(90 minutes)

Dr Elaine Pearson

Many accessibility advocates would argue that accessibility should be the primary consideration for the development of online resources, but in the academic setting it is usually teaching staff who are largely responsible for the production of their own electronic resources. Academics may lack the time, expertise and the motivation to undertake inclusive practices. This presentation explores means of supporting academic staff in the creation of accessible and inclusive online learning materials through activities designed to create an empathy with the student experience, coupled with targeted, timely and appropriate training.

Elaine is Director of the Accessibility Research Centre in the School of Computing, University of Teesside, and is also a Principal Lecturer with responsibility for supporting the development of accessible practices. ARC is a group of researchers, academics and developers interested in the design of digital resources for people with disabilities. Elaine has published and presented extensively in journals and conferences in the UK, Europe, North America and Australia on the subject of accessibility and online learning, was an invited Program Co- Chair for EDMEDIA 2006, is on the editorial board of a number of journals and has been a Visiting Research Fellow with the University of New South Wales, Australia since 2000. She coordinates and contributes to a number of research projects funded by HEFCE, ESF, ERDF, JISC and HEIF. Her personal research interests focus on supporting academics in achieving inclusive practice; and creating flexible, and adaptable learning activities to improve the educational experience for all students.

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