ATHEN Access Technology Higher Education Network

The deadline is approaching to submit presentation proposals for Accessing Higher Ground: Accessible Media, Web & Technology Conference from November 12 – 16, 2012.

Accessing Higher Ground 2012 is now accepting proposals for its 15th Annual Conference in Westminster, Colorado. AHG focuses on accessible media, universal design, best practices for Web & media design, accessible curriculum, alternate format and other topics related to accessibility in higher education and other environments. To submit a proposal, please complete the Speaker Proposal Form. Proposals are due by Friday April 6, 2012.

View last year’s sessions to get a sense of the typical agenda and range of topics.

If you have any questions about proposal submission, contact Howard Kramer via e-mail or phone (303-492-8672).

Please note - if needed, a second round Request for Proposals will be announced shortly after the April 6 first-round deadline. There is no guarantee that there will be a second-round opportunity.

Publication Date: February 29, 2012

Executive Summary

The Access Technology Higher Education Network (ATHEN) is continuing its functional evaluation of the components of the Google Application Suite to determine the accessibility of each component for users with various types of disabilities and assistive technology. This evaluation covers GMail and Google Calendar (Calendar). There are several positive findings for users with certain types of disabilities, including users of:

• screen magnification software
• keyboard-only interactions
• some high-contrast visual layouts

However, there were still significant shortcomings especially for screen reader users. Some of the major problems include:

Publication Date: October 18, 2011

Executive Summary

Google Inc. is in the process of improving its Google Application suite to make it more accessible for people with disabilities. To date, many improvements have been made, but the efforts have largely targeted screen reader users and not considered people with other types of disabilities. In order to begin to assess the accessibility of the application suite for a variety of disability types, the Access Technology Higher Education Network (ATHEN) performed functional tests (described in detail below) on two applications: the Google Docs Document List (hereafter referred to as “Document List”) and the Documents portion of Google Docs (hereafter referred to as “Documents”). These tests show that many people with disabilities are currently unable to successfully use these applications. No assistive technology tested was able to fully perform every function within these applications, and the level of support for assistive technologies ranged from being able to perform many, but not all of the functions to not being able to use the applications at all. Some of the major problems include:

Accessing Higher Ground 2010 - the Official Conference of ATHEN!

Join ATHEN members November 15-19 in Westminster Colorado for this year’s Accessing Higher Ground: Accessible Media, Web & Technology Conference. AHG not only offers the opportunity to attend over 60 sessions on the implementation and benefits of Assistive Technology and Accessible Media in the university and college setting, but also the chance to meet and network with ATHEN members and attend and participate in the national ATHEN meeting.

Visit the Accessing Higher Ground 2010 website for more information

Conference Highlights

November 15-19

• Keynote Speaker: George Kerscher, Ph.D., Secretary General of the DAISY Consortium will be discussing "eBook Standards, Laws, and Current Implementations".
• The conference will host its second year at the beautiful 4-star Westin Hotel in Westminster, Colorado. The Westin has excellent conference facilities, is fully accessible and is located within view of the Rocky Mountains, about half-way between Denver and Boulder.

ATHEN E-Journal Issue #4 (2009)

Who are we as a Profession?
A Publication of: ATHEN - Access Technologists Higher Education Network

Meeting at conferences throughout the year, ATHEN strives to educate the higher educational community as to the appropriate uses of access technology. Members of ATHEN are also involved in various areas including Web accessibility and Alternate Media.

ATHEN Meetings

ATHEN Meeting at Accessing Higher Ground 2010

The ATHEN Meeting for the 2010 Accessing Higher Ground Conference will be announced shortly!

Upcoming Conferences:

• CAPED 2010 Conference, October 23-27, 2009 at the Hilton Hotel in downtown San Jose, CA.
• Accessing Higher Ground 2010 Conference, November 15-19 at the Westin in Westminster, Colorado (just outside of Boulder, CO).
• CSUN Conference 2011, March 14-19 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel in San Diego, California.
• AHEAD Conference 2011, July 11-16 at The Washington Convention Center in Seattle, Washington.

ATHEN and EDUCAUSE

Interested in what is happening with Educause and ATHEN? Check out the Teleconference with Educause Executive Staff Minutes