[Ohio-talk] FW: [State-affiliate-leadership-list] FW: [Nabs-presidents] FW:Important Message Regarding Google Apps and Accessibility

Wed Nov 6 12:53:02 UTC 2013

This is an important message for all students. Please forward it to any
students not on this list.

Thanks,
Barbara 

-----Original Message-----
From: State-affiliate-leadership-list
[mailto:state-affiliate-leadership-list-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
JMassay
Sent: Tuesday, November 05, 2013 10:30 PM
To: 'State Affiliate Leadership List'
Subject: [State-affiliate-leadership-list] FW: [Nabs-presidents]
FW:Important Message Regarding Google Apps and Accessibility

Hello all-
I thought we should probably spread this far and wide. I know many students
and many non-traditional students who are not a part of NABS who can benefit
from the message and call to action. 
Jeannie 

-----Original Message-----
From: Nabs-presidents [mailto:nabs-presidents-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Sean Whalen
Sent: Tuesday, November 05, 2013 7:31 PM
To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org; nabs-presidents at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Nabs-presidents] FW: Important Message Regarding Google Apps and
Accessibility

Friends and fellow students:

We have a wonderful opportunity to use our status as students to help
further the work of the NFB. Dr. Maurer called me yesterday afternoon and
advised me that we are in continued conversations with Google regarding the
accessibility of Google Apps, which are frequently used by schools and
universities. Unfortunately, Google Apps has many features that are
inaccessible. We need to change this, and this effort is building momentum.
The Provost of the University of Michigan has recently circulated the two
below communications to faculty and students at U of M. As you can read
after this message, Michigan will not be requiring, and is in fact
discouraging, the use of Google Apps for coursework, class projects, or
communication between students until Google Apps are accessible and fully
useable by disabled students, including the blind. This is a strong message,
but we need to increase the pressure on Google. They need to hear this
message from other colleges and universities, and they need to hear it now.
Does your school use Google Apps or are they considering it? Show your
administration the principled and courageous stand that the University of
Michigan has taken, and urge them to do the same. Educate your school's
administration as to how Google Apps leaves blind students out, detracts
from our full participation in the classroom, and degrades our educational
experience. I personally have run across inaccessible Google products here
at HKS, and will certainly be sharing the below message with my Dean. I urge
each of you to do the same. This is one of those instances where we as
students can step up to really make a difference for all blind students and
shape the future. Please take a few minutes to communicate the importance of
accessibility of all aspects of education and show your school that it is
possible to take a stand. Technology can either open doors for the blind, or
seal them shut. I know which I prefer. So, please, take a moment and help
show Google that accessibility matters by getting your school to communicate
their commitment to accessibility.

Please call or write if you have any questions. And, please share this with
anybody committed to equal access in education for the blind.

Many thanks,

Sean Whalen
President, National Association of Blind Students
(608) 332-4147
---------
Dear Colleagues,

As you know, the University of Michigan has transitioned to Google Apps for
Education for email, calendar, and collaboration tools. The university has
been in regular contact with Google over the past year about the
accessibility of their products, and we have conducted numerous tests to
measure their progress. While Google has demonstrated definite improvements,
much work remains to make the experience acceptable and equitable for
individuals who have disabilities. Because Google Docs and Drive, Chat,
Sites, and other collaborative technologies in the Google suite do not work
well with standard assistive technologies, you should not require students
to use them in coursework. In other words, you should not assign work where
the only option to complete the work involves use of these tools, and even
if their use is optional, you should be extremely sensitive and avoid
situations in which students who have disabilities may be disadvantaged if
the Google suite is the preferred alternative.

I am also writing to our students to ask them to be cautious in their
informal use of this suite of applications, avoiding them whenever their use
may disadvantage students who have disabilities.

Google email and calendar are accessible with standard assistive
technologies when used with the client interface for Outlook or MacMail.
Students, faculty, or staff may call 4-HELP for assistance in setting up the
client interface or they may visit the Knox Center Adaptive Technology
Computing Site on the first floor of the Shapiro Library. Generally, if you
need assistance in making your courses or technology accessible to students
who have disabilities, don't hesitate to work with the Knox Center or the
Services for Students with Disabilities.

We will continue to work with Google to address the accessibility issues in
their software systems, and we expect that changes will be made so that they
meet the needs of all our students.

The university is committed to equal opportunity and equal access, and we
are continually working harder to find ways to make the tools we use,
facilities we access, and methods we apply accessible to our entire
community. Please visit the sites below to learn more about how to support
our community members with disabilities:

--Services for Students with Disabilities handbook for faculty
(http://ssd.umich.edu/files/ssd/SSD_Faculty_Handbook.pdf)
--Knox Center Adaptive Technology Computing Site
(http://www.itcs.umich.edu/atcs/computing-site.php)
--M+Google site
(https://sites.google.com/a/umich.edu/going-google/accessibility)

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

Martha E. Pollack
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dear Students,

As you know, the University of Michigan has transitioned to Google Apps for
Education for email, calendar, and collaboration tools. The university has
been in regular contact with Google over the past year about the
accessibility of their products, and we have conducted numerous tests to
measure their progress. While Google has demonstrated definite improvements,
much work remains to make the experience acceptable and equitable for
individuals who have disabilities. Because Google Docs and Drive, Chat,
Sites, and other collaborative technologies in the Google suite do not work
well with standard assistive technologies, we have instructed the faculty
not to require students to use them in coursework, and to be sensitive and
avoid situations in which students who have disabilities may be
disadvantaged if the Google suite is the preferred alternative.

I am also writing to ask you to be cautious in your informal use of this
suite of applications, avoiding them whenever their use may disadvantage
students who have disabilities.

Google email and calendar are accessible with standard assistive
technologies when used with the client interface for Outlook or MacMail.
Students, faculty, or staff may call 4-HELP for assistance in setting up the
client interface or they may visit the Knox Center Adaptive Technology
Computing Site on the first floor of the Shapiro Library.  Generally, if you
need assistance in making your courses or technology accessible to students
who have disabilities, don't hesitate to work with the Knox Center or the
Services for Students with Disabilities.

We will continue to work with Google to address the accessibility issues in
their software systems, and we expect that changes will be made so that they
meet the needs of all our students.

The university is committed to equal opportunity and equal access, and we
are continually working harder to find ways to make the tools we use,
facilities we access, and methods we apply accessible to our entire
community.  Please visit the sites below to learn more about how to support
our community members with disabilities:

--Services for Students with Disabilities handbook for faculty
(http://ssd.umich.edu/files/ssd/SSD_Faculty_Handbook.pdf)
--Knox Center Adaptive Technology Computing Site
(http://www.itcs.umich.edu/atcs/computing-site.php)
--M+Google site
(https://sites.google.com/a/umich.edu/going-google/accessibility)

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

Martha E. Pollack
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

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