[Pibe-division] New Technologies & Web-Based Education - How New Guidelines Impact Our Kids

[DrV]

Hi everyone,

I would greatly appreciate clarification on Department of Education's New
Accessible Technology Guidelines.

For those that may have missed it, there was a posting on the NFB website in
late May (www.nfb.org/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=804) stating that the US

Department of Education issued a Dear Colleague
letter<http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-20100629.html>on
June 29, 2010 informing all college and university presidents that
their
institutions must be sure that emerging technologies that they plan to
deploy to students are accessible to the blind and other students with
disabilities. Guidelines in the form of Frequently Asked
Questions<http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/dcl-ebook-faq-201105.html>,
were issued to supplement the department’s Dear Colleague
letter<http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-20100629.html>
.

The May NFB Immediate Release Bulletin (
www.nfb.org/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=804) states that the US 
Department of
Education issued a second Dear
Colleague<http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-201105-ese.html>letter
issued on May 26, 2011 stating that the same legal obligations apply
to elementary and secondary schools.

Over the last few years we have come across a number of websites at both the
elementary & middle school levels that have not been independently
accessible by the student.

Websites have included mandatory or (strongly recommended, but technically
optional) textbook publisher’s supplemental websites – where concepts in
chapter are elaborated on, as well as the classroom teacher’s individual
webpages/calendars/assignments.

Our eldest is transitioning to high school. Next year iPads will be piloted
in some of the classes. I am a member of our school district’s Medical
Advisory Board & at our meeting in May our new superintendent & one of the
school board members were putting forth the concept of a paper bookless,
paperless classroom in the near future – yes, they were very serious about
this.

Can someone explain in simple clear language what the DOE’s new guidelines
mean at the practical level for our kids/students?

It would seem that each teacher’s webpage, the assignments they post, &
websites they suggest or require should have to be  accessible.

It would seem that the calendar – assignment – grade posting programs that
schools/districts use, such as Edline,  Grade Book Wizard, and others should
be fully accessible.

It would seem that the textbook publisher websites that have quizzes, study
guides, and videos that the classroom teachers either recommend or mandate
be looked at should need to be fully accessible.

How are VI programs & SELPAs addressing this with school districts?

How are district superintendents, school principals, & classroom teachers
being inform of requirements?

Is the message getting to those at the top? (District superintendents &
school principals?) If so how?

How effectively is this filtering down to the classroom teachers?

I wonder how many of the above have really even heard of it - if not, that
is a real problem.

Is this a "feel good" policy statement, or real policy that will be
respected & enforced - like say wheelchair accessibility which is taken more
seriously.

I look forward to your insights, experiences, thoughts, & comments.

Respectfully,

Eric
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