[Nfb-announce] Fwd: Desire2Learn Attains National Federation of the Blind Nonvisual Accessibility Gold Level Web Certification

Tue Oct 12 21:25:26 UTC 2010

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>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
>
>
>
>
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>Desire2Learn Attains National Federation of the Blind
>  Nonvisual Accessibility Gold Level Web Certification
>
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>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.”
>
>
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>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.”
>
>
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>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.
>
>
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>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.”
>
>
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>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.
>
>
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>###
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>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