[Ohio-talk] College web accessibility.

[COLLEEN ROTH]

Hello,
I hear that Blackboard is supposed to be more accessible.
I understand your dilemma and hope that someone can help you with it. I have a feeling that there are people on this list who will be able to do this.
I think there is a program which can translate PDF files for you.
I actually took a course at a Local Community College and tried to use Blackboard in 2007.
My husband was able to help me navigate Blackboard and I actually used a PC with Windows XP and Jaws 9.
It was a fourse on Computer Basics.
I didn't like the book being read on a CD with text to speech with no description of the figures or diagrams.
That was most of the course. I couldn't get it recorded outside of the Community College because they used a book and added to it.
That was my first experience with text-to-speech and I was really overwhelmed.
I did get a A in the course but I felt that I didn't learn a lot.
Dudley, my hband, actually taught me more than the book or the teacher) for the class.
The College even offered to let me take the course with another instructor for free.
I never did this. You do need to get this resolved. You shouldn't have to wonder if a course will be accessible.
Text-to-speech does not seem to work if you need things described either.
I am sure that if you do not get any response on this list you can post to the list for the NABS National Division.
I am sure you will get some good answers.
Have a very Blessed and Happy Easter.
Colleen Roth


----- Original Message -----
From: Kaiti Shelton <kaiti.shelton at gmail.com>
To: "NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List" ohio-talk at nfbnet.org
Date: Sunday, March 31, 2013 12:06 pm
Subject: [Ohio-talk] College web accessibility.

>
>
> Hi all, 
> 
>  
> 
> I'm writing in the hopes that someone who is more tech savvy and in the know
> about web accessibility guidelines will read this and be able to provide
> some feedback, although any feedback is welcome.  
> 
>  
> 
> Long story short, in high school I participated in a two-year teacher prep
> program.  The senior year of that program involved completing a portfolio
> based on the praxis domains, which would be graded for college credit and
> passage of the course.  Sinclair Community College was in charge of
> processing all the tech prep portfolios for southwest Ohio, including the
> ones from Teacher Academy students.  Every student who passed their course
> received a scholarship waver for a three credit hour course at Sinclair free
> of charge.  Naturally, I want to use this waver on a summer course.  
> 
>  
> 
> Since I've started getting set up with Sinclair I've had a few web
> accessibility issues.  The first happened when I tried to go online to
> review their course catalog.  I found a pdf file which Jaws couldn't read,
> so I emailed their disabilities office to let them know that the catalog was
> not screenreader friendly.  I didn't hear a response back, so I called.  I
> was able to get in touch with a disability councelor, who then sent me a
> word version of the catalog, which ended up not having course listings in it
> and being more like a brochure or student handbook.  When I told her about
> the file being a misnomer she sent me instructions on how to view available
> courses online.  I followed the instructions she sent me and found that the
> flash interface the schedule planner uses was inaccessible.  Comboboxes were
> not labeled and neither Jaws or NVDA would read them.  Apparently there is
> also a huge table which shows up once you select your search criteria for
> courses, and neither screenreader picked that up either.  
> 
>  
> 
> Although I was able to get sighted assistance to work around these issues, I
> am more concerned about the accessibility of the course distribution site,
> be it Blackboard or whatever other system, as the course I want to take will
> be in an online format.  I am also concerned that if their school site is
> this inaccessible that their IT department may not have the training to
> follow web accessibility guidelines.  At UD, if something doesn't work with
> jaws I can email the tech support staff and they'll make sure the issue Is
> resolved, but I'm not sure if I will be able to get that kind of support
> from Sinclair based on what I've seen so far.  I feel really uncomfortable
> jumping into a course which may or may not be accessible, but I also feel
> like to not take my scholarship would be silly and that I shouldn't be kept
> from redeeming it because of correctable accessibility issues.  It is also
> quite possible that I will want to take other summer courses in the future
> through Sinclair since I'm already a registered student there, so if
> possible I would like for these accessibility issues to be addressed but
> don't really know how to proceed.    
> 
>  
> 
> Again, any feedback would be appreciated, and happy Easter! 
> 
>  
> 
> Kaiti Shelton
> 
> University of Dayton---2016
> 
> Music Therapy Major, Psychology Minor, Clarinet
> 
> Secretary, Ohio Association of Blind Students (OABS)-NFB
> 
> Member of Alpha Phi Omega-Alpha Gamma Xi Chapter
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
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