Author Archives: bw68

Project OPERA (Opportunity, Productivity, Engagement, Reducing Barriers, Achievement)

OPERA (Opportunity, Productivity, Engagement, Reducing Barriers, Achievement) is a University-wide accessibility project supported by advice and guidance from the Joint Information Systems Committee (Jisc). The ultimate aim is to make recommendations that will help to develop an inclusive information environment that will enable the wider adoption of assistive technology (productivity tools) for all at the University of Kent.

The project will investigate approaches to mainstreaming accessibility (reasonable adjustments) in Higher Education to demonstrate the productivity potential of inclusive design in education.

The support of our partners, Jisc, will provide the University with strategic guidance and early access to training resources in return for feedback and case studies that will benefit Jisc in the wider dissemination of this work. Jisc have a long history of delivering expert strategic guidance to the sector through the work of their current accessibility and inclusion teams and previously via JiscTechDis.  Jisc resources have been used successfully in many specific contexts for years but the partnership with Kent seeks to demonstrate for the first time the unique value of a holistic, joined-up approach across a whole university.

Further information can be found on the OPERA project web pages.