>
>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>
>
>
>CONTACT:
>
>Chris
>Danielsen
>John McLeod
>
>Director of Public
>Relations
>Director of Marketing
>National Federation of the
>Blind
>Desire2Learn
>
>(410) 659-9314, extension
>2330 (519) 772-0325, ext. 378
>
>(410) 262-1281
>(Cell)
><mailto:PR at Desire2Learn.com>PR at Desire2Learn.com
><mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>cdanielsen at nfb.org
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Desire2Learn Attains National Federation of the Blind
> Nonvisual Accessibility Gold Level Web Certification
>
>
>
>
>
>Baltimore, Maryland/ Kitchener-Waterloo,
>Ontario/Anaheim, California (October 12, 2010):
>The <http://www.nfb.org/nfb/Default.asp>National
>Federation of the Blind (NFB), one of the
>world’s leading advocates for Internet access by
>blind Americans, and
><http://www.desire2learn.com/>Desire2Learn
>Incorporated (Desire2Learn), a leading provider
>of mission-critical enterprise eLearning
>solutions, announced today that Desire2Learn has
>been awarded the Gold Level NFB-NVA
>Certification for Desire2Learn® Learning Suite 9.1.
>
>
>
>Working with members of the technology
>community, the NFB has developed a rigorous
>evaluation and testing procedure by which Web
>sites and applications that have made special
>efforts to be accessible to the blind can be
>identified and recognized. Nonvisual
>accessibility (NVA) certification, as defined in
>this process, means that screen access software
>can obtain sufficient information from the Web
>application to enable the blind user to:
>
>§ Access information in narratives,
>databases, forms, charts, maps, and essential
>information conveyed via graphical presentations without visual assistance.
>
>§ Complete transactions that have been
>identified as primary to the application such
>as, but not limited to: buying merchandise,
>completing forms, registering for activities,
>downloading information, communicating with
>others, and participating in online educational programs.
>
>Once the site or application has addressed all
>accessibility issues, it is granted the right to
>display an NFB-NVA certification seal on its
>site. Sites are continuously monitored to
>ensure that they remain compliant with
>certification criteria. If a site remains
>accessible, its certification is renewed on an
>annual or a version basis. Further information
>on the NFB-NVA certification process can be
>found at <http://www.nfb.org>www.nfb.org.
>
>Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National
>Federation of the Blind, said: “The National
>Federation of the Blind commends Desire2Learn
>for ensuring equal access to its platform and
>demonstrating a tangible commitment to equal
>education for everyone. If blind students are
>to succeed in the modern education system, they
>must have access to the same technology that is
>used by their sighted peers. Desire2Learn
>incorporates that assurance in its platform.”
>
>
>
>With this certification, institutions have
>external verification of the Desire2Learn
>commitment to accessibility. Institutions with
>concern ensuring legal obligations regarding
>accessibility are addressed within the learning
>management system (LMS), can also reference this certification.
>
>
>
>“We commend Desire2Learn for the extraordinary
>progress made in ensuring the accessibility of
>its eLearning management application,” said Anne
>Taylor, director of access technology for the
>NFB. “We look forward to continuing our
>collaboration with this forward-thinking company
>to advance equal access to all aspects of online
>learning for the more than 100,000 blind
>students across <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns
>= "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />North America.”
>
>
>
>Desire2Learn regularly tests its products with
>individuals with disabilities. These sessions
>aid in understanding and experiencing the
>problems encountered. The resulting design
>solutions are often those that would not have
>been found through accessibility checkers alone.
>
>
>
>“We are thrilled to have been honored with this
>significant award from the NFB and thank the
>access technology team for their assistance in
>helping us obtain this important certification,”
>said John Baker, President and CEO of
>Desire2Learn. “At Desire2Learn we share our
>clients’ goal of providing equal and inclusive
>learning opportunities to all individuals. We
>work closely with our clients to develop
>comprehensive solutions that are flexible to the
>individual needs of institutions, instructors
>and students. Accessibility is not a checklist
>at Desire2Learn; it is a deep, long-standing and
>ongoing commitment to empower and engage all
>individuals in their learning goals.”
>
>Compliance and exceptions with state laws and
>international standards, such as early adoption
>of ARIA markup, are reported openly so decision
>makers and content creators have the information
>they need to work effectively with their instructors and students.
>
>
>
>Baker continued: “Desire2Learn is appreciative
>of all opportunities to learn from and work with
>such groups as the NFB. We look forward to
>continuing to build a strong partnership with
>the NFB as we collaborate to ensure we persist
>in our proactive approach to going well beyond
>minimum standards. Desire2Learn’s attention to
>accessibility breaks down barriers to education
>and improves human potential. It is an
>organization-wide mandate to support accessible,
>inclusive education and is a critical element in
>all our research and development efforts. We
>are committed to ensuring we are the industry
>leader in this very important field.”
>
>
>
>Desire2Learn and NFB are providing a hands-on
>accessibility presentation at EDUCAUSE on
>Wednesday, October 13 at 11:30 a.m. PT. Details
>of the workshop can be found at
><http://www.desire2learn.com/educause>www.desire2learn.com/educause.
>Representatives from NFB, along with
>Desire2Learn accessibility experts, will be
>available at the Desire2Learn booth (#1525) at EDUCAUSE this week.
>
>
>
>Visit
><http://www.desire2learn/Access>www.Desire2Learn/Access,
>call 1.888.772.0325 or email
><mailto:Info at Desire2Learn.com>Info at Desire2Learn.com
>for further information about the ongoing
>Desire2Learn commitment to address accessibility
>in all aspects of its products and services. To
>learn more about the National Federation of the
>Blind, please visit <http://www.nfb.org/>www.nfb.org.
>
>
>
>
>
>###
>
>
>
>
>
>About the National Federation of the Blind
>
>With more than 50,000 members, the National
>Federation of the Blind is the largest and most
>influential membership organization of blind
>people in the United States. The NFB improves
>blind people’s lives through advocacy,
>education, research, technology, and programs
>encouraging independence and self-confidence. It
>is the leading force in the blindness field
>today and the voice of the nation's blind. In
>January 2004, the NFB opened the National
>Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, the
>first research and training center in the United
>States for the blind led by the blind.
>
>
>
>About Desire2Learn Incorporated
>
>
><http://www.desire2learn.com/>Desire2Learn
>Incorporated is a world-leading provider of
>enterprise eLearning solutions that enable
>institutions and other organizations to create
>teaching and learning environments that reflect
>their vision, values, goals, pedagogical
>approaches and branding. Desire2Learn and its
>subsidiaries support more than five million
>learners worldwide and
><http://www.desire2learn.com/clients/>clients
>include
><http://www.desire2learn.com/clients/higherEducation/>higher
>education,
><http://www.desire2learn.com/clients/k12/>K-12,
>as well as
><http://www.desire2learn.com/clients/corporate/>associations,
><http://www.desire2learn.com/clients/government/>government
>and other leading organizations. Founded in
>1999, Desire2Learn is headquartered in
>Kitchener, ON, Canada with personnel located in
>North America, the U.K. and Australia. For more
>information, visit:
><http://www.desire2learn.com/>www.Desire2Learn.com,
>call 1.519.772.0325 or toll-free 1.888.772.0325
>(within North America), +44 808.234.4235 (U.K.
>and Europe), 0.800.452.069 (New Zealand) and 1.800.656.210 (Australia).
>
>
>
David Andrews and long white cane Harry, dandrews at visi.com
Follow me on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/dandrews920