ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the task force recommendation to develop an accessibility policy, where the policy itself is deeply entwined with several other recommendations, specifically, the hiring of a digital accessibility coordinator and the establishment of a governance structure. At many institutions of higher education, digital accessibility resides within the central information technology division, which reports to the chief information officer. A digital accessibility coordinator was hired in April 2018 and was charged with providing leadership and coordination of University of Pittsburgh's (Pitt's) commitment to the accessibility of Electronic and Information Technology (EIT). While policy development at Pitt occurred in earnest from winter 2018 through spring 2019, key actions impacting Pitt’s EIT Accessibility Policy truly began in 2015. The EIT Accessibility Procedure called for all schools and units to submit implementation plans following the adoption of the policy. However, the decision was made to pause that request as everyone struggled to adapt to emergency remote teaching and learning.
