<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)">
<!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
        {font-family:Wingdings;
        panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;}
@font-face
        {font-family:"Cambria Math";
        panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
        {font-family:"Calibri Light";
        panose-1:2 15 3 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
        {font-family:Calibri;
        panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
        {font-family:"Segoe UI";
        panose-1:2 11 5 2 4 2 4 2 2 3;}
@font-face
        {font-family:"Century Gothic";
        panose-1:2 11 5 2 2 2 2 2 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
        {margin:0in;
        margin-bottom:.0001pt;
        font-size:11.0pt;
        font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
        {mso-style-priority:99;
        color:#0563C1;
        text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
        {mso-style-priority:99;
        color:#954F72;
        text-decoration:underline;}
p.msonormal0, li.msonormal0, div.msonormal0
        {mso-style-name:msonormal;
        mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
        margin-right:0in;
        mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
        margin-left:0in;
        font-size:12.0pt;
        font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
span.EmailStyle18
        {mso-style-type:personal;
        font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
        color:windowtext;}
span.EmailStyle19
        {mso-style-type:personal-reply;
        font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;
        color:#1F497D;}
.MsoChpDefault
        {mso-style-type:export-only;
        font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
        {size:8.5in 11.0in;
        margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
        {page:WordSection1;}
/* List Definitions */
@list l0
        {mso-list-id:235555659;
        mso-list-template-ids:-2054130266;}
@list l1
        {mso-list-id:1333140424;
        mso-list-template-ids:124580690;}
@list l1:level1
        {mso-level-tab-stop:none;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-text-animation:none;
        text-decoration:none;
        text-underline:none;
        text-decoration:none;
        text-line-through:none;}
@list l1:level2
        {mso-level-number-format:alpha-lower;
        mso-level-tab-stop:none;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-text-animation:none;
        text-decoration:none;
        text-underline:none;
        text-decoration:none;
        text-line-through:none;}
@list l1:level3
        {mso-level-number-format:roman-lower;
        mso-level-tab-stop:none;
        mso-level-number-position:right;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-text-animation:none;
        text-decoration:none;
        text-underline:none;
        text-decoration:none;
        text-line-through:none;}
@list l1:level4
        {mso-level-tab-stop:none;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-text-animation:none;
        text-decoration:none;
        text-underline:none;
        text-decoration:none;
        text-line-through:none;}
@list l1:level5
        {mso-level-number-format:alpha-lower;
        mso-level-tab-stop:none;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-text-animation:none;
        text-decoration:none;
        text-underline:none;
        text-decoration:none;
        text-line-through:none;}
@list l1:level6
        {mso-level-number-format:roman-lower;
        mso-level-tab-stop:none;
        mso-level-number-position:right;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-text-animation:none;
        text-decoration:none;
        text-underline:none;
        text-decoration:none;
        text-line-through:none;}
@list l1:level7
        {mso-level-tab-stop:none;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-text-animation:none;
        text-decoration:none;
        text-underline:none;
        text-decoration:none;
        text-line-through:none;}
@list l1:level8
        {mso-level-number-format:alpha-lower;
        mso-level-tab-stop:none;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-text-animation:none;
        text-decoration:none;
        text-underline:none;
        text-decoration:none;
        text-line-through:none;}
@list l1:level9
        {mso-level-number-format:roman-lower;
        mso-level-tab-stop:none;
        mso-level-number-position:right;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-text-animation:none;
        text-decoration:none;
        text-underline:none;
        text-decoration:none;
        text-line-through:none;}
ol
        {margin-bottom:0in;}
ul
        {margin-bottom:0in;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1027" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang="EN-US" link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" color="#1f497d" face="Calibri Light"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Just an FYI: This was sent to the Deputy Directors of the Education and IT divisions at SBCTC.
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" color="#1f497d" face="Calibri Light"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><font size="3" color="#1f497d" face="Calibri Light"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Jess
</span></font><font size="3" color="#1f497d" face="Wingdings"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;color:#1F497D">J</span></font><font size="3" color="#1f497d" face="Calibri Light"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">
</span></font><font size="3" color="#1f497d" face="Calibri Light"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><font size="2" color="#404040" face="Century Gothic"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#404040;font-weight:bold"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><font size="2" color="#1f497d" face="Century Gothic"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;font-weight:bold">Jess Thompson</span></font></b><font size="3" color="#1f497d" face="Segoe UI"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><font size="1" color="#1f497d" face="Century Gothic"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Program Administrator, Accessible Technology Initiatives</span></font><font size="3" color="#1f497d" face="Segoe UI"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><font size="1" color="#1f497d" face="Century Gothic"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Washington State Board for Community & Technical Colleges</span></font><font size="3" color="#1f497d" face="Segoe UI"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><font size="1" color="#1f497d" face="Century Gothic"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">1300 Quince St SE | PO Box 42495 | Olympia, WA 98504</span></font><font size="3" color="#1f497d" face="Segoe UI"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><font size="1" color="#1f497d" face="Century Gothic"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">p: 360.704.4327|c: 253.229.8591</span></font><font size="3" color="#1f497d" face="Segoe UI"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><font size="2" color="#212121" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#212121"><a href="mailto:jess.thompson@sbctc.edu" target="_blank"><font size="1" color="blue" face="Century Gothic"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:blue">jess.thompson@sbctc.edu</span></font></a></span></font><font size="1" color="#404040" face="Century Gothic"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#404040"> | </span></font><font color="#212121"><span style="color:#212121"><a href="http://www.sbctc.edu/" target="_blank"><font size="1" color="blue" face="Century Gothic"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:blue">www.sbctc.edu</span></font></a>
</span></font><font size="1" color="#404040" face="Century Gothic"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#404040">|</span></font><font size="1" color="#212121" face="Century Gothic"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#212121"><a href="https://accesswa.blog/"><font color="blue"><span style="color:blue">https://accesswa.blog/</span></font></a></span></font><font size="3" color="#212121" face="Segoe UI"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:#212121"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><font size="2" color="#212121" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#212121"><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KXjxctpTAa2R06iRksMrjaeiCkphAJzqkwX-awvJh9g/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank"><font size="1" color="blue" face="Century Gothic"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:blue">Current
 Projects</span></font></a> </span></font><font size="3" color="#212121" face="Segoe UI"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:#212121"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" color="#1f497d" face="Calibri Light"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<div style="border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-weight:bold">From:</span></font></b> Mary Gerard <MGerard@btc.edu>
<br>
<b><span style="font-weight:bold">Sent:</span></b> Thursday, February 14, 2019 12:52 PM<br>
<b><span style="font-weight:bold">To:</span></b> Carli Schiffner <cschiffner@sbctc.edu>; Grant Rodeheaver <grodeheaver@sbctc.edu>; Mark Jenkins <mjenkins@sbctc.edu><br>
<b><span style="font-weight:bold">Cc:</span></b> Ruben Flores <rflores@sbctc.edu>; Jess Thompson <jess.thompson@sbctc.edu><br>
<b><span style="font-weight:bold">Subject:</span></b> **DSSC Letter of Concern regarding CATO**<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">To the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">The Disability Support Services Council (DSSC) is deeply concerned by the CATO update delivered at our Fall Meeting on Wednesday, October 17, 2018. The Winter Meeting update on
 January 31, 2018 reinforced our cause for concern, given nothing has changed nor progressed. It seems as though the strong work accomplished by CATO in a short amount of time is in a holding pattern. In response to these updates, DSSC strongly recommends that
 CATO continue the work that was presented last year. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Specifically, we ask that CATO: 
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<ol style="margin-top:0in" start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%">be integrated into the system governance structure,<o:p></o:p></span></font></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%">maintain interdisciplinary membership,<o:p></o:p></span></font></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%">continue developing and implementing a method for the colleges to centralize accessibility test results, and
<o:p></o:p></span></font></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3">
<font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%">develop or provide training that supports the development of a trusted tester network, or some way for colleges to trust/validate the testing carried out by other schools.
<o:p></o:p></span></font></li></ol>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Our understanding is that CATO was formed to serve as a cross-functional, system-wide body intentionally designed to convene people, including people who do not normally collaborate,
 to discuss accessible technology from various perspectives. If CATO were to be folded into an existing council/commission, we would be concerned about the ability for other stakeholders to give adequate input. Collaboration between councils is often limited
 to a shared quarterly meeting that may occur once a year, at most. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Leadership for accessibility initiatives varies by college, with eLearning taking a lead at some colleges, IT leading at others, and perhaps Student Services and Communication
 leading on still other campuses. Whichever group leads accessibility initiatives on a campus inherently brings their unique lens to that leadership, which means that there may be a lack of uniformity in progress and results. While we recognize that each campus
 is different and some flexibility is beneficial, we also believe that uniformity of basic standards and results across campuses is not only critical to success, but also the most efficient use of state resources. This will require empowered leadership at the
 State Board level.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">We have determined that CATO needs to have a strong connection/relationship with the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC). The reality is that an accessible
 technology initiative requires effective collaboration between all areas of our campuses. Collaboration requires coordination,  clear leadership, and authority. When the State Board leads an initiative, colleges are more likely to listen and respond.  Areas
 of the State Board have already demonstrated leadership in accessible technology and have developed relationships with WaTech, other state agencies, and external partnerships that may benefit our system in this work.
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Lastly, equity is an important initiative and value for our colleges and accessibility work is an equity issue.  As such, it must be addressed and included in our equity work
 all across the system. Students with disabilities deserve a State Board that is committed to their access and success, and we believe that strengthening and empowering CATO so that it is positioned to take on that leadership role is a critical next step for
 the system.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Respectfully,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter" />
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0" />
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0" />
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1" />
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2" />
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth" />
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight" />
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1" />
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2" />
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth" />
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0" />
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight" />
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0" />
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" />
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t" />
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" href="https://www.btc.edu/" style='position:absolute;margin-left:0;margin-top:179.2pt;width:52.55pt;height:86.35pt;z-index:-251658752;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-wrap-distance-left:0;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:left;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:absolute;mso-position-vertical-relative:page;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-width-relative:margin;mso-height-relative:page' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="cid:image001.jpg@01D4C461.6C9605B0" o:title="" />
<w:wrap type="square" anchory="page"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><a href="https://www.btc.edu/"><img border="0" width="70" height="115" style="width:.7291in;height:1.1979in" src="cid:image003.jpg@01D4C53E.FEDD30A0" align="left" hspace="6" style="margin-left:-6px;margin-right:6px" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1"></a><![endif]><b><font size="3" color="#0076a8"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#0076A8;font-weight:bold">Mary
 Gerard, M.Ed., </span></font></b><font size="3" color="#0076a8"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#0076A8">(she/her/hers)<b><span style="font-weight:bold"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:105%"><font size="2" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:105%;color:black">Director,
<a href="https://www.btc.edu/CurrentStudents/DSS/indexSupport.aspx">Accessibility Resources</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:105%"><font size="2" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:105%;color:black"><a href="http://www.btc.edu/"><font color="#0076a8"><span style="color:#0076A8">Bellingham Technical College</span></font></a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:105%"><font size="2" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:105%;color:black">President, WA State Disability Support Services Council</span></font><u><font color="#0076a8"><span style="color:#0076A8"><o:p></o:p></span></font></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:105%"><font size="2" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:105%;color:black">3028 Lindbergh Ave.
</span></font><font size="2" color="black"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:105%;color:black">|</span></font><font color="black"><span style="color:black"> Bellingham, WA 98225<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:105%"><font size="2" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:105%;color:black">P:
</span></font><font color="#0076a8"><span style="color:#0076A8">360.752.8576 </span>
</font><font size="2" color="black"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:105%;color:black">|</span></font><font color="black"><span style="color:black"> F:
</span></font><font color="#0076a8"><span style="color:#0076A8">360.752-7376 <o:p>
</o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><font size="2" color="#0076a8" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;color:#0076A8">Connectedness • Professionalism • Integrity
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>