Accessibility Ambassadors
The Digital Accessibility Steering Committee is excited to announce the launch of a new initiative aimed at continuing to develop digital content that is accessible to all individuals. As part of our ongoing commitment to faculty and staff development and student success, we invite you to self-nominate as an Accessibility Ambassador who will provide technical guidance to fellow faculty and staff members.
The Accessibility Ambassadors are a team of experienced and knowledgeable faculty (tenure track, instructional, or clinical) and staff who are available to provide individual instruction, guidance, and advice to their colleagues as they develop or update content that will be shared with others on campus.
This new program will run from May, 2026 to May, 2027 and aims to build a vibrant community of peer support at NIU and offers a unique opportunity to contribute to our university's commitment to digital accessibility, equity, and inclusion while gaining professional recognition and development. We anticipate a time commitment of one to three hours per week.
Who Should Apply?
- Any faculty (tenure-track, instructors, or teaching staff) or staff member with a passion for accessibility, student success, equity, and inclusion and a willingness to share their expertise.
- Faculty and staff who have a technical understanding of one or more aspects of digital accessibility and experience in making digital content accessible. Ambassadors don’t need expertise with multiple platforms.
- Individuals who are committed to student success and equity and wish to learn about accessibility as it applies to other platforms.
What Does the Role Involve?
Accessibility Ambassadors will:
- Be a resource to assist others in making documents accessible.
- Provide one-on-one technical guidance as your schedule permits, scheduled using a web-based appointment scheduler.
- Participate in professional development designed to enhance technical skills related to digital content accessibility.
- Where appropriate, lead professional development sessions.
Recognition and Support
- All Accessibility Ambassadors will be officially recognized and listed on a dedicated webpage, showcasing their areas of expertise.
- Receive a digital badge recognizing your engagement in the program.
How to Apply
Please complete the brief self-nomination form to express your interest and provide information about your technical experience and areas of expertise. The selection process will involve consultation with the digital access steering committee. Any selection of staff woulbe be pending supervisor approval.
Deadline: Please submit your self-nomination by Monday, March 16th.
Join us in this exciting initiative to build a vibrant peer support community at NIU. Your involvement will have a significant impact on our collective efforts to serve our students and campus community.
We look forward to your participation!