Case Study 8.1: University of Texas, Arlington
In “Experiential Learning and Open Education,” Michelle Reed discussed one strategy for staffing an accessibility initiative—creating a student internship. While based at the University of Texas, Arlington (UTA), Reed proposed an internship option to the undergraduate Disability Studies program. Founded in 2013, the program required students to complete a final internship and capstone project in addition to courses exploring disability history and intersections with race, gender, and ethnicity. The internship provided an opportunity for a student to learn about web accessibility and best practices for designing educational resources accessible to people with disabilities.
Reed’s project suggests other avenues for working with students on accessibility projects. Here are a few ideas you might pursue:
- Reach out to a campus digital humanities, computer science, or education program to suggest an internship or capstone project;
- Identify a user experience or web development course for which your accessibility project could be an assignment or learning experience;
- Encourage your institution to join the Teach Access program and suggest your project as a work or internship option for the students who participate in the program.
