San Jose State University
 
 
 
Dear Colleagues,
Anyone affiliated with the CSU, including students, is now eligible to join the International Association of Accessibility Professionals using our organizational membership.
 
Members have complimentary access to monthly professional education webinars, a community discussion forum, free online courses, and a discount on professional certifications. 
 
You can learn more about IAAP membership and membership benefits through the IAAP website and this Welcome Guide.   
 
You’ll first need to be added to the CSU membership roster to get started. Please follow the steps below:
  1. Use this invitation link to get started
  2. Select your status: New Member; select Next
  3. Enter the email address you want to use, select Submit
  4. Follow the instructions in the email sent to you to set up your profile

Thank you,
Magdalena L. Barrera
Senior Vice Provost and Accreditation Liaison Officer
ATI Steering Committee Chair
 
 
 
What We're Checking Out
 
The latest helpful articles on accessibility topics.
 
 
No Research About Us Without Us : “Research labs benefit if faculty are inclusive of students with disabilities, a group of scholars and students committed to inclusive lab practices write.”
 
 
 
Employee Accommodations Resource Center
 
News and updates
 
 
Did You Know? Accessibility Tools Are Built Right Into Your Everyday Apps!
Microsoft Word
  • Go to Review → Check Accessibility to run Word’s built-in accessibility checker
  • This tool helps you catch common issues like:
    • Missing or unclear alt text
    • Incorrect heading structure
    • Low color contrast
    • Missing table headers
  • Word also provides step-by-step recommendations to fix identified issues

Google Docs
  • Go to Tools → Accessibility to turn on helpful features like:
    • Screen reader support
    • Braille display support
    • Screen magnifier compatibility
 
 
 
Center for Faculty Excellence and Teaching Innovation
 
Updates
 
 
Expanding team expertise
 
 
A SJSU Team led by Jennifer Redd including Sara Bakalian and Amy Segeren were accepted into the Planning to Delivery: A 1EdTech and WCET Accessibility Workshop Series!

They will participate in a multi-month professional development experience co-designed by 1EdTech and WCET. The program focuses on helping institutions confidently build, evaluate, and sustain accessible digital learning environments aligned with WCAG 2.1 AA and emerging DOJ expectations. They will engage in virtual workshops this spring with a practical, implementation focus and culminate into a capstone shared at the annual conference. Participation in this program will continue to expand our campus expertise and commitment toward accessibility.
 
 
 
 
 
Introducing UDOIT: let's make learning accessible to all!
 
 
The Universal Design Online Content Inspection Tool (UDOIT) is now available in Canvas! This tool scans your course for accessibility issues, highlights any problems it finds, and offers clear guidance on how to fix them. UDOIT is replacing Ally as part of a CSU-wide initiative to enhance the accessibility and inclusivity of our Canvas courses.
Recommended workflow: Start by using TidyUp to delete any unused or duplicate content in your course. Then, run UDOIT to focus on fixing accessibility issues in the materials that are actually in use.
 
 
 
 
 
Introducing accessible canvas courses: complete the course for a badge or use as a resource!
 
 
This four-module course guides you in creating more accessible and inclusive course material which aligns with SJSU’s mission and Transformation 2030 strategic goals. You’ll find resources on Universal Design for Learning, Adobe Acrobat, Canvas, Google Suite, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, TidyUp and UDOIT.

Use this self-paced course as a resource or complete it to earn a badge! Consider enrolling in Accessible Canvas Courses to create a more inclusive learning experience for our diverse student population!
 
 
 
University Council on Accommodation and Compliance
 
Updates
 
 
The University Council on Accessibility and Compliance (UCAC) is welcoming new committee members!

Any faculty, staff, or students are welcome to apply to become a part of this important university council. We are specifically in need of at least one student member, and invite those who identify as dis/abled and those who are allies to join our work. We meet monthly and would love to have you join us!
One item on which we are working is beginning the work of establishing affinity groups for faculty/staff and students (two groups). If you are interested in joining an affinity group, but not in the UCAC, we welcome you to contact us as well. 
Please contact Dr. Lara Ervin-Kassab ([email protected]) if you are interested in either of these opportunities. Thank you! 
 
 
 
 
 
 
San Jose State University
One Washington Square
San José, CA 95192