Partnerships toward Accessible Design: Cross-Departmental Collaboration on Accessible Web Design

Michele Bromley, IT Accessibility Coordinator, Office of Information Technology
Ashley Nilson, Web Communications Trainer, Office of University Communications

Portland State University

This summer, Portland State University launched a fully redesigned, more accessible and user-friendly pdx.edu. This update impacted approximately 300 sites, 1,200 site editors, and 300,000 monthly site visitors. System deliverables included a user-friendly platform that was heavily vetted and optimized for accessibility. Correlative support deliverables included fully online trainings in website content management and accessible design, along with ongoing in-person and remote support services. This took substantial collaboration between the Web Communications team, out of University Communications; the IT Accessibility team, out of the Office of Information Technology; and the vendor responsible for the new platform design. The development and implementation of both system and support deliverables required weekly meetings, regular stakeholder management, and extensive email communication. The purpose of this session is to share our experience for the benefit of other departments, organizations, and institutions who may be working toward more accessible online spaces. The session will begin with a description of the project’s initial goals and potential pitfalls and continue with a review of the project timeline and lessons learned throughout. The session will close with a moratorium-style discussion of what went well and what could have been improved, emphasizing how this information can inform future projects. Opportunities for audience participation and engagement will be made available throughout the presentation in a variety of forms. Attendees will come away with strategies and sample resources they may use in coordinating similar accessibility projects at their institutions. 

Michele Bromley is the IT Accessibility Coordinator for the Office of Information Technology at Portland State University (PSU). In this capacity, she serves as a digital accessibility resource for the university—providing support, technical direction, and assessment related to the accessibility of new and existing information and communication technologies. Michele also currently serves on the Executive Council for the Access Technology Higher Education Network (ATHEN). Her primary areas of expertise are accessible digital design, digital accessibility validation, alternative media, and adaptive technology. Personally, she is an avid Star Wars and Firefly fan and loves spending time with her two kiddos.

Armed with a Master’s degree in Education and a love of technology, Ashley Nilson manages training and consulting processes for Portland State University’s system of sites, as well as providing project management services for site overhauls. She is passionate about collaborative processes and developing rapport between people, with a focus on finding common ground. When not at work, Ashley enjoys hiking, amatuer woodworking, and planning projects around her house. Always a learner, she is currently studying for her CPACC exam to help improve both her own teaching processes and to better inform site managers of best practices for accessibility.