I support this petition. Please reconsider. The closing of the Accessibility Institute says to me that UT does not think this is important. Mr. Slaten's legacy and work will not be carried forward. It is a shame to end the program when there are people ready and able to carry the torch.
The guidance and resources I received from the Accessibility Institute were invaluable during the time I worked at The University of Texas. If anything, the scope of the Institute should be expanded, continuing this essential work and placing UT at the forefront of yet another cutting-edge field of research.
I support this petition. This is a critical issue that a world-class university like UT should support. I will be ashamed if my alma mater dumps this program.
I support this petition. The loss of this institute would be a major loss to the disability community. It would also be a black eye for the University of Texas. Please reconsider closing this institute.
I support this petition. The Accessibility Institute has been an important provider of service, inspiration, and research over the years of its existence, not only to the UT Austin community, but to the country and the world.
I have personally benefited from the work done at UTA in this area and hope that this petition will be considered as a sign that the world needs this work to continue and that UTA will be known as a leader in accessibility.
Other universities look to UT for accessibility guidance. Don't extinguish this shining light in the darkness of an inaccessible, unusable Web environment.
I support this petition.I have attended U T twice, in 1970, and again in 1984 when I received my graduate degree in social work. In those days nothing was made accessible for disabled students, and I spent most of my time making sure that materials were accessible so that I could use them.
The use of the institutes technical knowledge and expertise benefits the disabled community world wide by leveling the playing field. more importantly it keeps U T compliant with the A D A by allowing its own web pages to be made accessible. The closure of the institute will mean a return to the dark age of discrimination from which accessible web technology has freed us. Just like you, we depend on our computers for all kinds of activities including mail, shopping, web conferencing, general information, social interaction, reference and research materials, and even signing this petition. How would you feel if every time you attempted to access the internet your computer screen went dark? Please don't go there.
I support this petition. Based on Debra Ruh's (674) comments I'd recommend that efforts be made to expand UT's AI via additional/alternate Fed/VA/vent capital/etc. funding.
I don't think there are enough resources in the world at large on topics like accessibility and usability. It would be a shame to close this institute.
While working as a web developer and designer at the University of Texas Library Services Division, I was fortunate to get to work with the staff at the Accessibility Institute. Without their support and facilities, I would not have been sucessful in producing the legally-required accessible versions of interactive Flash games and other web experiences. The University has an obligation to continue training students in the development of accessible technologies. It is an outrageous insult to the memory of Dr. Slatin and to all the students of UT who have assistive technology needs. The University leadership is making a horrible mistake if they chose to close the Institute, and will find themselves having to recreate this facility in some manner in the relatively near future, at a tremendous expense. The University should not dismantle successful, beneficial educational programs while spending student service monies on extravagant recreation facilities with water slides and palm trees. University leadership seems to be moving away from supporting education, and towards creating a resort environment. Priorities people.
I wholeheartedly support this petition. UT's Accessibility Institute has made a global impact on both the academic as well as the real-world use of assistive technology and related standards, and it would be a great loss to UT to shutter their efforts.
I support this petition. Texas should maintain its competitive position by continuing to help lead the dialogue on how diverse abilities access the web.
UT must build on the work that the Institute of Accessibilty has accomplished so brilliantly--making breakthrough contributions to UT,the WWW, disabled users, and overall improved communications between people globally!
I support this petition.
I also wish to state that continuing to extend and expand access is one of the important issues facing computer professionals; surrendering this legacy of leadership is squandering not only UT's reputation but also the local skill and knowledge needed to continue to move forward.
