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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>This makes me nuts! None of my child's
teachers have been able to get JAWS to work with AR. I ask question about
accessibility and they tell me it's not possible. Why do we have to follow
these TVI's around and question their every word?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Sally Thomas</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
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<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=dmehlenbacher@yahoo.com href="mailto:dmehlenbacher@yahoo.com">Dr.
Denise M. Robinson</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=pibe-division@nfbnet.org
href="mailto:pibe-division@nfbnet.org">Professionals in Blindness Education
Division List</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, November 19, 2008 5:57
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Pibe-division] inaccessible
online classrooms/assessments etc.</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
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<DIV>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. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>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</DIV>
<DIV>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.<BR><BR></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Brush Script MT'"><FONT
color=#4040ff> Denise
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Brush Script MT'"></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV>Denise M. Robinson, Ph.D. <BR>Coordinator for Blind/VI students at
ESD105<BR>Teacher of the Blind & Visually
Impaired<BR>509-969-3622</DIV><BR><BR>--- On <B>Wed, 11/19/08, Andy
& Sally Thomas <I><andysally@comcast.net></I></B> wrote:<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: rgb(16,16,255) 2px solid">From:
Andy & Sally Thomas <andysally@comcast.net><BR>Subject: Re:
[Pibe-division] inaccessible online classrooms/assessments etc.<BR>To:
"Professionals in Blindness Education Division List"
<pibe-division@nfbnet.org><BR>Date: Wednesday, November 19,
2008, 11:10 AM<BR><BR>
<DIV id=yiv1935403461>
<STYLE></STYLE>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>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.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Sally Thomas</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial"><B>From:</B> <A
title=rjharrell@gmail.com href="mailto:rjharrell@gmail.com"
target=_blank rel=nofollow>Rene Harrell</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=blindkid@nfbnet.org href="mailto:blindkid@nfbnet.org"
target=_blank rel=nofollow>NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for
parents of blind children)</A> ; <A title=pibe-division@nfbnet.org
href="mailto:pibe-division@nfbnet.org" target=_blank
rel=nofollow>Professionals in Blindness Education Division List</A>
; <A title=pobc-presidents@nfbnet.org
href="mailto:pobc-presidents@nfbnet.org" target=_blank
rel=nofollow>Parents of Blind Children State Presidents List</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, November 18,
2008 11:51 PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [Pibe-division]
inaccessible online classrooms/assessments etc.</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>Can we discuss online learning and assessments a bit?
I'd love some more information and feedback on this
topic.<BR><BR>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.<BR><BR>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. <BR><BR>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? <BR><BR>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? <BR><BR>Wisdom and thoughts are
appreciated. <BR><BR>:-)<BR>Rene<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR clear=all><BR>--
<BR>" I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have
ended up where I needed to be."<BR>-- Douglas Adam<BR><BR>
<DIV>
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