Commercial Integrator November 2022 - 38

ACCESSIBILITY Embracing Inclusion
Enhancing the
Classroom Experience
As this gradual shift toward improving
accessibility continues to play out, universities
are taking several steps to leverage
technology in the classroom. For instance,
Nord proclaims, Bluetooth-enabled and
Wi-Fi-based technologies are gaining great
traction, as is the bring-your-own-device
(BYOD) movement. " These technologies
allow people to use their own devices,
and [it] eases them into using them for
accessibility purposes, " he states. " It also
suits the target demographic in universities,
where a majority of the student crowd
owns a smartphone or laptop. " According
to Nord, " [These devices] allow them to
connect instantly to assistive-listening
technology on their own. "
During our interviews, all interviewees
advocated for BYOD technology, emphasizing
that it removes the stigma of having
to ask publicly for an accommodation.
Maher-Moran explains, " Earlier, it would be
intimidating for a lot of students, [especially
for neurodiverse students,] to approach
others. " Moreover, she notes, the technology
provided was often outdated and
clunky. " But now, " Maher-Moran adds
optimistically, " students and teachers have
that option to be a part of the learning
experience in a comfortable manner. "
From Pedersen's perspective, another
important factor is to make sure physical
classroom spaces accommodate both students
and faculty well. He explains, " Motorized
screens versus manual, pull-down
screens can make a difference in accessibility. "
What's more, he adds, he has seen
some schools make tremendous strides by
improving existing technologies, such as
audiovisual control touchpanels. Pedersen
explains, " The GUI can be designed with
more contrast and larger text, as well as audio
feedback of the button presses. " This,
he remarks, is extremely useful for those
who have visual impairments.
" And not just that, " Kaufman chimes in,
" [but] the touchpanels also need to be in a
universal language. " He recalls an incident in
which a colleague's family from Brazil couldn't
comprehend touchpanel buttons in one
classroom, as they were designed to mimic
the decorative wallpanel. " While the design
looked great in theory, it was actually inaccessible
to a lot of people, " he elaborates.
'[BYOD] technologies
allow people to use
their own devices,
and [it] eases them
into using them for
accessibility purposes.'
- Sam Nord,
Listen Technologies
38
How Integrators Can Help
Integrators who outfit higher-education
classrooms certainly have to pay closer
attention to the installations. Maher-Moran
advises, " The best thing an integrator can do
is think of it as a partnership with technology
managers [at the universities], as opposed to
a buyer-seller relationship. " She also underlines
that understanding budget constraints
constitutes a major part in the partnership.
" It's important to keep in mind the affordability,
as well as determine if the technology implementations
match the needs of students
and teachers, " Maher-Moran adds. Another
point to consider, which Nord raises, is ensuring
that the technology provides a seamless
experience. " You want the lowest number
of barriers possible, " he explains. " [Students
and teachers] should be able to access the
technologies with ease and comfort. "
In Kaufman's opinion, integrators
should also establish universal designs for
classrooms. " The technology and furniture
need to be accessible for people with
all body sizes and types, " he says. " This
includes building ergonomic furniture for
those using wheelchairs or with dexterity
Commercial Integrator NOVEMBER 2022
'When you have
comprehensive
knowledge of the
teaching and learning
process, it essentially
allows you to adapt
the technology
accordingly.'
- Josh Kaufman,
Tufts University
issues. " Besides that, managers and integrators
should include instruction manuals
that help in navigating the technology.
" This is something I always push for, " he reveals,
" since we have faculty or staff calling
us nearly every day with questions on how
to operate the systems. "
Pedersen echoes those sentiments,
remarking that most higher-education
institutions have accessibility coordinators.
He offers a clear recommendation: " Integrators
[should] work to get them involved
early on in the project scope and design
phases to provide critical early feedback
and suggestions on accessibility needs. "
Pedersen continues, " At ISU, we have hired
a full-time digital accessibility coordinator. "
When integrators follow best practices like
that, he adds, they show that accessibility
is important to them.
Expanding the
Scope of Accessibility
Given these accessibility improvements,
all four express high hopes for the future.
According to Nord, smartphone apps that
pair with assistive-listening devices are
paving the way for in-depth customization.
" We're also seeing two-way communicommercialintegrator.com
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Commercial Integrator November 2022

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