Study Away

History

In May 2018 and 2019, the study away program was a week-long in-person event in Silicon Valley. This year, 2021, we will be conducting a virtual pilot program. Despite the change in format, the goal of the program stays the same: to create an experience where students will learn accessibility fundamentals, get hands-on experience, as well as have quality networking opportunities with industry members and other students in the program. To learn more about Teach Access and our mission, check out these videos.

Overview

The targeted start date of our Virtual Study Away Program is March 22, 2021. There will be four-weeks of curriculum delivered synchronously and asynchronously. Throughout the program, there will be several opportunities to practice/ engage with the material during structured team-based activity challenges. The program will culminate in an optional hackathon with a winning team to be recognized on Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) (May 20, 2021).

Key Learning Areas

Students can expect to engage with topics such as:

• How to use assistive technology
• What is web/app accessibility
• Conducting an accessible event
• Racial Justice, Intersectionality and Disability Rights
• Designing with Accessibility in mind 
• Inclusive Marketing & Story-telling

Student Participation

Any interested undergraduate or graduate student from a Teach Access Member University WITH a participating faculty member from their University is welcome to participate. During this first year of the virtual program, we recommend that universities plan to bring 10 participants or less. We are basing this recommendation on our overall capacity and number of universities who may potentially participate. At the program level, we expect that we will probably have 50-100 participants across all majors/backgrounds.  This pilot will set expectations for future Study Aways. 

Company & Faculty Participation

Teach Access has collaborative partnerships between industry members and higher education institutions. The Student Task Force is leading program design efforts, but members from all Teach Access task forces are actively building the framework for our virtual program. To learn more and join planning efforts, please reach out to studyaway@teachaccess.org.

Reminders for Universities

In order to provide the best possible program for all student participants, we ask that at least one faculty member per University member school actively participate in the program. Faculty Members from participating universities are responsible for recruiting student participants, handling the application process at their university, mentoring/advising students within the program, and engaging with other industry and academic Teach Access facilitators to develop and run the program. We expect this to take about 2-3 hours of your time per week. 

As you promote this program at your school, several models have been used by Teach Access Faculty to support students participating in the program . Faculty may choose to  highlight which model matches how their students will  participate on the student flyer:

•  Extra-curricular opportunity: No credit is offered, but can advertise that participation would  look great on resume
• Independent Study (xxx number of credits): Faculty support students as a directed research project or independent study opportunity.
• Part of the course: (for example, 3 credits of AL 491: Special Topics in Arts and Letters)
  •  The class will meet 4-5 times prior to the program  and 2-3 times after returning. Class meetings after returning will be determined at a later date. Final projects will be due at the end of Summer Semester II.