreters to interpret if you speak at a slower or faster pace.
          • It is more difficult if more than one person is talking at a time. It is easier if you have one speaker at a time.
        • If you have an interpreter scheduled and you have an agenda or a worksheet you are passing out it is helpful for you to share it with the interpreter so they can be prepared. Give them all the information you have (PowerPoints, scripts, helpful info). The form has a place for you to put these documents but you can also email the preparation materials later.
      • What to do if you are having a short interaction with a deaf person? (polite tips if you do not have an interpreter)
        • Eye contact
        • Don’t assume all deaf people can read lips. Ask them. If they say they can talk normally.
        • Use the space around you. Use body language, your face, and writing.
        • Be patient.
        • Don’t leave things for later if they are not understanding. This can be hurtful.
      • Questions:
        • Because there is an importance of body language and eye contact in the examples you provided, is there a consensus on cameras on versus cameras off on meetings?
          • Everyone has a different opinion. For some the cameras on may be distracting but there is also an importance placed on seeing faces especially in scenarios in which you are engaging with others. The best way to know is to ask the deaf person.
        • Comment: interpreters will convey emotions while interpreting as well.
          • Facial expression is really important in ASL especially when asking questions.
      • If you are unsure if this office can service your event contact them anyway. They may be able to help you or direct you to someone who is able to help you.