University director receives Accessible Technology award
Sacramento State’s director of Academic Technology and Creative Services, Jean-Pierre Bayard, received the Accessible Technology Initiative (ATI) Champion Award for his efforts at implementing ATI on campus.
Bayard received the award from the California State University Office of the Chancellor at the annual CSU Northridge Conference on Technology and Persons with Disabilities ceremony March 12.
“We have been a leading campus in ATI in the state,” Bayard says. “ATI is an unfunded mandate, but Sacramento State has chosen to take leadership and fund it as part of our broader core mission to provide accessibility to everyone.”
The term accessible technologies generally refers to electronic technologies that allow people with disabilities to access content from electronic communication applications such as televisions, computer hardware and software, e-mail and the internet. Examples include closed captioning and screen readers.
In 2006, the California State University system developed the ATI and directed its 23 campuses to begin ensuring information, technology and resources were accessible to all people by 2012. Instructional materials and technology purchases, including web applications, hardware, software, telecommunications and multimedia products, must conform to accessibility standards or provide equally effective alternative forms of access.
“In the fall we held a campus wide forum that really sensitized the campus community as to the need to have accessibility in instructional materials,” Bayard said.
Sacramento State has about 600 students who have self-identified to the Services to Students with Disabilities office. The number could be higher since students are not required to self-identify.
