May, 12 2010 Successful Accommodations: Assistive Technology and Accessibility Working Together
Slide 1
Welcome to the Accessible Technology Webinar Series 
The Accessible Technology Webinar Series is sponsored by the Great Lakes ADA Center and the Pacific ADA Center, both members of the ADA National Network.
The Session is Scheduled to begin at 2:00 pm Eastern Time
We will be testing sound quality periodically
The content and materials of this training cannot be used or distributed without permission. This training is funded under award #H133A060097 from the U.S. Department of Education through the auspices of the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR. For permission to use training content or obtain copies of materials used as part of this program please contact us by email at adata@adagreatlakes.org or toll free (800) 949-4232 (V/TTY) in IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, and WI.  For other all other states call (312) 413-1407
Slide 2
Successful Accommodations: Assistive Technology and Accessibility Working Together

Slide 3
About ATIA
ATIA represents more then 130 manufacturers, resellers and organizations working in the field of Assistive Technology
Our members focus primarily on the following areas of technology access;
Visual Impairments
Learning disabilities
Multiple disabilities
Independent living
Cognitive disabilities
Vocational Needs
Slide 4
About ATIA
Our members include AT/IT companies
We partner with ICT companies to enable better access to mainstream products
IT companies want to make their systems accessible and interoperate with assistive technologies
AT manufacturers collaborate with IT companies to ensure accessibility with mainstream ICT
Knowledge of AT and how it works with IT is critical! 
Slide 5
Accommodations and AT
AT is one part of the solution
Critical areas that require focus:
Internal corporate processes
Purchasing, evaluations, ongoing development, creating an inclusive work environment
ICT systems and people
Training needs
AT and IT
Slide 6
Ecosystem For Success
HR, training, IT, Employee, Managers
Work before and during employment
Needs are always changing and systems are always changing
Thought must be put into all areas so employee does not get locked out of doing their job
Apathy and discrimination
That’s why we have the ADA
What is reasonable?
Slide 7
Web and Document Access
Know the resources available 
W3C –WAI Standards, Section 508
JAN, WebAim, the entire world of evaluation tools
Accessibility Solutions Providers
Local services and funded agencies
AT Resellers or distributors (often a great way to get training on specific products)
Slide 8
Direct Benefits After Accommodation
Chart showing: 
Company retained a valued employee 	86% 
Increased the employee’s productivity 	72% 
Eliminated costs of training a new employee 55% 
Saved worker’s compensation/other insurance costs 	47% 
Increased diversity of the company 	46% 
Increased the employee’s attendance 	39% 
Company hired a qualified person with a disability 14% 
Company promoted an employee 	  8%
Slide 9
Indirect Benefits After Accommodation
Chart showing:
Improved interactions with co-workers 	66% 
Increased overall company morale 	61% 
Increased overall company productivity	59% 
Increased workplace safety 	47% 
Improved interactions with customers 	37% 
Increased overall company attendance 	27% 
Increased profitability 	24% 
Increased customer base 	 7%
Slide 10
Why is This Data Important?
Companies do not just do things because it is right
Companies have employee needs (new and existing) and need to know the facts and not use assumptions.
Slide 11
Integrating AT 
Purchase mechanism
Who is responsible?
Successful when a central purchase model
Prior testing for installation
Corporate environments need time to get things installed on computers
Helpful if they have a version that has been installed on baseline machine

Integrating AT
Training environment evaluations
Are training environment accessible
Standard employee training needs (corporate systems) 
Ad hoc training or presentations
AT Oriented Training needs 
Existing Employees
Who do they go to for an evaluation
Does the company provide a way for requests to be made in a positive manner
Slide 13
Integrating AT
Learning disabilities affects many in the work place and there are numerous ways to accommodate
How do we best support employment for people who use AAC devices?
Slide 14
Training/Skills
Management Training
Recognizing job performance issues that could be solved with some accommodations
Using companies own disability insurer for support (most have services related to avoiding disability claims)
Accepting diversity and all that is included in that
Slide 15
Challenges
Budget
Training
Evaluation Resources
Awareness
Apathy
Slide 16
You Are the Experts
Continue to spread the knowledge you have
Speak at an event – becoming a speaker to share successes and struggles helps us all.  
ATIA Call for speakers is open to all of you we want you to lead the charge. 
www.atia.org for the online forms
Slide 17
Thank You
Thank you for participating in today’s session.
The Next Scheduled Session Is:
July 14, 2010 
Return on Investment: The Business Case for Accessibility 
Registration is now open at www.ad-audio.org