Holistic Accessibility Management and the Banyan Tree

We’re at a stage of digital growth where we need new ways to scale accessibility beyond the current efforts of passionate advocates and software builders. No, I am not suggesting overlays or AI automation. Rather, I advocate for accessibility to be viewed as a leadership imperative, where organizations make it a part of their business strategy and operations. I’d like to present a seven-point framework that addresses the education sector but could well be adapted to suit any business. Using the metaphor of a banyan tree, which grows not so much up but out into its environment, reaching and including its surroundings, I will drive home how adopting a holistic accessibility management framework can help organizations include everyone.

Transcript

1. The Accessibility Banyan Tree Holistic Accessibility Management and the Banyan Tree Seven steps to effective accessibility leadership Sambhavi (Sam) Chandrashekar, PhD Global Accessibility Lead D2L Corporation
2. Short video description: George Bush signing the ADA in 1990
3. Inclusive Mindset Nurture an organizational culture of inclusion.
4. Inclusive Design IDEA Design for Inclusion Recognize Diversity Enable Equity Enhance Access
5. Compatible Technology Support learners who use assistive technologies by ensuring procurement of accessible digital technology.
6. Accessible Content Produce/procure accessible content and train content creators in accessible content authoring.
7. Inclusive Delivery Enable and empower instructors/trainers in their practice of inclusive teaching and training.
8. Regulatory Compliance Monitor regulatory compliance in accessibility of technologies and content.
9. Sustained Governance Develop and implement policies, plans and procedures to enable accessibility practice.
10. Collaborative Community Intentionally create and nurture a learning community and connect with other communities in the ecosystem.
11. Holistic Accessibility 1. Inclusive mindset – root 2. Compatible technology – branches 3. Accessible content – leaves 4. Inclusive delivery – sap 5. Regulatory compliance – aerial roots 6. Sustained governance – soil 7. Collaborative community – collective nurturing The Accessibility Banyan Tree
12. Leadership Takeaways 1. Nurture an organizational culture of inclusion. 2. Support learners who use assistive technologies by ensuring procurement of accessible digital technology. 3. Produce/procure accessible content and train content creators in accessible content authoring. 4. Enable and empower instructors/trainers in their practice of inclusive teaching and training. 5. Monitor regulatory compliance in accessibility of technologies and content. 6. Develop and implement policies, plans and procedures to enable accessibility practice. 7. intentionally create and nurture a learning community and connect with other communities in the ecosystem.
13. About Sam Sambhavi Chandrashekar PhD, CPACC (she/her) Global Accessibility Lead, D2L Corporation Email LinkedIn Website • Adjunct Professor (Inclusive Design), OCAD University • Adjunct Professor (Critical Disability Studies), York University • PhD Supervisor (Inclusive Design), University of Calgary • Sessional Instructor (Accessibility & Inclusive Design), Univ of Toronto • Research Associate – Inclusive Design Institute, Toronto • Vice Chair – Accessibility Standards Canada’s Technical Committee on Accessible & Equitable Artificial Intelligence Systems • Vice Chair – Accessibility Standards Canada’s Technical Committee on ICT Products and Services • Vice Chair – Global Leadership Council, International Association of Accessibility Professionals • Digital Learning and Technology lead – AODA Postsecondary Education Standards Development Committee • Member – 1EdTech TrustEd App Accessibility Taskforce • Member – 1EdTech TrustEd App Generative AI Data Rubric Taskforce • Member – 1EdTech Accessibility Product Steering Committee • Member – Canadian Accessibility Network Advisory Council
14. Thank you!