AccessATE: Making Community College Technician Education More Accessible for Everyone

研究表明，纳入通用设计概念和无障碍标准使学习资源更容易被残疾人和其他人使用，包括非母语使用者、低识字率学生和老年人。在开发过程的开始阶段包含大学设计概念可以增加网站、课程、文档和其他资源的有效性。高级技术教育(ATE)计划支持开发课程材料、专业发展材料、夏令营和其他资源的项目和中心，以教育熟练的技术劳动力。ATE中央存档由ATE社区开发的材料，并为查找和下载这些资源提供一个开放的数字门户。在ATE中央档案馆拥有精心设计的、可访问的资源，将使那些改编和采用这些材料的人能够接触到尽可能广泛的受众，从而扩大STEM教育的范围和STEM就业的机会。AccessATE项目将帮助ATE受赠者(和其他STEM教育工作者)了解无障碍的需求，特别是当它涉及到他们的ATE项目和中心的交付成果时。它将为他们提供支持和解决方案，以满足这些无障碍需求和挑战。项目交付成果将包括：AccessATE网站，它将提供一个平台和中央数据交换点；无障碍组织目录；无障碍工具目录，包括核对表，为开发人员提供要考虑的点和要执行的任务，以确保开发材料的合规性；以及用于无障碍媒体创作和支持教师与行业合作伙伴合作的资源。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Research shows that including Universal Design concepts and accessibility standards makes learning resources more usable by those with disabilities and others, including non-native language speakers, low-literacy students, and seniors. Including University Design concepts at the beginning of the development process can increase the effectiveness of websites, curriculum, documents, and other resources. The Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program supports projects and centers that develop curricular materials, professional development materials, summer camps, and other resources for educating the skilled technical workforce. ATE Central archives materials developed by the ATE community and provides a open digital portal for finding and downloading these resources. Having well-designed, accessible resources in the ATE Central archive will enable those who adapt and adopt these materials to reach the broadest possible audience thus broadening the reach of STEM education and opportunities for STEM employment.The AccessATE project will help ATE grantees (and other STEM educators) understand the need for accessibility, particularly as it relates to the deliverables of their ATE projects and centers. It will provide them with support and solutions to meet these accessibility needs and challenges. Project deliverables will include: the AccessATE website, which will provide a platform and central data exchange point; an Accessibility Organization Directory; an Accessibility Tool Directory with a checklist to provide developers with points to consider and tasks to perform to ensure compliance of materials developed; and resources for accessible media creation and for supporting faculty in working with industry partners.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.