[Pibe-division] inaccessible online classrooms/assessments etc.

Wed Nov 19 14:44:28 UTC 2008

Hi to all,

I am a graduate student (Rehabilitation Counseling) who is blind and I work
with elementary, adults, and college students (undergraduate and graduate)
students that are blind and use on-line material. I also consult for various
agencies  that provide information to people with visual disabilities.

Long story short, this happens too often, however,  there  are often ways
around most of these issues. Operative  word, most.

For the longest, I was told that pdf and power point was inaccessible with
JAWS (screen reader software), but since I have "open book", I first save
these "inaccessible" documents to my documents file, open up the open book
software, and then do control O to find the file to open.

Presto, opens up every time.

I understand that there are other issues with on-line sites, but in "most"
cases, I've been able to advise individuals on how to manipulate  the screen
readers to work for students.

Best,

April Ogden 

  _____  

From: pibe-division-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:pibe-division-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Dr. Denise M.
Robinson
Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2008 6:58 AM
To: Professionals in Blindness Education Division List
Subject: Re: [Pibe-division] inaccessible online classrooms/assessments etc.

There are some ways to get around many problems. For instance, AR can be
read using the JAWS cursors and students can get AR to read and can do it
independently, inaccessible online materials come in PDF and these can be
opened, then selected (as in all content alt-A), copied (control-C)and
pasted (control-V) into WORD where JAWS will read it or it can be embossed
out using Duxbury. You have to walk by faith when you do this as JAWS tells
you nothing is there, but it works every time. 

Other inaccessible sites can once again be used by the JAWS cursor (keys on
the num pad). This is usually a skill most teachers of the blind do not know
how to use, thus their students do not know how to use it
either....unfortunately...and thus many areas go un-taught and unlearned by
the student

There is a plethora of problems, but most areas I have found a way around,
so my blind students can access these poorly designed sites.

       Denise 

Denise M. Robinson, Ph.D. 
Coordinator for Blind/VI students at ESD105
Teacher of the Blind & Visually Impaired
509-969-3622

--- On Wed, 11/19/08, Andy & Sally Thomas <andysally at comcast.net> wrote:

From: Andy & Sally Thomas <andysally at comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [Pibe-division] inaccessible online classrooms/assessments etc.
To: "Professionals in Blindness Education Division List"
<pibe-division at nfbnet.org>
Date: Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 11:10 AM

Inaccessible on-line learning materials begin in Kindergarten.  Many schools
use the Accelerated Reader program.  Last year in 5th grade my son's history
curriculum was on line in an inaccessible format.  Most often the solution
has been to read the materials to him.  His history teacher would often
exempt him from work.  It is a huge problem that is only getting worse.
Even though there is a textbook law, many schools don't use the textbooks
they buy.  I reported this lack of access to the curriculum on the NFB books
on time survey.  I hope more people talk about this and that this issue is
brought to the forefront because it is obviously getting worse fast.

Sally Thomas

----- Original Message ----- 

From: Rene <mailto:rjharrell at gmail.com>  Harrell 

To: NFBnet <mailto:blindkid at nfbnet.org>  Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents
of blind children) ; Professionals in Blindness Education
<mailto:pibe-division at nfbnet.org>  Division List ; Parents of Blind Children
<mailto:pobc-presidents at nfbnet.org>  State Presidents List 

Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2008 11:51 PM

Subject: [Pibe-division] inaccessible online classrooms/assessments etc.

Can we discuss online learning and assessments a bit? I'd love some more
information and feedback on this topic.

It's come up recently in my State about a growing problem with online
curricula and assessments not being accessible to blind/low-vision children
who need to use screen readers or magnification software. I know there was a
discussion on a parent listerv that encompasses all disabilities about a
family that was attempting to use K-12 for their homeschool program, but
could not because it is not accessible to blind children. When called, the
company said it was a "copyright" issue and could not make their program
compatible with screen readers. I've heard from a smattering of other
parents about tests that have had to be modified because they were online in
an inaccessible format.

There was quite a discussion going on about this today on a policy/educator
level. TVIs are expressing frustration that more and more of the school
districts are turning to online curricula and assessments, but they are
inaccessible to blind children. They complain to the school, but the school
says it is a vendor issue. So far, complaints to vendors haven't brought
about any changes to the current software being used and distributed. 

My daughter is homeschooled so this is an issue I have not had to confront
or deal with personally. But, it seems to be a growing problem for students
and teachers here, and they're trying to figure out what they can do about
it. I'd love to hear about how others have worked around this issue, or if
this has been a problem for anyone else? Are these software companies
violating ADA for making their programs inaccessible? 

As more and more colleges turn towards online formats, and K-12 school
districts follow suit, I wonder if we're going to see this become a growing
issue in the years ahead? What kind of steps can we take to be proactive on
this issue? 

Wisdom and thoughts are appreciated. 

:-)
Rene

-- 
" I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up
where I needed to be."
-- Douglas Adam

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