[NFBP-Talk] Question re accessibility of online courses

[Joseph Drenth]

Hi Jan,

Sure, if you want to connect me with that person I can try to help him figure out which version of Blackboard the educational institution is using and then advise him from there. The school might be persuaded to upgrade, but that will probably take a long time. If the school is unwilling to help at all, then we can definitely contact Valerie at NFB National to get some legal weight behind us.

Please have him contact me via my personal email:
Joe.drenth at gmail.com

Thanks,
Joe

Joseph Drenth 
First Vice-President, National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania State Board of Vocational Rehabilitation
Senior R&D Software Engineer, JBT Corporation, Automated Systems Division
Cell: 215-827-7787
Email: joe.drenth at gmail.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Jan Lattuca <jrlattuca at gmail.com> 
Sent: Thursday, July 23, 2020 2:41 PM
To: joe.drenth at gmail.com; NFB of Pennsylvania Talk, state list <nfbp-talk at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [NFBP-Talk] Question re accessibility of online courses

Hi, Joe.  As I said to Michelle, I'm a real dunce about such matters.
Would it work for me to connect you directly with the guy needing
help?  If so, would you prefer an email or a phone contact?

Thanks for your input.

Jan

On 7/22/20, Joseph Drenth via NFBP-Talk <nfbp-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Hi Jan and Michelle,
>
> It really depends on the version of Blackboard being used by the
> school/institution. I am using Blackboard in my MBA degree and it is very
> accessible, but I think the university is using a very recent version. The
> NFB worked with Blackboard (probably sued them, I think) a while back and
> Blackboard made its product much better. Unfortunately, the older the
> version the worse its accessibility will be.
>
> Joseph Drenth
> First Vice-President, National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania
> Pennsylvania State Board of Vocational Rehabilitation
> Senior R&D Software Engineer, JBT Corporation, Automated Systems Division
> Cell: 215-827-7787
> Email: joe.drenth at gmail.com
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NFBP-Talk <nfbp-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Michelle McManus
> via NFBP-Talk
> Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 2020 7:41 PM
> To: NFB of Pennsylvania Talk, state list <nfbp-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Michelle McManus <michelleandremy at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [NFBP-Talk] Question re accessibility of online courses
>
> Hi Jan,
> I know that blackboard does have some accessibility issues. Email me and we
> can talk about what I do know.
> Michelle
>
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Jul 22, 2020, at 7:35 PM, Jan Lattuca via NFBP-Talk
>> <nfbp-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>
>> Hi, all.  I spoke with a blind guy today who had been trying to
>> complete a counseling course online, but the testing system, which he
>> called Blackboard, appeared incompatible with his Zoom Text.
>> Apparently BVS did attempt to help him, but without success.  I asked
>> if he'd tried a screen reader such as NVDA, and he said he hadn't; but
>> I'm wondering if any of you are aware of Blackboard and of its
>> accessibility of lack thereof.
>>
>> Thanks for any input or suggestions.
>>
>> Jan Lattuca
>>
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