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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 color=blue face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;color:blue'>That is a good point.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 color=blue face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;color:blue'>I didn’t know that K-12 was using
online things. We have a student here in Greeley Colorado, that learns
aptive technology during her tech class. Her peers are using power point
and things that are inaccessible to her.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 color=blue face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;color:blue'>For a while I know that she was learning to
use some of the adaptive equipment that the school had for their blind
students.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 color=blue face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 color=blue face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 color=maroon face="Arial Narrow"><span
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif";color:maroon'>Best
regards,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 color=maroon face="Arial Narrow"><span
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif";color:maroon'>Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 color=maroon face="Arial Narrow"><span
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif";color:maroon'>Melissa
R. Green<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 color=maroon face="Arial Narrow"><span
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif";color:maroon'>Hold
on to your dream and it shall be well with you.</span></font><font size=2
color=blue face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";
color:blue'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 color=blue face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font
size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>
pibe-division-bounces@nfbnet.org [mailto:pibe-division-bounces@nfbnet.org] <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Rene Harrell<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Tuesday, November 18, 2008
10:52 PM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,
(for parents of blind children); Professionals in Blindness Education Division
List; Parents of Blind Children State Presidents List<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> [Pibe-division]
inaccessible online classrooms/assessments etc.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:
12.0pt;margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>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<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>No virus found in this incoming
message.<br>
Checked by AVG - <a href="http://www.avg.com">http://www.avg.com</a><br>
Version: 8.0.175 / Virus Database: 270.9.7/1798 - Release Date: 11/18/2008 8:59
PM</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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