Johns Hopkins University has a number of digital accessibility initiatives in the works. More information on them is detailed below.
Digital Accessibility Working Group
The JHU Digital Accessibility (EIT) Working Group consists of key staff and faculty across JHU and will make recommendations on processes to develop accessible JHU websites, course materials, software tools, multimedia and electronic communication. Accessible digital tools, communications and materials provide the basis for inclusion of members of the JHU community with disabilities. The Working Group members also approved a Digital Accessibility Plan for JHU and are working to outline ways for the plan to be executed across the university.
The current Working Group meets regularly to work on execution of aspects of the Digital Accessibility Plan:
- An institution-wide plan for meeting digital accessibility guidelines for: a) websites (public, internal), b) course materials, c) multimedia content (live or previously recorded/produced)
- An awareness campaign and training program for faculty, staff, and students that includes a toolkit of resources and training to create accessible digital content.
- Inclusion of accessibility reviews and enforceable contract language in the procurement process affecting software, licenses, hardware, systems, and services
- Shared resources and approaches across divisions and central support offices (student disability services, marketing/communications, libraries, IT, centers for teaching and learning (CTL), Office of Institutional Equity, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, etc.)
- Expansion of a digital accessibility team to support the execution of the plan