AODA Digital and Document Accessibility Specialist

Status: Full Time


Hours: Monday to Friday;35 hours/week


Campus: Fennell


Pay Band: H


Rate of Pay: $33.71


Posting Date: September 8 th , 2023


Closing Date: September 14 th , 2023 at 7:00pm EST


Please be advised that according to Full Time Support Staff Collective Agreement, Article 17.1, preference will be given to qualified employees within the Full Time Support Staff bargaining unit, Appendix D (in the role for 6 consecutive months) and RPT employees who have passed probation at Mohawk College. Should a suitable candidate not be found, external candidates will be considered.


We support and encourage the contributions of our diverse employees. We are committed to nurturing an equitable, diverse and inclusive (EDI) environment for everyone who learns and works at Mohawk College. We believe the rich diversity among our students and the communities we serve should be reflected within our workforce. As educators we believe it is important to act and show leadership in advancing the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion in our community.


Mohawk College is currently recruiting for our next


AODA Digital and Document Accessibility Specialist


The AODA Digital and Document Accessibility Specialist provides central oversight, coordination and technical support to ensure that all public-facing documents and website content, including HTML, webpages, videos, photos and assets, adhere to AODA legislated requirements. Reporting to the Manager, Web and Content Optimization, the incumbent is the accessibility and AODA subject matter expert within Marketing, providing support for employees across the college. The incumbent understands the standards of AODA accessibility legislation, with in-depth knowledge of the ‘Information and Communications Standard’, and stays up to date with changes, news, deadlines and requirements.


Working as part of the Web team, the incumbent collaborates with the web and graphic design teams to ensure that designs, web content and digital assets follow accessibility guidelines, standards and best practices. The specialist will use technical skills and knowledge to produce accessible templates and remediate documents so they meet accessible standards. The incumbent will produce fully accessible college-branded templates for college employees for a variety of software and uses, e.g., Word, PowerPoint, email, etc.


The incumbent will provide 1:1 and small-group training (e.g., up to 15 participants) to support employees in the production of public-facing (non-academic) accessible documents and digital resources (videos, assets, webpages). The incumbent will produce and develop tools, resources, documents, guides, instructional videos, etc. to assist college employees in using the templates to produce accessible materials. The incumbent understands universal design for learning (UDL) and integrates principles into resources developed (e.g., presenting how-to document in multiple formats).


The incumbent will produce regular status reports on the overall accessibility of the college’s public website, portal and digital assets. The incumbent will identify gaps, issues and areas in need of focus.


Responsibilities


The duties of this position include, but are not limited to:


Web Accessibility


Monitors mohawkcollege.ca and other public-facing college websites using SiteImprove (or similar monitoring software), as well as multiple platforms and operating systems (iOS/Safari, Android/Chrome) to identify accessibility issues. Working with the web team, the incumbent prioritizes and plans the work necessary to resolve issues (content or back-end code) to ensure public-facing content meets necessary WCAG standards.
Monitors public-facing digital assets (e.g., PDFs) using SiteImprove, or similar software. Working with document owner and the web and design teams, the incumbent recommends a plan to remediate the file(s), convert content to HTML, and/or remove the inaccessible file(s).
Performs user testing of key website pages and features by using assistive technology (e.g., screen reader), and/or collaborates with people with disabilities to perform testing, to identify existing accessibility issues or barriers, and opportunities for improvement.
Working with the web team, the incumbent reviews and tests development work and/or site enhancements on public-facing college websites performed by external vendors to ensure the site meets necessary WCAG standards.
Updates and implements content web edits using HALT-FC principles, UDL principles, WCAG 2.0 compliance standards (subject to AODA Act)


Design, Production and Remediation


Checks public-facing documents to be printed or distributed digitally (posted on website, emailed) as part of the design workflow to ensure they meet accessibility guidelines, standards and best practices. Provides feedback/changes, recommendations and guidance to design team as required to ensure final approved document is accessible.
Provides document remediation services for public-facing documents upon request by marketing team and/or college employees. Scope of work includes Word, PowerPoint and PDF files.
Coordinates the remediation of documents with external vendors when required due to document complexity or timing/workload.
Works with the graphic design team, the incumbent develops accessible college-branded templates (e.g., Word, PowerPoint, InDesign, etc.) to be used within the marketing department, and by employees from across the college. The incumbent develops how-to documents to assist college employees in using the templates to produce accessible materials.
Coordinates captioning of video content to be published on mohawkcollege.ca and other public-facing college websites or social media platforms. Investigates process and resources required to add audio descriptions to video content.


Outreach, Training and Resource Development


Acts as the marketing department’s subject matter expert on the standards of AODA accessibility legislation, with in-depth knowledge of the ‘Information and Communications Standard’.
Performs research to stay up to date with legislation changes, news, deadlines and requirements and shares information and resources with manager and marketing team.
Responsible for the coordination, administration, development and delivery of employee learning and development activities (virtual and instructor lead) related to AODA, public-facing (non-academic) digital and document accessibility, accessibility tools (SiteImprove), and web accessibility training for CMS editors and content providers within the college’s Learning Management System (LMS).
Responsible for documentation, tracking and reporting of participation in learning activities through the college’s Learning Management System (LMS).
Partners with Professional Development to promote, identify, gather, analyse, track and report on employee training/learning. Gathers and analyzes data and metrics for reports and presentations when required.
Provides 1:1 assistance and recommendations to employees on public-facing (non-academic) documents (Word, PowerPoint, PDF) accessibility.
Develops and share social media accessibility guidelines, standards, recommendations and best practices.
Reviews, edits and maintains accessibility-related content on mohawkcollege.ca, MyMohawk and other platforms. Works with other subject matter experts to ensure content is up to date and accurate.
Understands universal design for learning (UDL) and integrates principles into resources and training developed (e.g., presenting how-to document in multiple formats).
Collaborates with other areas of the college on accessibility initiatives, activities and requirements, including the Manager, AODA and EDI Initiatives.


Reporting


Provides progress reports and/or presentations on status of digital and document accessibility to manager and internal stakeholders, including overall web accessibility ratings (e.g., Siteimprove score).
Documents and tracks training, web development fixes and improvements made.


Other duties as assigned.


Qualifications


The successful candidate will have:


A two-year diploma or equivalent in graphic design, web design, computer technology, communications accessible media production graduate certificate.
Minimum of three years of experience reviewing, analysing, producing and/or remediating documents to meet accessibility standards.
Minimum of three years of accessibility review, experience troubleshooting and identifying issues.
Knowledge and understanding of Universal design for learning (UDL) principles.
Knowledge of assistive technology (e.g., screen readers).
Experience with template and resource development.
Teamwork and collaboration skills.
Demonstrated commitment and understanding of human rights, equity, diversity and inclusion with the ability to communicate and work effectively with diverse groups of students, employees and the community.


Mohawk College prioritizes recruiting and retaining diverse employees. With this in mind, the College is committed to fostering inclusive and barrier-free recruitment and selection processes.


Should you require accommodation through any stage of the recruitment process, please contact the Human Resources Department at (905) 575 - 2047.


Mohawk College is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from racialized persons, women, Indigenous people, persons with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ persons, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.


For more information concerning the Mohawk College strategic plan, please see: strategicplan.mohawkcollege.ca/