Putting the “A” in DEIA: Accessibility as a Necessity in the Scholarly Communications Workflow

Speakers:

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  Sile O’Modhrain

  Associate Professor, School of InformationUniversity of Michigan

  Sile O’Modhrain is an associate professor at the University of Michigan where she holds a joint appointment in the Performing Arts Technology (PAT) program in the School of Music, Theatre and Dance, and in the school of information. Her research focuses on human-computer interaction, especially interfaces incorporating haptic and auditory feedback. She earned her master’s degree in music technology from the University of York and her PhD from Stanford University’s Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA). She has also worked as a sound engineer and producer for BBC Network Radio. In 1994, she received a Fulbright scholarship, and went to Stanford to develop a prototype haptic interface augmenting graphical user interfaces for blind computer users. For the past eight years, she has been working with Brent Gillespie and Alex Russamanno to design and build a full-page tactile array to support the display of braille and tactile graphics.

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  Elizabeth Henry

  Instruction & Reference/E-Resources LibrarianGallaudet University

  Being deaf since birth, she was born and raised in Colorado using Cued American English (Also known as Cued Speech), learning American Sign Language (ASL) later on in life. Elizabeth attended Simmons University, where she received MLIS. Her official title at Gallaudet University is Electronic Resources Librarian but in truth, she wears multiple hats, ranging from reference to instruction to acquisitions. Being responsible for Gallaudet University Library’s online resources, she is responsible for ensuring that the resources are accessible not only for Deaf people, but for DeafBlind as well. When she has free time, she enjoys traveling, being a foodie, creating art, and reading (naturally!).

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  Stacy Scott

  Accessibility ManagerTaylor & Francis

  Stacy Scott is Accessibility Manager at Taylor & Francis and is Chair of the UK Publishers Association’s Accessibility Action Group. She previously worked at the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) as Bookshare and Publisher Relationship Manager. As a blind Mathematics graduate, Stacy has both a personal and professional vantage point to accessibility, equality and inclusion matters.

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  Simon Holt

  Disability Confidence Manager and Senior PublisherElsevier

  Simon Holt is Disability Confidence Manager and Senior Publisher at Elsevier. He has lived experience of disability and is an advocate for disability inclusion throughout the scholarly communications industry. He lives in Oxford, UK.

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  Gwen Evans

  Vice President, Global Library RelationsElsevier

  Gwen Evans joined Elsevier in 2020 as the Vice President of Global Library Relations. Prior to her current role, Gwen spent seven years as the Executive Director of the state agency and library consortium OhioLINK. From 2006 to 2012, she held the position of Associate Professor and the Coordinator of Library Information and Emerging Technologies at Bowling Green State University.

  Gwen has extensive experience with all types of academic libraries and institutions: academic content contract negotiations on the consortial level; statewide affordable textbook initiatives including OER; and leading, maintaining and creating shared collaborative services in a technology-driven environment. She was also active in the International Coalition of Library Consortia, serving as Chair of the Coordinating Committee. Her recent publications include an Ithaka S+R issue brief co-authored with Roger Schonfeld, titled “It’s Not What Libraries Hold; It’s Who Libraries Serve. Seeking a User-Centered Future for Academic Libraries” and “Creating Diversity in Libraries: Management Perspectives” in Library Leadership & Management with co-authors Mihoko Hosoi and Nancy S. Kirkpatrick.