Bryon Kluesner’s design and implementation of Braille/tactile maps of the UTC campus creates a new avenue of accessibility for students and visitors. Kluesner, Adaptive Technology Coordinator in the UTC Office for Students with Disabilities, undertook this intense six-month project with the support of the Chancellor’s Innovation Entrepreneurship and “Big Ideas” Fund. UTC is now one of the few campuses in the nation to offer Braille/tactile maps.
One large map will be stationed outside the UTC University Center, on the Vine Street side, and another will be located inside the University Center at a yet to be determined location. Ten smaller maps will be placed at various locations, including the Bursar’s Office, Admissions Office, Orientation Office, and at the Office for Students with Disabilities on Oak Street.
Kluesner said this project builds upon a collaborative relationship between the UTC Office for Students with Disabilities, the University, and the Chattanooga community. “This project shows the commitment to accessibility by the UTC community.”
Kluesner received his Assistive Technology Applications Certification through California State University, Northridge Center on Disabilities. He was recently elected Education Chair for the Tennessee Association on Higher Education and Disability (TN-AHEAD).
