[NABS-L] College website accessibility

Fri Jan 14 21:02:09 UTC 2022

Hi Armando!
Thank you for sharing! I hope that you have a good experience as a college
student. I hope your school gives you the best possible support! We're here
for you if you have more updates, questions or concerns.
Kendra

-----Original Message-----
From: NABS-L <nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Armando Vias via
NABS-L
Sent: Friday, January 14, 2022 12:59 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Armando Vias <armando at armandovias.com>
Subject: Re: [NABS-L] College website accessibility

Here’s the latest update that I have received from the disability manager at
my college.

“Thank you for your observation.  We will communicate with our technology
department.  We are currently in the process of launching a new website
soon.  Additionally, GMC is committed to the full and total inclusion of all
individuals providing equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from
all programs, services and activities. Georgia Military College is also
supportive of individual rights and responsibilities.  As a public
institution receiving Federal funds, Georgia Military College adheres to the
provisions of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans
with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008.”

I have followed up with a question on how to contact the technology
department.

> On Jan 14, 2022, at 3:34 PM, Kendra Schaber via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> wrote:
>
> Hi all!
> Welcome to the world of college life as a blind student! I hope we can
> help you with the good, the bad, and the ugly! I totally agree with Nick.
> I don't believe that there is such a thing as full accessibility in
> the college world because even though we have made a lot of progress,
> we still have miles to go, especially in the fields of math and
> science. Even without math and science, you will always run into
> inaccessible websites, inaccessible videos, slides with inaccessible
> pictures, especially in cases where your school doesn't have the
> ability to make their own braille graphics, and, there are those
> inaccessible apps, and dodgy resources that are accessible, but are
> not inclusive, especially to those such as myself who is not enough of
> a techie to completely keep up with all of the 2021 features, but is
> more techie than is required to live in the 1990s. Even when things
> are accessible, you're always going to have products that you enjoy a
> lot and products that are not accessible to you because even though
> they are conciddered to be accessible, they are either above your
> skill leval, or they are so clunky that the developers didn't include
> work flow into their deffenation of what accessibility means. In my
> mind, work flow counts because without the ability of having good work
> flow, that's a form of inaccessibility because without that work flow,
> you can't completely keep up with the pace of college. For example, I
> don't like Google Dox because even though it's conciddered to be
> accessible, it's not accessible to me because when I go to use it,
> it's either too buggy, or it doesn't have the right work flow that
> would allow me to keep up with the fast pace of the college world. I
> stick to the old school Microsoft Word document as much as possible
> because I like Microsoft Word much better because it actually includes
> work flow as a required accessible feature.
> You might like Google Dox better than I which is fine, but this is
> also what you run into as a blind student. Also, since the world is
> semi virtual, you have to understand what your school can do for you,
> what they can't do for you, and how to line up your resources with theirs
> as needed.
> Also, keep in mind that your school's accessibility department might
> have a biest perspective that's in favor of your school, so therefore,
> they might have somewhat of a less than accurate ability to figure out
> what's accessible, what's not accessible, and/or even, where they're
> able to completely keep up with the pace of your classes. From stories
> I've heard over the years, most schools also don't completely
> understand your needs as a blind student which also impacts your
> ability to get a completely inclusive experience at your school as a
> blind student. With that in mind, it's always a good idea to observe
> how your school is able to keep up with you and your classes, what
> resources they have avalible to them, what resources you have avalible
> to you, and determine whether or not they're able to fully help you
> throughout your entire education. If you find that they can't
> completely cover your education in the accessibility department, or
> they can't keep up with everything, then you'll either need to come up
> with your own resources, change your education plan, change your
> school, or escalate the case, or some combination of these, depending
> on your situation. I'd start with knowing everyone's avalible
> resources, and step it up leval by leval from there. Only escalate the
> case as a last resort.
> Kendra
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NABS-L <nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of nspohn0--- via
> NABS-L
> Sent: Friday, January 14, 2022 12:07 PM
> To: 'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'
> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: nspohn0 at gmail.com
> Subject: Re: [NABS-L] College website accessibility
>
> Another thing to add:
>
> I am also working with my university to improve the accessibility of
> the athletics website, bookstore website, and the software we use to
> schedule courses. I am also helping to make HR training modules for
> student employees to be accessible.
>
> I say all of that to let you know that it is likely you will run into
> inaccessible websites and other resources.
>
> Welcome to postsecondary education! (sarcasm)
>
> Nick
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nspohn0 at gmail.com <nspohn0 at gmail.com>
> Sent: Friday, January 14, 2022 2:58 PM
> To: 'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'
> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: 'Armando Vias' <armando at armandovias.com>
> Subject: RE: [NABS-L] College website accessibility
>
> Hello,
>
> Penn State has an accessibility statement, but you have to click on a
> link called "accessibility" to get to it. Even though Penn State has
> this statement, I think Penn State needs improvement when it comes to
> accessibility.
>
> Personally, I think an accessibility statement is not helpful to have.
> What is really helpful to have is a quality education that is accessible.
> Chances are, if your college does not want to have an accessibility
> statement (or seems to be dragging their feet about it), then that is
> not a good sign.
>
> Nick
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NABS-L <nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Armando Vias via
> NABS-L
> Sent: Friday, January 14, 2022 2:50 PM
> To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Armando Vias <armando at armandovias.com>
> Subject: [NABS-L] College website accessibility
>
> Hello everyone. I am trying to advocate to my college about
> implementing an accessibility statement on their website. Other
> colleges in my area have an accessibility statement on their website.
> Does your college have an accessibility statement on their website?
> They are trying to send information to me on applying for
> accessibility accommodations, but all I need is my question answered
> on if they are going to implement an accessibility statement on their
> website.
>
>
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