[blindkid] New Technologies & Web-Based Education - How New Guidelines Impact Our Kids

[Holly Miller]

Eric, 
I don't have an answer for you but I do know the NFB is currently collecting info from people having the problems you describe
Here's a link to the survey

http://www.nfb.org/nfb/directTechAccess_193.asp

Holly



On Jul 20, 2011, at 2:37 AM, DrV <icdx at earthlink.net> wrote:

> Dear All,
> Sorry we missed you at convention this year. My younger needed an
> out-of-state eye surgery so that we weren¹t able to make it.
> I was wondering if the  topic of the Department of Education's New
> Accessible Technology Guidelines was covered.  If so I would love to hear
> your impressions. 
> For those that may have missed it, there was a posting on the NFB website in
> late May (www.nfb.org/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=804
> <http://www.nfb.org/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=804> ).
> It is my understanding that the US 
> Department of Education issued a Dear
> Colleague letter 
> <http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-20100629.html>
> on June 29, 2010 informing all college and university presidents that their
> institutions must be sure that emerging technologies that they plan to
> deploy to students are accessible to the blind and other students with
> disabilities. Guidelines in the form of Frequently Asked Questions
> <http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/dcl-ebook-faq-201105.html> ,
> were issued to supplement the department¹s Dear Colleague letter
> <http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-20100629.html>
> .
> The NFB Immediate Release Bulletin (www.nfb.org/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=804
> <http://www.nfb.org/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=804> ) states that the US
> Department of Education issued a second Dear Colleague
> <http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-201105-ese.html
>> letter issued on May 26, 2011 stating that the same legal obligations
> apply to elementary and secondary schools.
> Over the last few years we have come across a number of websites, including
> mandatory or optional textbook publisher¹s supplemental websites & teacher¹s
> individual webpages/calendars/assignments, at both the elementary & middle
> school levels that are not independently accessible by the student. Our
> eldest is transitioning to high school & they will be piloting iPads in some
> of the classes.
> Can someone explain what this means at the practical level for our
> kids/students in simple clear language?
> It would seem that each teacher¹s webpage, the assignments they post, &
> websites they suggest or require should have to be  accessible.
> It would seem that the calendar  assignment  grade posting programs that
> schools/districts use, such as Edline,  Grade Book Wizard, and others should
> be fully accessible.
> It would seem that the textbook publisher websites that have quizzes, study
> guides, and videos should need to be fully accessible.
> How are you & your school districts & your VI programs addressing this?
> How are district superintendents, school principals, & classroom teachers
> being inform of requirements?
> I look forward to your insights, experiences, thoughts, & comments.
> Sincerely,
> Eric
> 
> 
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