[Nfbmo] Justice Department Settles with Louisiana TechUniversity Over Inaccessible Course Materials

[Nancy Lynn]

Justice Department Settles with Louisiana Tech University Over Inaccessible
Course Materials
Jul 23, 2013

The Justice Department announced today that it has reached a settlement with
Louisiana Tech University and the Board of Supervisors for the University of
Louisiana System to remedy alleged violations of the Americans with
Disabilities
Act (ADA).
The settlement resolves allegations that the University violated the ADA by
using a version of an online learning product that was inaccessible to a
blind
student.

The student’s lack of access to the course materials persisted nearly one
month
into the University quarter, at which point the student was so far behind in
his
coursework that he felt compelled to withdraw from the course.

The settlement also resolves allegations that in a subsequent course, the
same
student was not provided accessible course materials for in-class discussion
or
exam preparation in a timely manner.

Under the settlement agreement, the university will adopt a number of
disability-related policies, including the requirement to deploy learning
technology, web pages and course content that is accessible in accordance
with
the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA standard in the
university setting.
The university will also make existing web pages and materials created since
2010 accessible.

The agreement also requires the university to train its instructors and
administrators on the requirements of the ADA, and secured a total of
$23,543 in
damages for the student from the university and the Board.

“Emerging technologies, including internet-based learning platforms, are
changing the way we learn, and we need to ensure that people with
disabilities
are not excluded or left behind,” said Eve L. Hill, Deputy Assistant
Attorney
General for the Civil Rights Division.

“This is a positive move by Louisiana Tech University and the Board of
Supervisors. Their efforts reflect a commitment to ensuring that all
individuals
with disabilities have full access to the University,” said Stephanie A.
Finley,
U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana.

The ADA protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination in the
services, programs or activities of state and local government entities.
Under
Title II of the ADA, state and local governments must afford individuals
with
disabilities an equal opportunity to participate in or benefit from aids,
benefits or services provided. For more information about the ADA, call the
Department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 (TDD
800-514-0383)
or access the ADA website at http://www.ada.gov/.
13-831 Civil Rights Division


http://education.tmcnet.com/news/2013/07/23/7297194.htm