The JISC TechDis Online Accessibility Self Evaluation Service (OASES)
On this page you can read background information on the JISC TechDis Accessibility Maturity Model, explore the accessibility potential of different roles within your institution and link to the appropriate Online Accessibility Self Evaluation.
Introductory video to online accessibility self evaluations
There are many different approaches to accessibility and many different arguments to support them all. So long as they result in positive outcomes for the disabled person involved it could be argued that they are all equal - but there is little doubt that:
some are more equal than others;
some are more sustainable than others;
some create more independence for the disabled user;
some create better outcomes for the person who (for their own reasons) decided not to disclose a disability.
From the JISC TechDis perspective, the fundamental guarantor of good practice is the extent to which accessibility is embedded in the
culture of an organisation rather than the enthusiasm of an individual or a team. This leads to a 'maturity model' of accessibility practice where one of the main determinants of maturity is the extent to which staff in
all roles contribute to inclusive practice. See more on the JISC TechDis maturity model of inclusive practice.
Library specialists
The library / learning resource centre is key for developing independent learning but many learners – particularly disabled learners – can find independent access to resources a daunting experience. However, some of the most sophisticated technologies in an institution are in the library and supporting learners in independent learning is critical to increasing their confidence and self reliance.
The first contact with any organisation is likely to be through its marketing – the website, brochures, prospectus and so on. Accessible marketing is easy to achieve, requires little budget (it may save you money) and adds value for all your stakeholders.
An organisation’s IT infrastructure is fundamental to the way teaching and learning take place. The website, learning platform and network have huge potential to maximise learner support but there are also risks regarding the introduction of unnecessary barriers for users with accessibility needs. Find out more about accessible practices.
Disability Officers and Additional Learning Support specialists
The first contact a disabled student has with an institution may be through their disability support mechanisms. They may then revert to you for support in addressing any institutional barriers they encounter. You therefore carry much of the responsibility to gather the expertise needed to help change the institutional culture around accessibility and inclusion so that fewer barriers are encountered. This survey will help identify ways the disability support / ALS role can be central to that cultural shift.
Despite often having no direct relationship with disabled students, staff developers and learning technologists influence the lives of disabled students in many ways. Course and curriculum design, teaching practice, VLE and web design, VLE usage, learning technology deployment and best practice teaching skills all influence the disabled student experience. It is within your remit to develop and implement measures which will positively impact upon the student experience by adding benefits or reducing barriers. Move on to the survey for Staff Developers and Learning Technologists.
Senior Managers have a variety of agendas to address and priorities to balance but developing a culture of accessibility need be neither costly nor time consuming. The senior manager has responsibility to ensure that key relationships are developed between roles within the institution so that successes are fully exploited, weaknesses addressed and that inclusion has a visible champion at the highest level. This survey will highlight where you, in your context as a senior manager, can make the most difference to the accessibility and inclusion agenda in your institution. Move on to the survey for Senior Managers.
