Barnes Creative Studios

These Universities are managing online digital accessibility like pros! I talk a lot about accessible and inclusive digital content for Universities & Colleges. In the Barnes Creative Studios world, that means making sure that all your website virtual tours are ADA-Compliant so that your students with accessibility needs have no problem engaging with this part of your digital content. These Higher Education Institutions are seriously leading the way with this... The University of Alabama: https://lnkd.in/ggP3u9cX University of Cincinnati: https://lnkd.in/gBjAvcEh University of Mississippi: https://lnkd.in/gHims29a Honestly, go check them out. These institutions are leading by example with the digital support they are offering to students through their online virtual tours. #VirtualTours #UniversitiesAndColleges #DigitalAccessibility

I’ll be honest, occasionally when I’m on a call with a Higher Education Institution about making their Virtual Tours and website content ADA-compliant, I get a little frustrated. Why? Because I know they aren’t going to take action into ensuring their website content is legally accessible for their students. The main reservation is usually the financial investment. And of course, we all need to be mindful and sensible with a limited budget, but my frustration is this… 👉 The ADA-compliance of your website content, including your virtual tours is not a choice. 👉 It’s a legal requirement to ensure that students with disabilities can fully access your content. 👉 And the cost of your College or University being dragged through a disabilities lawsuit is going to be way more expensive than any investment you would make to get your website fully compliant. If you’re not already having budgeting discussions, which include making your website content ADA-compliant, I seriously urge you to have these conversations before the end of this year. #ADACompliance #VirtualTours #HigherEducation

Shout out to Abigail Justice from The University of Mississippi, who is leading the way with accessible housing virtual tours on their website. I had a chance to discuss the critical topic with her. Are your virtual tours ADA-compliant? We can help: https://lnkd.in/g_DHEAGU

Watch the video below for a short and insightful discussion on digital accessibility audits with Richard Sharp at the University of Cincinnati. Something that should be on the radar of all Higher Education institutions as we head into 2024. #DigitalAudit #DigitalAccessibility #VirtualTour

An Inside Look at Higher Education Digital Accessibility Lawsuits. Check out our latest blog where you'll learn... 👉 The benefits of website audits 👉 How to enhance virtual tours for prospective students 👉 The marketing and recruiting benefits of virtual tours 👉 How our leading High Education institutions are utilizing virtual tours #DigitalAccessibility #VirtualTours #HigherEducation #UniversitiesAndColleges #ADACompliance

Leveraging your Higher Education Insititution Virtual Tours for Marketing and Recruiting. Aside from attracting prospective students, virtual tours can also be leveraged for marketing and recruiting purposes. How? Universities can use these tours to showcase newly renovated facilities or highlight unique features to entice both students and staff. For example... ➡ If a university has recently renovated a residence hall, they can use the virtual tour to promote the updated space. This is an effective marketing tool, allowing individuals to see the changes and upgrades firsthand. ➡ By incorporating virtual tours into their marketing strategies, universities can effectively engage with their target audience and generate excitement about campus life. ➡ Virtual tours can also be shared on social media platforms, increasing their reach and visibility. This helps universities connect with prospective students and allows them to showcase their commitment to accessibility and inclusivity. Virtual tours have become essential for universities to enhance accessibility, engage with prospective students, and showcase their campus facilities. Here's a quick screen recording of one of our recent accessible virtual tours for The University of Alabama. 👇 #VirtualTours #Accessibility #HigherEducation #DigitalAccessibility

According to the most recent data available, 19% of all enrolled undergraduate students reported having a disability of some kind? And research from the National Center for College Students with Disabilities, showed students with disabilities are less likely to feel welcomed or supported by their institution. Step one in making students feel seen, considered, and welcome is to make it possible for them to research your institution of higher learning online. And that means making sure any virtual tours you have of facilities and dorms are 100% usable to those who need Americans with Disability Act compliance in place. It’s Never Been Easier (or Smarter) to Do the Right Thing. Barnes Creative Studios are longtime leaders in accessibility for ADA-compliant virtual tours for universities, producing beautiful 8k resolution WCAG 2.1 AA compliant tours for you. We can also make your existing virtual tours WCAG 2.1 AA compliant. Drop me a message here on LinkedIn and we can arrange an initial consultation call. I’ll take a look at your website beforehand and help you create a clear picture of how you can ensure your Virtual Tours are compliant and accessible to all prospective students. #DigitalAccessibility #VirtualTours #ADACompliance #CollegesAndUniversities

The National Center on Disability and Access to Education ran an analysis of the costs of a higher education digital accessibility case. A student made a complaint to the Office of Civil Rights for two full semesters before deciding to sue. In litigation less than a year later, the Institution settled, agreeing to reimburse the plaintiff’s legal costs, expenses, and cover damages to the plaintiff. The total estimated cost to the education institution were about three-quarters of a million dollars! 💰 And that was with reaching a settlement vs. taking the case all the way through litigation. In the end, the institution also agreed to make the accessibility improvements to their web and digital content required. Had they done so prior to the lawsuit instead of putting it off, they would have saved $600,000-$750,000. If your online and digital channels are not currently ADA-compliant, you are vulnerable each and every day. The great news is that the solution is far easier and more cost-effective than you may have thought thanks to a combination of accessibility specialists and patented technology. There are really only two choices. Remain at risk of high-dollar ADA lawsuits and hope you don’t get noticed or bring your digital content into full ADA compliance so that the risk is removed and you’re doing what’s right by students and potential students with disabilities. Which choice are you going to make? #HigherEducation #CollegesAndUniversities #VirtalVideoTours #VirtualTours #ADACompliance

At Barnes Creative Studios, our patent pending 360 AG™ technology, ensures that all your Virtual Tours are accessible to those with disabilities. We can also convert any existing tours you have. Want to review your own website Virtual Tours for ADA-compliance? Just reach out on LinkedIn and we can arrange a call. #ADACompliance #VirtualTours #CollegesAndUniversities