[blindlaw] In regard to Kaplan test prep and admissions:

Wed May 12 16:59:48 UTC 2010

Please note:
I am not soliciting or endorsing any person or service.  Understand the mention of MR. Betz was for informational purposes only.  Thank you.

--- On Wed, 5/12/10, William ODonnell <william.odonnell1 at yahoo.com> wrote:

> From: William ODonnell <william.odonnell1 at yahoo.com>
> Subject: [blindlaw] In regard to Kaplan test prep and admissions:
> To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List" <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
> Date: Wednesday, May 12, 2010, 11:53 AM
> Tom, do not use Kaplan test prep and
> admissions!  I used them for preparing to take the GRE
> in 2009.  I have had the same problems of inaccessible
> course material, as well as an inability to utilize the
> online component.  I was told that they were working on
> improving there services and were aware that there material
> was inaccessible and not usable to blind people.  I
> also had inaccessible material with written computer
> language in the PDFS that needed formatting.  This was
> never done and I never received adequate course
> materials.  They had no problem taking my credit card
> info for course registration and fees of up to $2500. 
> Instead of preparing for the GRE in 5 weeks, it took me five
> months since I was working with private readers, and a
> understanding Kaplan tutor.  The only compensation from
> Kaplan was to offer me free tutoring sessions in late
> November and early December since I felt I was not ready to
> take the GRE.  Kaplan has reports on
>  ri-poffreport and the major consumer complaints
> websites.  Kaplan is a perfect example of Corporate
> Americas Greed.  William E. Bets is a disability
> accommodations attorney who requires a $500.00 retainer
> fee.  I did not pay this since I did not have this
> available at this time.  I posted the following to the
> list last year.  
> The below information involves my experiences while
> studying for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).  I
> want to make all reading this aware of a major problem with
> Kaplan Test prep.
> To those who are blind or visually impaired who want or are
> taking the prep courses for the GRE.  Take the prep
> courses on your own with a private tutor.  Do not take
> a class through Kaplan.  You and any one supporting you
> will not get the $1100.00 you paid for since both the
> website is inaccessible and you are not given proper
> accessible course material in alternative formats usable to
> a screen-reader or screen magnification program in a timely
> manor.  
> The course requires individuals to utilize the textbook and
> internet resources in an interactive classroom setting where
> the instructor demonstrates concepts and the students read
> or openly discuss specific examples from the text in the
> textbook.   
> Even working through the representatives of the local
> Kaplan centers, the issues fall back on Kaplan as a
> corporation since you are lead to believe that you are the
> first blind or visually in pared person that Kaplan has come
> across.  With a founding some 50+ years ago, I believe
> that Kaplan has had more than one visually impaired or blind
> person register for its courses.  
> Kaplan has a refund policy which clearly states that one is
> not able to get a full refund after the third course
> session.  The initial diagnostic examination counts as
> the first course.  Kaplan is more than willing to make
> standard accommodations to those who require them for
> this.  When one chooses to obtain help through
> representatives from Kaplan for there accessibility issues,
> the representatives will diligently work with you once one
> has completed two consecutive class sessions.  This
> means that the deadline for any refunds has passed.  
> Regarding the kaptest.com website, do not be mislead. 
> The main page is completely accessible.  The
> accessibility issues come up once you register and are able
> to create a student account.  A student account can
> only be completed once one has authorized either a classroom
> instruction or tutoring session with a major credit
> card.  The accessibility issues result from the
> personal student portals being formatted to support flash
> content and the lack of Kaplan integrating the website
> accessibility standards referred to as the W3c.org/waiweb
> access initiative and /TR technical reference pages through
> adobe systems.
> Unless one has there own personal equipment to utilize, one
> is not able to utilize there local Kaplan center’s
> equipment since none of the centers have any accessible
> screen magnifications or screen reading software on sight.
> In addition, for those who choose to study and prepare for
> the GRE through there local colleges or universities, those
> individuals would have the same problems since the teachings
> and course related material is still channeled through
> Kaplan and not the local colleges or University. 
> Kaplan out sources itself within local colleges and
> universities to offer there programs since Kaplan is a
> monopoly as a service provider.
> Kaplan’s main headquarters are located in New York City,
> a place so diverse yet so segregated to those few who
> possess special personal corporate interests or political
> clout.  .  
> I hope this information is helpful to you.
> 
> 
> 
>       
> 
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