Training

Accessibility community drop-in

Your opportunity to ask questions about digital inclusion.

  • Online
  • 1 hour
  • Free

This course will be held on

  • There are no upcoming dates

    July's drop-in: Generative AI as, or in, assistive technology

    Over the last few months, there have been many conversations around the use of generative AI to enhance accessibility, with a lot positive and exciting opportunities. It’s become evident though that there are some emerging, and perhaps unexpected, challenges around the increasing use of generative AI both as an assistive technology itself and within existing assistive tools.

    Key issues revolve around managing access to AI tools, which can be essential to mitigating risks around data security, misuse and more, while also ensuring that all users have access to tools they need.

    Emerging questions

    • How do we identify which AI tools are being used for assistive purposes by students?
    • How can we write AI policy which accounts for the use of generative AI as, or in, assistive technology?
    • What can we do when an existing tool adds additional generative AI capabilities which are restricted by already agreed AI policies?

    In this drop-in we will bring the AI in education, assistive technology, and accessibility Jisc communities together to discuss these emerging issues in an interactive session.

    Who should attend?

    Anyone interested in accessibility. You don't need to be an expert or working in accessibility to contribute. If you're interested in making the world more accessible for everyone, you're welcome!

    Monthly drop-ins are open to Jisc member organisations (UK further education colleges, specialist colleges or higher education institutions). 

    About the community drop-in

    Are you struggling to meet web accessibility regulations? Or reshaping your digital provision to make teaching and learning more inclusive?

    This live online accessibility community drop-in gives you the opportunity to ask questions about digital inclusion, provide feedback on areas that are problematic, and share your accessibility journey with others. 

    During the drop-in you'll:

    • Have an opportunity to share your experiences with and learn from like-minded people at different stages of developing accessible policy and practice
    • Gain feedback and support on any areas that may have been problematic
    • Get signposting to other resources and links to communities of practice where appropriate
    • Establish links with people working to overcome the same problems
    • Get the opportunity to shape the Jisc offer in this area

    Sessions are led by our subject specialists Laura Hutton and Kellie Mote, with input from colleagues and recognised specialists.

    Accessibility community drop-ins will run from 12:30 to 13:30 on the first Wednesday of each month during the academic calendar. 

    Session preparation and setup

    Before the community drop-in, please read below to ensure successful access.

    • The drop-in will be run in Zoom, with live automated captioning and transcription. For the best experience, download the Zoom client for your device
    • You'll also need a headset, or headphones and a microphone
    • Please sign in using your full name
    • Participants’ microphones will be muted on entry. If you would like to speak, please use the raise hand tool or the chat pane to indicate this
    • We'll be taking questions during the drop-in, which you can submit in the chat pane
    • If you will be using BSL interpreters through Access to Work and require permission to 'pin' interpreters, please let us know

    Contact

    For more information, email training@jisc.ac.uk or phone 01235 822242.

    Professional training

    Looking for something more in-depth, with a smaller group of professionals, or just for your organisation?

    Jisc provides a range of short courses to build your confidence in implementing accessibility and assistive technology. Courses are delivered online throughout the year, or if choosing in-house delivery, at a time to suit you and your colleagues. Participants can also earn digital accreditation to evidence their development. Learn more about Jisc’s accessibility and assistive technology short courses.

    Drop-in recordings

    July 2024 - Generative AI as, or in, assistive technology

    As this drop-in was primarily a discussion where people debated and shared emergent issues and concerns, we agreed with attendees that we would only publish the presentation section online. A blog outlining anonymised themes will follow.