<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; color: blue; ">Hi,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; color: blue; ">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.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; color: blue; ">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.)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; color: blue; ">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.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; color: blue; ">If someone who is well-informed about this could take the time to elaborate & share some specifics, that would be greatly appreciated.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; color: blue; ">The direct links are below.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; color: blue; ">Sincerely,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; color: blue; ">Eric</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; color: blue; "> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; color: blue; ">1. June 29, 2010 US Department of Education Dear Colleague letter: <a href="http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-20100629.html"><span style="color: blue; ">www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-20100629.html</span></a>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; color: blue; ">2. Guidelines in the form of Frequently Asked Questions: <a href="http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/dcl-ebook-faq-201105.html"><span style="color: blue; ">www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/dcl-ebook-faq-201105.html</span></a>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; color: blue; ">3. May 26, 2011 second US DOE Dear Colleague letter stating that the same legal obligations apply to elementary and secondary schools:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; color: blue; "><span style="color: blue; "><a href="http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-201105-ese.html">www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-201105-ese.html</a></span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; color: blue; "></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; color: blue; "><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; color: blue; ">-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></p><br><div class="gmail_quote">
On Wed, Jul 20, 2011 at 10:20 PM, DrV <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:pumpkinracer@gmail.com">pumpkinracer@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue;letter-spacing:-1.0pt">Hi everyone,</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue;letter-spacing:-1.0pt">I would greatly appreciate clarification on Department
of Education's New Accessible Technology Guidelines.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue;letter-spacing:-1.0pt">For those that may have missed it, there was a posting
on the NFB website in late May (<a href="http://www.nfb.org/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=804" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue;text-decoration:none">www.nfb.org/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=804</span></a>)
stating that</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue"> </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue;letter-spacing:-1.0pt">the US
Department of
Education issued a <a href="http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-20100629.html" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue;text-decoration:none">Dear Colleague
letter</span></a> 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 <a href="http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/dcl-ebook-faq-201105.html" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue;text-decoration:none">Frequently Asked
Questions</span></a>, were issued to supplement the department’s <a href="http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-20100629.html" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue;text-decoration:none">Dear Colleague
letter</span></a>.</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue;letter-spacing:-1.0pt">The May NFB Immediate Release Bulletin (<a href="http://www.nfb.org/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=804" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue;text-decoration:none">www.nfb.org/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=804</span></a>) states
that the US
Department of Education issued a <a href="http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-201105-ese.html" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue;text-decoration:none">second Dear
Colleague</span></a> letter issued on May 26, 2011 stating that the same legal
obligations apply to elementary and secondary schools.</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue;letter-spacing:-1.0pt">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. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue;letter-spacing:-1.0pt">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.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue;letter-spacing:-1.0pt">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.</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue;letter-spacing:-1.0pt">Can someone explain in simple clear language what the DOE’s
new guidelines mean at the practical level for our kids/students?</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue;letter-spacing:-1.0pt">It would seem that each teacher’s webpage, the
assignments they post, & websites they suggest or require should have to
be accessible.</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue;letter-spacing:-1.0pt">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.</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue;letter-spacing:-1.0pt">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.</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue;letter-spacing:-1.0pt">How are VI programs & SELPAs addressing this with
school districts?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue;letter-spacing:-1.0pt">How are district superintendents, school principals,
& classroom teachers being inform of requirements?</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue">Is the message getting to those at
the top? (District superintendents & school principals?) If so how?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue">How effectively is this filtering
down to the classroom teachers?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue">I wonder how many of the above have
really even heard of it - if not, that is a real problem.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue">Is this a "feel good"
policy statement, or real policy that will be respected & enforced - like
say wheelchair accessibility which is taken more seriously.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue;letter-spacing:-1.0pt">I look forward to your insights, experiences, thoughts,
& comments.</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue;letter-spacing:-1.0pt">Respectfully,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue;letter-spacing:-1.0pt">Eric</span></p>
</blockquote></div><br>