[Nfbc-info] National Federation of the Blind and Blackboard to Demonstrate New Accessibility Features at CSUN

Sat Mar 27 21:28:39 UTC 2010

Eileen,

Hearing more about Blackboard accessibility issues is interesting to me.
When I was in school (no not that long ago 2000-2007 for undergraduate
through a masters program), we used blackboard extensively. I found it
to be a great program, and never found a single access issue with it.
Towards the end of my graduate program, blackboard began to make
"improvements". As the website "evolved", my ability to participate in
classes independently decreased dramatically.

I think this shows how we as the organized blind must continue to be
viligent about working with technology companies as they create new and
improved technologies. So often there is no need for separate pieces of
technology to provide us the service, accessibility can be built into
the technology from the beginning. I think "out-of-the-box"
accessibility will be the way blind people achieve true technologic
independence. As controversial as the iPhone has been in the blind
community, the built in text to speech program has made it a very
attractive option for many blind people. It can be purchased for $200
with a contract with AT&T. Comparatively, the new Orator program for
Blackberry is $499, plus the cost of a Blackberry of $150-$250. When it
came time for me to buy a new smart phone, the cost benefit analysis was
simple. 

Best-

Jonathan

Jonathan T. Lyens MPA 
Email: jonathan at lyens.com 
Fax: (321) 256-8896 
Skype: jlyens 

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbc-info-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbc-info-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On Behalf Of Eileen Misrahi
Sent: Saturday, March 27, 2010 6:50 AM
To: 'NFB of California List'
Subject: Re: [Nfbc-info] National Federation of the Blind and Blackboard
toDemonstrate New Accessibility Features at CSUN

Just for your information. This email has arrived in my in box too late
to
attend (3/27). Also, when I was enrolled in a distance learning program
from
Florida State University, there were accessibility issues in using the
office chat, and the virtual classroom feature on Blackboard. Were these
features addressed when improvements were made to the Blackboard Learn
newest version? The Virtual Classroom was not accessible at the time and
the
Office Chat was navigation nightmare, which required another classmate
to
read what was being posted and me replying on my end. I thought I would
just
chime in. 

Eileen Misrahi 

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbc-info-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbc-info-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On
Behalf Of Freeh, Jessica (by way of David Andrews <dandrews at visi.com>)
Sent: Friday, March 26, 2010 9:28 PM
To: david.andrews at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Nfbc-info] National Federation of the Blind and Blackboard to
Demonstrate New Accessibility Features at CSUN

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Chris Danielsen

Director of Public Relations

National Federation of the Blind

(410) 659-9314, extension 2330

(410) 262-1281 (Cell)

<mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>cdanielsen at nfb.org

National Federation of the Blind and Blackboard to
Demonstrate New Accessibility Features at CSUN

Blackboard Learn Platform Brings Accessibility Enhancements for the
Blind

San Diego, California (March 25, 2010): The 
National Federation of the Blind (NFB), the 
nation's leading advocate for equal education for 
blind students, and Blackboard Inc., will present 
and demonstrate the new accessibility features of 
the Blackboard LearnT platform at the California 
State University, Northridge, (CSUN) 25th annual 
International Technology & Persons with 
Disabilities conference, held in San Diego, CA, 
March 22-27.  The presentation of Blackboard's 
improved and more accessible experience will be 
held on March 25 at 4:20 p.m. Pacific Time.

Blackboard Learn, an online learning platform, is 
used by thousands of institutions to provide 
online education, course materials, discussion 
boards, assignment submissions, electronic 
grading, and numerous other components intended 
to enhance the learning experience or to provide 
distance education.  Previously, blind students 
encountered a number of accessibility barriers 
when using the Blackboard platform with nonvisual 
screen access technology.  Blackboard Learn, 
Release 9,  showed great improvement over prior 
releases, and during the past year, Blackboard 
has invested further in a range of enhancements 
to Blackboard Learn that represent significant 
improvements to the usability of Blackboard for blind users.

Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National 
Federation of the Blind, said: "We are pleased to 
help Blackboard present the accessibility 
features of the Blackboard Learn platform to the 
influential audience at CSUN.  These features 
will ensure that blind students are not

at a disadvantage in classes utilizing Blackboard 
and can access course materials online just as 
their sighted peers do.  We commend Blackboard 
for their hard work in this area."

The accessibility improvements to Blackboard 
Learn include faster navigation and improved form 
interaction, allowing blind users to submit 
assignments, participate in discussion forums, 
send and receive e-mail, take tests and quizzes, 
and participate in polls.  Blind instructors can 
also submit content with the improved accessible forms.

For more information 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.

_______________________________________________
Nfbc-info mailing list
Nfbc-info at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbc-info_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
Nfbc-info:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbc-info_nfbnet.org/eileenmis%40d
slex
treme.com
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com 
Version: 9.0.791 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2771 - Release Date: 03/26/10
00:33:00

_______________________________________________
Nfbc-info mailing list
Nfbc-info at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbc-info_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
Nfbc-info:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbc-info_nfbnet.org/jonathan%40ly
ens.com