[Blindmath] Please take a moment to tell NSF and the Dept. of Ed. about the need for accessible mathematics

[Noble,Stephen L.]

[Apologies in advance for sending this out to multiple lists]

There's a relatively painless way you can comment to the National Science Foundation and the Department of Education about the need for accessibility to mathematics in education. But be forewarned that the deadline is July 1 (this Sunday), so be sure to submit something this week.

There's a very brief survey which the NSF and Dept. of Ed. are asking people to fill out concerning a new jointly-funded K-16 Mathematics Education Initiative. I think it is important that the feds hear about the issues students with disabilities face when learning mathematics, and in particular the problems created by inaccessible mathematics instructional content and assessments.

There's only two items they ask for:
(1) Explain the priority issue, challenge, or opportunity; provide a brief rationale for its importance; and comment on the implications it has for the teaching and learning of mathematics at the K-16 level.
(2) Provide the evidence or research base that supports the priority issue, challenge, or opportunity you have identified, including references, if appropriate.

Here's a direct link to the survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/k_16_initiative

Here's a link to the Dear Colleague letter giving more background on the initiative: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2012/nsf12080/nsf12080.jsp

Finally, if you would like a few references for items to support the need for accessible mathematics, you could take a look at this page:
http://metrc.uoregon.edu/index.php/related-questions/122-how-can-mathematical-text-be-made-accessible-to-students-with-print-disabilities.html

Even if you only have a few minutes to submit a couple of sentences, that would be better than silence. Perhaps if the feds hear from enough people they may set aside some of the $60 million they mention to working on the problem.

Best regards,

--Steve Noble
steve.noble at louisville.edu
502-969-3088