Abstract
Policies concerning the procurement and acquisition of technology provide an opportunity for colleges and universities to increase the accessibility of the tools and services that students and faculty use. Many technology tools fail to meet accessibility standards, disenfranchising certain users while exposing institutions to legal action. In the same way that the inclusion of IT security requirements in procurement practices has elevated the security posture of institutions and awareness among users, incorporating guidance about accessibility can limit the number of inaccessible technologies on campus while educating the community about the need to provide access to all users.
The 7 Things You Should Know About... series from the EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative (ELI) provides concise information on emerging learning technologies. Each brief focuses on a single technology and describes what it is, where it is going, and why it matters to teaching and learning. Use these briefs for a no-jargon, quick overview of a topic and share them with time-pressed colleagues.
In addition to the 7 Things briefs, you may find other ELI resources useful in addressing teaching, learning, and technology issues at your institution. To learn more, please visit the ELI Resources page.