Library Accessibility Steering Committee

About the Library Accessibility Steering Committee

The Library Accessibility Steering Committee is charged with coordinating the Library’s response to the campus-wide Digital Accessibility and Excellence Initiative.  Launched by Provost John Coleman in May, 2024 the Digital Accessibility and Excellence Initiative guides the work of addressing Department of Justice changes to requirements for governmental entity compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act related to the accessibility of all digital content, including online course content and mobile applications.

Strategic Planning

The Library Accessibility Steering Committee has adopted a yearly roadmap approach to pursuing universal accessibility. You will find the current and historic roadmap documents below as well as mid-year reviews that provide assessments of the current state of progress and any necessary course corrections, as well as recommendations for the next year’s roadmap.

Training and Discussion

John Laskowski and John Rutherford host training opportunities throughout the year. Additionally, John Laskowski hosts a weekly office hour on Teams focused on accessibility issues in general and implementing the priorities laid out in the roadmaps specifically. These office hours are from 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM every Thursday.

About the Digital Accessibility and Excellence Initiative

The Digital Accessibility and Excellence Initiative leverages Illinois expertise to work towards ensuring that our digital platforms are inclusive and comply with the evolving standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The Digital Accessibility and Excellence Steering Committee and implementation groups include faculty across colleges and experts from departments and units such as the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning, University Library, Office of the Chief Information Officer and Disability Resources and Educational Services.

Senior champions

The Senior champions support the DAESC with outreach and advocacy, serving as champions to the wider university community in support of the steering committee’s mandate and activities.

Current champions

  • Brooke Elliott, Dean of Gies College of Business
  • Ingrid Fulmer, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost (Liaison for Senior Champions Group with steering committee)
  • Cheryl Hanley-Maxwell, Dean of College of Applied Health Sciences
  • Jim Hintz, Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Success, Inclusion, and Belonging
  • Kevin Jackson, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education
  • Kristi Kuntz, Executive Associate Provost for Academic Programs and Policies
  • Mairéad Martin, Vice Provost for IT and Chief Information Officer
  • Nolan Miller, Chair, Senate Committee on Education and Policy, Office of the Provost
  • Clair Stewart, Dean of Libraries

College accessibility leads

The college accessibility leads play an important role in communication with colleges and in helping ensure that colleges have what they need to engage in making all their course materials, other electronic documents and software accessible.

Current leads

  • Mikael Arvola, Graduate College
  • Jason Chambers, College of Media
  • Ollie Watts Davis, College of Fine and Applied Arts
  • Stephen Downie, School of Information Sciences
  • Jason Boys, School of Labor and Employment Relations
  • Debra Korte, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences
  • Jason Mock, Gies College of Business
  • Bob Morrissey, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
  • Nancy Oliver, College of Veterinary Medicine
  • Jessica Orban, Carle Illinois College of Medicine
  • Elaine Robbins, Grainger College of Engineering
  • Leslie Sherman, College of Education
  • Sarah Shrader, College of Applied Health Sciences
  • Carolyn Turner, College of Law
  • Justin York, School of Social Work

Implementation teams

The implementation teams play a key role in putting the strategic planing of the Digital Accessibility and Excellence Initiative into action. Their are five teams that work closely with each other, key collaborators on campus and with the Digital Accessibility Program in the Office of the CIO.

Teams leads

  • Electronic documents and multimedia: Bob Dignan, Center for Innovation, Teaching and Learning
  • Web content: Jon Laskowski, University Library
  • Training and education: Marc Thompson, Center for Innovation, Teaching and Learning
  • Software and delivery platforms: Matthew McNeilly, Office of the Chief Information Officer
  • Communications: Katie Watson, Strategic Communications and Marketing