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

Fri Jul 22 14:00:33 UTC 2011

Hello:

    For those of you who deal with Apple products, iPhones, iPads, iPods and Macintosh computers are accessible right out of the box. Note that this applies to newer devices. The very basics are:

 1.  Go to settings, Accessibility and turn Voice-Over on.
 2.  For Macintosh computers, press the Command key and F5 together. The Command key is the first key to the left of the spacebar. This will turn Voice-Over on and will start a tutorial.
Macintosh function keys like PC function keys are above the numbers. They are not grouped into blocks of four, but are in one continuous row. The Escape is the first key in the row at the left end.
National Braille Press has recently published a book on the iPhone. Hope this helps.

Regards,

Robert

Robert Jaquiss
National Federation of the Blind
200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place
Baltimore, Maryland 21230
Phone: 410-659-9314, ext. 2422
________________________________
From: pibe-division-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:pibe-division-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of DrV
Sent: Friday, July 22, 2011 9:07 AM
To: Professionals in Blindness Education Division List
Subject: Re: [Pibe-division] New Technologies & Web-Based Education - How New Guidelines Impact Our Kids

Hi,
I had a request for the links to the letters & FAQ sheet, so apparently the links to the letters were not visible to all, thus I am providing those below.
I have received a few responses - all but one have been requests for me to post the responses I get. One individual expressed that it was their understanding that schools must use accessible webpages & also pointed out that iPad are apparently very accessible & that braille displays and keyboards can be linked to an iPad for easier use. (This implies that VI teachers should now be well-versed not only in braille notetaker technologies, but familiar with the iPad, how it is used in the educational setting, & how to link it to braille notetakers for students to use - something else to add to VI teaching program curriculums if it is not already in place.)
I must admit that while it is summer & many are on break, the shocking lack of responses means that either this is all old news that everyone is aware of - or something that is not common knowledge in the VI/blind communities. My concern is that if the VI programs are not familiar with this, then it is not likely that superintendents, principals, & regular classroom & teachers are likewise not aware of this.
If someone who is well-informed about this could take the time to elaborate & share some specifics, that would be greatly appreciated.
The direct links are below.
Sincerely,
Eric

1. June 29, 2010 US Department of Education Dear Colleague letter: www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-20100629.html<http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-20100629.html>.
2. Guidelines in the form of Frequently Asked Questions: www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/dcl-ebook-faq-201105.html<http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/dcl-ebook-faq-201105.html>.
3. May 26, 2011 second US DOE Dear Colleague letter stating that the same legal obligations apply to elementary and secondary schools:
www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-201105-ese.html<http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-201105-ese.html>

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On Wed, Jul 20, 2011 at 10:20 PM, DrV <pumpkinracer at gmail.com<mailto:pumpkinracer at gmail.com>> wrote:
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<http://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<http://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

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/pibe-division_nfbnet.org/attachments/20110722/a24244cc/attachment.html>