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

[Pat Renfranz]

Eric,

I mentioned the "Dear Colleague" letter briefly at the end of my
presentation on testing. Unfortunately there was not time to discuss its
importance in any depth. With the development and implementation of new
computer-based tests and computer-adaptive tests for measuring student and
school progress, it is critical that pressure be applied from on top--as
with this letter--and from the ground up--from parents and students--to
ensure these tests are accessible to and appropriate for blind/visually
impaired students.

The National Education Technology Plan, "Transforming American Education:
Learning Powered by Technology," also sets forth lofty goals for the use of
new technologies in the classroom, without much paying much attention to
accessibility.  

We did miss you and your family. I hope all went well.

Pat


On 7/20/11 12:37 AM, "Eric Vasiliauskas" <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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