slide 1 managing past it accessibility roadblocks the art of it accessibility consulting (csun 2007)

Managing Past IT Accessibility Roadblocks

The Art of IT Accessibility Consulting

(CSUN 2007)

Ken Nakata

• BayFirst’s Director of Disability Initiatives BayFirst’s Director of Disability Initiatives and Government Compliance.and Government Compliance.

• Senior Trial Attorney with the Department Senior Trial Attorney with the Department of Justice for 12 years and the lead policy of Justice for 12 years and the lead policy attorney for federal government on Section attorney for federal government on Section 508 and IT accessibility for people with 508 and IT accessibility for people with disabilities.disabilities.

BayFirst Solutions LLC

• 8(a) consulting firm8(a) consulting firm– program managementprogram management– systems engineeringsystems engineering– IT processes and disability accessIT processes and disability access

• Section 508 ExpertiseSection 508 Expertise– Fred DiFiore, former Section 508 Coordinator Fred DiFiore, former Section 508 Coordinator

for U.S. Patent and Trademark Officefor U.S. Patent and Trademark Office– Ken Nakata, former Senior Trial Attorney, Ken Nakata, former Senior Trial Attorney,

U.S. Department of JusticeU.S. Department of Justice

Beginning of a Discussion…

• Goal is to share tips/ideas/tools that have Goal is to share tips/ideas/tools that have worked for different peopleworked for different people– We all work in different situationsWe all work in different situations– We all have different likes and dislikesWe all have different likes and dislikes

• Blog address: Blog address: http://itaccessibilitytoolkit.blogspot.com/

• Today is a brief overview of ideasToday is a brief overview of ideas

Points to Remember

• Change is always hardChange is always hard

• People are the most difficult part of the People are the most difficult part of the processprocess

• Managing change is more art than scienceManaging change is more art than science

• Make incremental changes while Make incremental changes while remembering long-term goalsremembering long-term goals

• Know your tool kitKnow your tool kit

Process: Do Your Homework and Use the Right Tools

Process: Doing Your Homework

• Understanding existing processesUnderstanding existing processes

• The Three Levels of LearningThe Three Levels of Learning

Process: Using the Right Tools

• Short executive trainingShort executive training

• Collaborative sessionsCollaborative sessions

• Pilot programsPilot programs

• Hire a coachHire a coach

Homework: Understanding Existing Processes

• Invest a LOT of time understanding Invest a LOT of time understanding existing processes in the organizationexisting processes in the organization

• Identify long-term and short-term goalsIdentify long-term and short-term goals

• Remember your limitationsRemember your limitations– Degree of changeDegree of change– Time and budgetTime and budget

Ivy Hooks, Ivy Hooks, "Customer Centered Products: Creating Successful Products Through Smart Requirements Management"

Homework: Understanding Existing Processes

• How is IT developed, procured, How is IT developed, procured, maintained, and used?maintained, and used?

• Start at top and work downStart at top and work down

• Goal: Identify key people important to Goal: Identify key people important to decision making but who understand decision making but who understand processes intimately (no figure heads)processes intimately (no figure heads)

• Goal: overlay (not supplant) existing Goal: overlay (not supplant) existing processesprocesses

Homework: Know the 3 Levels of Learning

• Practical (Tools)Practical (Tools)– Workshops to enable workers to do the Workshops to enable workers to do the

specific tasks they need for their jobsspecific tasks they need for their jobs

• Logical (Understanding)Logical (Understanding)– Intellectual understanding of conceptsIntellectual understanding of concepts

• Emotional (Wisdom)Emotional (Wisdom)– Develops commitmentDevelops commitment

Clawson, "Teaching Management : A Field Guide for Professors, Consultants, and Corporate Trainers"

Tools: Short Executive Training

• ½ day training course on disability ½ day training course on disability awarenessawareness

• Strong diversity componentStrong diversity component

• Creates “buy in” about accessibilityCreates “buy in” about accessibility

• Focus on a strong diversity message to Focus on a strong diversity message to develop commitment and business case develop commitment and business case for accessibilityfor accessibility

Tools: Collaborative Sessions

• Assemble key people together and give Assemble key people together and give them the problem--- not the answersthem the problem--- not the answers

• Identify solutions that have “worked Identify solutions that have “worked elsewhere” and let them champion elsewhere” and let them champion solutionssolutions

• Let participants identify solutions and Let participants identify solutions and “own” them“own” them

Krug and Oakley, "Leadership Made Simple: Practical Solutions to Your Greatest Management Challenges"

Tools: Collaborative Sessions and MindMapping

Tools: The Pilot Program

• Goal: develop the business case for Goal: develop the business case for accessibilityaccessibility

• How do you define success?How do you define success?

• What is a segregable unit with the What is a segregable unit with the following qualities?following qualities?– Most in need of positive change?Most in need of positive change?– Measurable success over short-term?Measurable success over short-term?– Inexpensive to deploy?Inexpensive to deploy?

Tools: Hire a Coach

• Outside observer perspective is keyOutside observer perspective is key

• Analogy: Few successful professional Analogy: Few successful professional athletes train aloneathletes train alone

• Benefits:Benefits:– MentorMentor– Subject matter expertSubject matter expert– Worker beeWorker bee

Ken NakataDirector of Disability Initiatives and Government

ComplianceBayFirst Solutions [email protected]

Contact Information

slide 1 managing past it accessibility roadblocks the art of it accessibility consulting (csun 2007)

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