[nabs-l] Accessibility work arounds for Google Docs, When is Good, etc.

[Kaiti Shelton]

Hi NABS,

I'm in a fraternity which relies heavily on Google Apps to organize
events, set up calendars for the chapter, make sign up sheets for bake
sales and other table activities, etc.  We also frequently use the
site When is Good to find times for committee meetings and other small
groups to get together to work on projects.  As you all know, this
creates an accessibility nightmare for me, since I can't access any of
the information easily.  While I didn't have much success in working
with last year's exec board to work around these issues, the president
for this year and I have met and discussed these problems.  Though she
has no prior experience with these issues and is just another student,
she is willing to help me look into other options which might make it
easier for me to have access to the chapter information.  She has
expressed interest in reaching out to the Office of Learning Resources
where our disability staff works, and seems to be making a good
effort, for which I am really appreciative.

However, the president and I agreed that one of the issues we might
face if alternative ways of accessing the existing systems aren't
available to me, might be getting the chapter to make changes.  Last
year the big issue was, "We've been using google docs for years, and
that's the system we've already set up, so just do the best you can
with it."  I had a job in the fraternity which required me to use a
Google Docs spreadsheet to monitor sign ups for events, and it was
very difficult for me to give back to the fraternity to the best of my
ability because of that technical problem and the accessibility
issues.  The president knows I am completely capable of being a
valuable asset to the fraternity, and that if given the proper access
to the tools we use I could do a fine job of organizing and/or leading
projects alongside my sisters.

Though I will be living in the house with her and several other exec
board members this year, I do not want to have to rely upon them to
complete when is good forms and to check the calendar.  I think that I
could use my living situation to closely work with these board members
to educate them about the accessibility issues I have with Google and
to work for a positive solution to the problem.  I am asking if anyone
on this list has found work arounds for using Google docs and When is
Good forms in these situations.  So far the only thing I've managed to
work out is the google forms app we use to take surveys for the
chapter, but not having access to things like sign up sheets and the
calendar are really big problems I hope to solve this year.  Any
suggestions would be great.

-- 
Kaiti