[Mi-abs] Fwd: Important Message Regarding Google Apps and Accessibility

[Darian Smith]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: "Sean Whalen" <smwhalenpsp at gmail.com>
> Subject: FW: Important Message Regarding Google Apps and Accessibility
> Date: November 5, 2013 at 5:31:07 PM PST
> To: <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>, <nabs-presidents at nfbnet.org>
> 
> Friends and fellow students:
> 
> We have a wonderful opportunity to use our status as students to help
> further the work of the NFB. Dr. Maurer called me yesterday afternoon and
> advised me that we are in continued conversations with Google regarding the
> accessibility of Google Apps, which are frequently used by schools and
> universities. Unfortunately, Google Apps has many features that are
> inaccessible. We need to change this, and this effort is building momentum.
> The Provost of the University of Michigan has recently circulated the two
> below communications to faculty and students at U of M. As you can read
> after this message, Michigan will not be requiring, and is in fact
> discouraging, the use of Google Apps for coursework, class projects, or
> communication between students until Google Apps are accessible and fully
> useable by disabled students, including the blind. This is a strong message,
> but we need to increase the pressure on Google. They need to hear this
> message from other colleges and universities, and they need to hear it now.
> Does your school use Google Apps or are they considering it? Show your
> administration the principled and courageous stand that the University of
> Michigan has taken, and urge them to do the same. Educate your school's
> administration as to how Google Apps leaves blind students out, detracts
> from our full participation in the classroom, and degrades our educational
> experience. I personally have run across inaccessible Google products here
> at HKS, and will certainly be sharing the below message with my Dean. I urge
> each of you to do the same. This is one of those instances where we as
> students can step up to really make a difference for all blind students and
> shape the future. Please take a few minutes to communicate the importance of
> accessibility of all aspects of education and show your school that it is
> possible to take a stand. Technology can either open doors for the blind, or
> seal them shut. I know which I prefer. So, please, take a moment and help
> show Google that accessibility matters by getting your school to communicate
> their commitment to accessibility.
> 
> Please call or write if you have any questions. And, please share this with
> anybody committed to equal access in education for the blind.
> 
> Many thanks,
> 
> Sean Whalen
> President, National Association of Blind Students
> (608) 332-4147
> ---------
> Dear Colleagues,
> 
> As you know, the University of Michigan has transitioned to Google Apps for
> Education for email, calendar, and collaboration tools. The university has
> been in regular contact with Google over the past year about the
> accessibility of their products, and we have conducted numerous tests to
> measure their progress. While Google has demonstrated definite improvements,
> much work remains to make the experience acceptable and equitable for
> individuals who have disabilities. Because Google Docs and Drive, Chat,
> Sites, and other collaborative technologies in the Google suite do not work
> well with standard assistive technologies, you should not require students
> to use them in coursework. In other words, you should not assign work where
> the only option to complete the work involves use of these tools, and even
> if their use is optional, you should be extremely sensitive and avoid
> situations in which students who have disabilities may be disadvantaged if
> the Google suite is the preferred alternative.
> 
> I am also writing to our students to ask them to be cautious in their
> informal use of this suite of applications, avoiding them whenever their use
> may disadvantage students who have disabilities.
> 
> Google email and calendar are accessible with standard assistive
> technologies when used with the client interface for Outlook or MacMail.
> Students, faculty, or staff may call 4-HELP for assistance in setting up the
> client interface or they may visit the Knox Center Adaptive Technology
> Computing Site on the first floor of the Shapiro Library. Generally, if you
> need assistance in making your courses or technology accessible to students
> who have disabilities, don't hesitate to work with the Knox Center or the
> Services for Students with Disabilities.
> 
> We will continue to work with Google to address the accessibility issues in
> their software systems, and we expect that changes will be made so that they
> meet the needs of all our students.
> 
> The university is committed to equal opportunity and equal access, and we
> are continually working harder to find ways to make the tools we use,
> facilities we access, and methods we apply accessible to our entire
> community. Please visit the sites below to learn more about how to support
> our community members with disabilities:
> 
> --Services for Students with Disabilities handbook for faculty
> (http://ssd.umich.edu/files/ssd/SSD_Faculty_Handbook.pdf)
> --Knox Center Adaptive Technology Computing Site
> (http://www.itcs.umich.edu/atcs/computing-site.php)
> --M+Google site
> (https://sites.google.com/a/umich.edu/going-google/accessibility)
> 
> Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> Martha E. Pollack
> Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Dear Students,
> 
> As you know, the University of Michigan has transitioned to Google Apps for
> Education for email, calendar, and collaboration tools. The university has
> been in regular contact with Google over the past year about the
> accessibility of their products, and we have conducted numerous tests to
> measure their progress. While Google has demonstrated definite improvements,
> much work remains to make the experience acceptable and equitable for
> individuals who have disabilities. Because Google Docs and Drive, Chat,
> Sites, and other collaborative technologies in the Google suite do not work
> well with standard assistive technologies, we have instructed the faculty
> not to require students to use them in coursework, and to be sensitive and
> avoid situations in which students who have disabilities may be
> disadvantaged if the Google suite is the preferred alternative.
> 
> I am also writing to ask you to be cautious in your informal use of this
> suite of applications, avoiding them whenever their use may disadvantage
> students who have disabilities.
> 
> Google email and calendar are accessible with standard assistive
> technologies when used with the client interface for Outlook or MacMail.
> Students, faculty, or staff may call 4-HELP for assistance in setting up the
> client interface or they may visit the Knox Center Adaptive Technology
> Computing Site on the first floor of the Shapiro Library.  Generally, if you
> need assistance in making your courses or technology accessible to students
> who have disabilities, don't hesitate to work with the Knox Center or the
> Services for Students with Disabilities.
> 
> We will continue to work with Google to address the accessibility issues in
> their software systems, and we expect that changes will be made so that they
> meet the needs of all our students.
> 
> The university is committed to equal opportunity and equal access, and we
> are continually working harder to find ways to make the tools we use,
> facilities we access, and methods we apply accessible to our entire
> community.  Please visit the sites below to learn more about how to support
> our community members with disabilities:
> 
> --Services for Students with Disabilities handbook for faculty
> (http://ssd.umich.edu/files/ssd/SSD_Faculty_Handbook.pdf)
> --Knox Center Adaptive Technology Computing Site
> (http://www.itcs.umich.edu/atcs/computing-site.php)
> --M+Google site
> (https://sites.google.com/a/umich.edu/going-google/accessibility)
> 
> Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> 
> Martha E. Pollack
> Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
>