Accessibility: Unlocking Our Potential

[John Locke]

Welcome back, everybody!

Last semester we introduced the importance of accessibility
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accessibility#:~:text=Accessibility%20can%20be%20viewed%20as,accessibility%20brings%20benefits%20to%20everyone.>
in
everyday life, particularly as it relates to our community here at SUNY
Plattsburgh. We provided the opportunity to learn more about accessibility
and how to utilize accessible tools in Word documents, Google docs, slides,
and more through our contract with Deque University.

We discussed specific tools and services for faculty, staff, and students,
as well as whom to contact for access to those services. We also shared
stories in the Student Digest from celebrities and other famous people who
have or had a disability and are still succeeding in life.

Expect additional information and resources coming your way this semester
from the EIT Committee.

*An Opportunity to Show Support*

This year's *Rally for Funds to Support Students with Disabilities in
Colleges in New York* will take place virtually next week on February 10th
at 10:30 a.m., preceding a press conference at 11 a.m. Please consider
attending this event to show your support.

   - Register online now <https://tinyurl.com/SED2022>. You will receive a
   confirmation email with a Zoom link.

*Why Attend?*
Currently, there are almost 80,000 identified students with disabilities
attending New York State degree-granting colleges and universities. The
2021-2022 State Budget included $2 million in funding for enhancing
supports and services for postsecondary success of students with
disabilities. This funding will be allocated in a proportional manner to
each identified student with a disability; to SUNY and CUNY; and to our NYS
degree-granting independent and proprietary colleges, pursuant to a plan
that outlines how the funding would be spent, for one or more of the
following purposes:

   - to supplement funding for supports and accommodations of students with
   disabilities;
   - to support summer college preparation programs to assist students with
   - disabilities’ transition to college, and prepare them to navigate
   campus facilities
   - and systems;
   - to provide full- and part-time faculty and staff with training on
   working with
   - students with disabilities; and
   - to improve the identification process of students with disabilities
   and enhance
   - data collection capabilities.

The 2022-2023 Budget requests $13.09 million in additional state funding
above 2021-2022 levels, for a total of $15.09 million for Enhancing
Supports and Services for Postsecondary Success of Students with
Disabilities for the following purposes:

   - $97,210 to hire one Associate in Higher Education Programs to serve as
   the program officer for this program and also to oversee the Foster Youth
   College Success Initiative;
   - $15 million to be distributed based on enrollment, in equal amounts
   per identified student with disability, to eligible institutions with
   approved plans to help serve more students with disabilities pursuing
   postsecondary study.

Remember, accessibility benefits everyone. Together, we can unlock our
potential.

--
¡Salud!

John


John Locke, Ph.D., :~{)>
Coordinator, Technology Enhanced Learning
and Distance Education
SUNY Plattsburgh / Feinberg Library, Room 303
2 Draper Avenue, Plattsburgh, NY 12901
518-564-4537
Certified Equity Advocate
Chair, Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Committee
Member, President's Campus, Community, and Safety Advisory Committee
Member, President's Inclusive Excellence Council
Member, Center for Teaching Excellence Advisory Board
Member, Teaching and Learning with Technology Advisory Group
Member, SUNY EIT Accessibility Advisory Group
Member, Association of Continuing Higher Education
Member, Society for Utopia Studies
Follow me on academia.edu <https://johnlocke.academia.edu/>
*Preferred Pronouns: he/him why
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