[blindkid] Seeking Advice & Concrete Suggestions on School District E-Accessibility

[DrV]

Thanks Sally for this & your last email.
Sorry for not getting back to you. I've been caught up in beginning of the
school year stuff.
I would really like to see this issue propelled to the front of list of
priorities.
I will definitely post a summary or compilation of the various responses.

We finally redid our home internet security system, so now the boys can
access email & the net from home on their BrailleNotes. Both are much more
comfortable on their BrailleNotes than laptops & other gadgets.
We have been working with both to get them more excited about
non-BrailleNote tech.
We don't have an iPad yet, but it looks like I will need to jump into that
sometime this year - I figure we have a year before both boys will need to
start using the iPad for school.
I can't imagine how much planning it must take to move to the other side
of the world. I visited Australia twice - once in college & once in
medical school - both with Lithuanian Youth functions - it was a wonderful
place to visit & everyone was so nice.
How are the schools & services there?
Is there an NFB-eviqualent there?
When are you moving?
All the best to you & your family.
Eric 

On 9/18/11 12:40 PM, "Sally Thomas" <seacknit at gmail.com> wrote:

>Hi Eric,
>
>I wish I could provide you with a "Model district" scenario but instead I
>will provide a cautionary tale.  The state of Texas has adopted teaching
>software called "Learn Key."  It is inaccessible according to David.
>they 
>also use grade tracking/communication software called Skyward--only
>partially accessible.
>
>Please let use know what accessible options you find.  Accessibility is
>not 
>a high priority here in Texas.
>
>Sally Thomas
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "DrV" <icdx at earthlink.net>
>To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind children)"
><blindkid at nfbnet.org>
>Sent: Sunday, September 18, 2011 11:14 AM
>Subject: [blindkid] Seeking Advice & Concrete Suggestions on School
>District 
>E-Accessibility
>
>
>Hi Everyone,
>We are trying to be proactive & would like for our district to take into
>account accessibility issues up front as they more forward with further
>web-designs & as they move into the next phase of the electronic era. I
>have
>already shared the 2 Dept of Ed & Dept of Justice letters & FAQ. The
>district has expressed openness to discussing how to move forward.
>Towards this goal, I have an initial meeting with our district in the near
>future.
>To facilitate the process, rather than having the district get frustrated
>with expectation of having to try to figure it out on their own, I would
>like to be able to specific recommendations, leads, & contacts.
>I am thus seeking your advice.
>I¹m working under the assumption that few individuals hired to do
>mainstream
>tech support & manage websites for school districts have much experience
>or
>training in how to best assure full accessibility.
>Is there a ³Model School District² somewhere in the country that has
>already
>effectively achieved compliance with the guidelines? If so can you share
>their website?
>Can you share examples of ³Model Websites² (any type of website) that are
>both visually-attractive & fully compliant & functional?
>Do you have recommendtions for a specific website(s), business(es), or
>individual(s) that could guide the Tech developers in our district in how
>to
>create a website & links that are both visually-attractive & fully
>compliant
>& functional? It would be ideal to be able to connect the web-designers
>with
>an individual or group that knows how to do this well.
>Teachers will eventually also need to be informed/trained on
>e-accessibility
>issues as well. Is there a website, PDF, or YouTube-type video that can do
>this well?
>Some teachers have their own websites & blogsites. Is there a
>³Build-A-Compliant-Website² tool or easy step-by-step instructions that
>would be understandable/useable to the average teachers who hasn¹t been
>trained in the more complex techno-speak?
>How have you locally have approached this with your districts?
>If you represent or know of an organization, business, or individual who
>would be willing to invest the time & resources into partnering with a
>willing school district to create a ³Model District² with respect to
>compliance please let me know.
>Any additional insights & suggestions are very welcome.
>Sincerely,
>Eric V
>
>
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