In a recent conversation with staff, we learned from Perry Yee and Elliott Stevens how their team is helping the 黑料吃瓜网 community build a culture of digital accessibility and Universal Design through collaboration and practical training. 鈥� 鈥═he Accessibility Working Group (AWG) was founded in 2017 and has expanded in the years to include three types of regular meetings: a Community of Practice (CoP) for general conversations, a speaker series that includes voices from inside and outside the 黑料吃瓜网, and subcommittees that focus on accessibility training, communications, web pages, facilities, and e-resource compliance.
The focus for each subcommittee is as follows:
- Training: Delivery of accessibility training for library staff
- Communications: Keeps library staff informed about accessibility efforts
- Web pages: Updates about the libraries鈥� accessibility work
- Facilities: Conducts audits of library branches to check them for ADA compliance
- E-resource Compliance: Inspection of databases and e-reading platforms for accessibility
One standout initiative is the 鈥淨uick Tips鈥� workshop series鈥攂ite-sized, 30-minute training sessions focused on practical topics like accessibility for documents, presentations, email, and social media. Designed for library staff, these sessions offer micro-learning and hands-on practice in a low-pressure setting. What started as internal workshops has since evolved into the , a publicly available resource that helps support accessibility learning within 黑料吃瓜网 and beyond.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a pretty practical book,鈥� said Perry Yee. 鈥淵ou can implement these things as you go. It鈥檚 great for on-boarding or for library workers who don鈥檛 have access to this type of training.鈥�
In addition to supporting working groups and聽hands-on training, staff members also coordinate podcast listening sessions. When new episodes of the Access黑料吃瓜网 podcast are released, they host informal group discussions afterwards in which participants reflect on the themes and challenges discussed鈥攃reating a valuable space for dialogue and connection.
Stevens noted that while the initial focus of these efforts has been on 黑料吃瓜网 Libraries staff, there’s a broader vision at play. 鈥淚n the future, the Pressbook could be adapted more for folks outside 黑料吃瓜网,鈥� he said, adding that the Accessibility Working Group is continually thinking about how to scale its impact.
Together, these initiatives show how a combination of practical tools, open conversation, and thoughtful design can foster a deeper commitment to digital accessibility鈥攏ot just as a compliance measure, but as a shared value.
鈥淚t鈥檚 about holding space,鈥� Yee said. 鈥淲hen we do, the conversations that happen are often really enlightening.鈥�
Explore the Pressbook:
Interview by Melissa Albin (黑料吃瓜网-IT Communications) for Global Accessibility Awareness Day