Digital Accessibility Liaison Program

Purpose of the Digital Accessibility Liaison Role

The Digital Accessibility Liaison will serve as a connector, advocate, and facilitator within their department or unit to advance Virginia Tech’s commitment to digital accessibility. Unlike general membership in the university’s Accessibility Network, the liaison role is more defined and includes expectations for communication, resource sharing, and alignment with digital accessibility efforts.

The role is designed to:

● Build a bridge between TLOS and departments, ensuring timely communication of digital accessibility information.

● Provide a visible point of contact to address basic digital accessibility questions in each unit, and connect faculty with TLOS to address in-depth needs.

● Help create a culture of accessibility where faculty, staff, and students can expect accessible digital materials as the norm.

Time Commitment

● Monthly liaison meeting (1 hour)

● Quarterly Accessibility Network meetings (1 hour)

● ~5 hours per month for communication, resource sharing, brief training, and coordinating with colleagues (varies by unit size)

● Additional involvement may vary based on departmental needs

Core Responsibilities

Digital Accessibility Liaisons support their unit in four main areas:

1. Communication and Information Sharing ○ Share accessibility updates, resources, and expectations with colleagues in (e.g., short updates at faculty/staffmeetings, email digests, or tip sheets).

○ Act as a conduit to connect colleagues with campus partners, tools, and services.

○ Increase visibility in unit communications (e.g., email signatures, door signs, or digital badges).

2. Training and Capacity-Building ○ Participate in monthly Digital Accessibility Liaison meetings.

○ Offer “bite-sized” training opportunities (e.g., 10-minute accessibility demos or lightning talks).

○ Encourage “born accessible” practices for new content, alongside guidance for remediation.

○ Support colleagues in pursuing professional development (e.g., TLOS Professional Development Network workshops, CPACC cohort).

3. Advocacy and Culture Building ○ Promote accessibility as part of departmental culture, working with supervisors and leadership to gain buy-in.

○ Share departmental success stories and strategies with other liaisons to foster collaboration.

○ Provide feedback to supervisors and leadership on accessibility progress and needs.

4. Departmental/Unit Engagement ○ Serve as a recognized point of contact for digital accessibility in the department.

○ Where appropriate, help gather and review accessibility-related data (e.g., Ally reports, remediation progress, training participation).

○ Support alignment of local practices with the university’s ADA Title II roadmap (e.g., C.A.L.M. campaigns).

Benefits for Liaisons and Units

1. Professional Development ○ PDN Computer Refresh credits for service as a liaison

○ Funded opportunities for professional certifications (CPACC, ADS, etc.)

○ Potential funding assistance to attend national conferences on accessibility

2. Recognition and Visibility ○ Listing within a liaison directory

○ Digital badge, office sign, and email signature marker

○ Highlighted in VT News and TLOS communications

3. Support ○ Direct connection to TLOS and Accessible Technologies staff

○ Resource toolkits, templates, and ready-made messaging

○ Mentoring and peer support within the liaison community

4. Digital Accessibility Awareness and Community ○ Improve departmental preparation for digital accessibility requirements

○ Build internal expertise to support faculty and staff

○ Ongoing collaboration with campus accessibility partners

Contact

For more information about the Digital Accessibility Liaison Program, please contact:

● De Harman, Learning Technologies Specialist, ddh7j@vt.edu

● Mark Nichols, Senior Director of Universal Design and Accessible Technologies, mnichol1@vt.edu