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Speech of Executive Vice President and Provost Ed Ray at the presentation of the Web Access Awards on October 31, 2001
The creation and dissemination of knowledge is a defining characteristic of the University and is fundamental to Ohio State's mission as a Land Grant institution. The rapid growth of knowledge combined with the speed of change in information technologies is creating new challenges and opportunities for the communication of knowledge. Nowhere is this more evident than in our efforts to provide information in accessible formats for individuals with disabilities.
The first principle of accessible design is good design. Whether a page serves as a virtual classroom, provides a service to students, models e-commerce, or presents the University to the world, it must communicate a clear message in a format that is aesthetically pleasing, engages the intended user, and incorporates the latest technology.
The second principle of accessible design is to meet diverse needs. Individuals with vision impairments use Web Browsers that "voice" the page through a synthesizer, because, in fact, a picture is not always worth a thousand words. Disabilities that impact hearing demand the creative and thoughtful use of multi-media. By reflecting on the innovative, creative, and nontraditional ways in which individuals with disabilities accomplish tasks, today's honorees have designed flexible and alternative paths to the same objectives into their pages. Such designs are likely to reach a diverse audience, disabled or not, because individuals are free to choose the paths that best serve them.
The webmasters and departments we honor today have worked with individuals with disabilities and the University's Web Accessibility Center to create well designed accessible pages that represent the range of the University's activities in cyber space.
Each award winner will receive a plaque and a copy of Steve Kuusisto's memoir Planet of the Blind. An author and poet, Steve is a second year faculty member in the English Department's Creative Writing program. His depictions of the critical need for adaptive technology make his memoir a particularly meaningful part of today's award.
As I call your name, please come forward to accept your award:
Robert Arnold: For the development of a web based component to Art Education 160, an undergraduate course dealing with the visual arts and music in the Western World since 1945. Bob is particularly grateful to his graduate assistant, Rita Chu, for much of the page building and to his entire team for helping him to create this excellent product.
Ted Hattemer: For the University's "front door" pages that are the first impression of the University for many individuals. I believe David Hoover will accept the award on behalf of Ted.
Nancy O'Hanlon: From the University Libraries for her distance learning course on Internet Tools and Research Techniques.
Diane Welch: From UNITS for the departments page describing the range of services available.
And finally, Steve Acker, not for a specific page but for the crucial role, expertise, and support that TELR and OIT have provided the University efforts to ensure accessibility.
If you have difficulty accessing any portions of this website due to incompatibility with adaptive technology, or you have suggestions on how we can make this site more accessible, or you need the information in an alternative format, please contact us at:
Contact Information:
L. Scott Lissner, ADA Coordinator
Address: ADA Coordinator's Office, The Ohio State University,
2054 Drake Center, 1849 Cannon Drive,
Columbus, OH 43210
(Voice) Phone: 614-292-6207
(TTY) 614-688-8605
(Fax) 614-688-3665
E-mail: ada-osu@osu.edu
