[Ncabs] Google Accessibility

Sat Apr 6 17:54:33 UTC 2013

What I meant by the comment you quoted was this...

Google is a private company that is likely not covered under the American's
with Disabilities Act, Section 504, or any other applicable legislation.
If students are using google for research purposes, which is an educational
activity, then the duty to provide accessibility falls back on the college,
which in all most every instance would need to comply with applicable
federal law.  So, my logic here is if you can't force google directly to
make Google Scolar accessible, then you take aim at those who must comply
and can force Google.

I'm supporting my claim with cases from the U.S. Department of Justice in
which either mediation settlements or federal district court rulings have
found that the use of inaccessible ereaders are a violation of title two of
the ADA.

Now, to draw it all back together, if these PDFs are inaccessible when they
come from the publisher then once again it should be the duty of the
college to demand from the services that provide electronic access for
their libraries that the PDFs come in an accessible format from the start.

Good conversation here you all!  Be sure to call and voice your input.

Alan

On Sat, Apr 6, 2013 at 10:44 AM, Sean Mealin <spmealin at ncsu.edu> wrote:

> Sorry, can you please clarify what you mean by “the colleges can put
> pressure on google to act in better faith of compliance?”
>
> Google has absolutely no control over content, therefore pressuring
> Google Scholar would be wasted effort.
>
>
> On 4/6/13, Alan A. Chase <aachase1 at gmail.com> wrote:
> > Yes, Jewel, Google Scholar is what links you to articles from a search.
> >
> > The important thing here to note that is while Google doesn't control the
> > accessibility of these documents it can control which documents it links
> > to.  Higher education institutions are required to provide materials in
> > accessible formats and if an institution, such as Wake Tech, chooses to
> use
> > Google the college has an obligation to ensure the accessibility.  Thus,
> > the colleges can put pressure on google to act in better faith of
> > compliance.
> >
> >
> > On Fri, Apr 5, 2013 at 3:37 PM, Jewel <herekittykat2 at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >> Is Google Scholar the source of the scholarly journal articles that
> >> come up in search results? I just want to check before making that
> >> assumption! Almost all of those journal articles are inaccessible PDFs
> >> from my experience, so if this is what is meant by Google Scholar, you
> >> can count me in to call about it.
> >> Later,
> >> Jewel
> >>
> >> On 4/4/13, Alan A. Chase <aachase1 at gmail.com> wrote:
> >> > The NFB wants to see what can be done to address the problem of the
> >> > inaccessibility of Google Apps in the workplace and on campus.  To
> that
> >> > end,
> >> > the NFB would like to hear from employees or students - by telephone
> >> only -
> >> > who have experienced inaccessibility with any of Google's
> applications,
> >> > including but not limited to the following:
> >> >
> >> > Google Docs
> >> > Gmail
> >> > Google Calendar
> >> > Google Slides
> >> > Google Plus
> >> > Google Chat
> >> > Google Scholar
> >> >
> >> > If you have encountered such difficulties and would like to help us,
> DO
> >> NOT
> >> > RESPOND BY EMAIL, but instead please call Valerie Yingling at
> >> > 410-659-9314 x2440.
> >> >
> >> > --
> >> > *Alan A. Chase, M.Ed.*
> >> > Occupational Course of Study Teacher, New Hanover County Schools
> >> > Program Coordinator, Envisioning Youth Empowerment Retreat
> >> > President, North Carolina Association of Blind Students
> >> > Secretary, Governor Morehead School Alumni Association
> >> > _______________________________________________
> >> > Ncabs mailing list
> >> > Ncabs at nfbnet.org
> >> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ncabs_nfbnet.org
> >> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> >> > Ncabs:
> >> >
> >>
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ncabs_nfbnet.org/herekittykat2%40gmail.com
> >> >
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> Ncabs mailing list
> >> Ncabs at nfbnet.org
> >> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ncabs_nfbnet.org
> >> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> >> Ncabs:
> >> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ncabs_nfbnet.org/aachase1%40gmail.com
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > *Alan A. Chase, M.Ed.*
> > Occupational Course of Study Teacher, New Hanover County Schools
> > Program Coordinator, Envisioning Youth Empowerment Retreat
> > President, North Carolina Association of Blind Students
> > Secretary, Governor Morehead School Alumni Association
> > _______________________________________________
> > Ncabs mailing list
> > Ncabs at nfbnet.org
> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ncabs_nfbnet.org
> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> > Ncabs:
> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ncabs_nfbnet.org/spmealin%40ncsu.edu
> >
>
>
> --
> Sean Mealin
> spmealin at ncsu.edu
> (336) 772-2507
> http://www4.ncsu.edu/~spmealin/
>
> _______________________________________________
> Ncabs mailing list
> Ncabs at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ncabs_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> Ncabs:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ncabs_nfbnet.org/aachase1%40gmail.com
>

-- 
*Alan A. Chase, M.Ed.*
Occupational Course of Study Teacher, New Hanover County Schools
Program Coordinator, Envisioning Youth Empowerment Retreat
President, North Carolina Association of Blind Students
Secretary, Governor Morehead School Alumni Association