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<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=581141512-02082011>Eric, Eric, and
all,</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=581141512-02082011></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=581141512-02082011>Yes, these letters are
extremely strong documents that should be leveraged at the local level. They
represent many dozens of hours of discussions at the national level. Although
DOE has sent these correspondence to school districts, the means of raising
awareness is through our network of affiliates and chapters. Anything that PIBE
can do is this regard is helpful.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=581141512-02082011></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=581141512-02082011>We are making
progress!</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=581141512-02082011>Mark </SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=581141512-02082011></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=581141512-02082011></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">
<DIV align=left><SPAN lang=EN><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Mark A. Riccobono,
M.S.ed</SPAN><o:p></o:p></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Executive Director, Jernigan
Institute</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE
BLIND</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:Street
w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">200 East Wells Street at Jernigan
Place</SPAN></st1:address></st1:Street></P>
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w:st="on"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Baltimore</SPAN></st1:City><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">, <st1:State
w:st="on">Maryland</st1:State> <st1:PostalCode
w:st="on">21230</st1:PostalCode></SPAN></st1:place><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Phone: (410) 659-9314 ext.
2357</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Fax: (410)
659-5129</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Email: <A
href="mailto:mriccobono@nfb.org">mriccobono@nfb.org</A></SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Web: <A
href="http://www.nfb.org/"><FONT color=#800080>www.nfb.org</FONT></A></SPAN></P>
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<DIV> </DIV><BR>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left>
<HR tabIndex=-1>
<FONT face=Tahoma><B>From:</B> pibe-division-bounces@nfbnet.org
[mailto:pibe-division-bounces@nfbnet.org] <B>On Behalf Of
</B>EricGuillory@aol.com<BR><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, August 02, 2011 8:11
AM<BR><B>To:</B> pibe-division@nfbnet.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Pibe-division]
US Dept of Justice's & US Dept of Education's New
Accessi...<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV><FONT id=role_document face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Eric,</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>As the newly-minted president of PIBE, I am very interested in meaningful
projects our division can undertake. The in<SPAN class=581141512-02082011><FONT
face=Arial size=2> </FONT></SPAN>itiative to increase awareness
about these regulations sounds like something the Board and I should consider
strongly. It truly will take a grassroots effort, but, properly facilitated, I
am confident that it can be done. Given the exponential proliferation of
technologies in our schools, it is indeed a must. I will be convening the PIBE
Board in approximately one week, and will put this before the
members.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Thank you for your steadfast attention to this pivotal issue.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Eric Guillory</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>In a message dated 8/2/2011 1:24:46 A.M. Central Daylight Time,
pumpkinracer@gmail.com writes:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><FONT
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">Dear
All,</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">If
the school districts & those in charge of Special Ed (LEAs/SELPAs) aren't
aware, then the odds of compliance are very small.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">How
can awareness & compliance be facilitated?</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">Is
anything being pursued at an organizational or National level?</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><FONT
class=Apple-style-span face="'Comic Sans MS'" color=#0000ff><SPAN
class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 13px">Eric</SPAN></FONT></P><BR>
<DIV class=gmail_quote>On Sat, Jul 30, 2011 at 11:08 AM, Dr. Denise M.
Robinson <SPAN dir=ltr><<A title=mailto:dmehlenbacher@yahoo.com
href="mailto:dmehlenbacher@yahoo.com">dmehlenbacher@yahoo.com</A>></SPAN>
wrote:<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=gmail_quote
style="PADDING-LEFT: 1ex; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid">
<DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #000; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fff">
<DIV><SPAN>Eric</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN>Thank you for the info--this is wonderful. No, schools do not
know about this, as they are always shocked when I tell them about the laws
and now we have even higher standards--fantastic. I will be forwarding the
PDFs to them </SPAN></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV> <VAR></VAR></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, TVI, Ph.D. <BR>Teacher of the Blind & Visually
Impaired<BR>TechVision-Independent Contractor</DIV>
<DIV>Specialist in blind programming/teaching/training</DIV>
<DIV><A title=tel:509-674-1853 href="tel:509-674-1853" target=_blank
value="+15096741853">509-674-1853</A> <A
title=mailto:deniserob@gmail.com href="mailto:deniserob@gmail.com"
target=_blank rel=nofollow> deniserob@gmail.com</A></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><A title=http://blindgeteducated.blogspot.com/
href="http://blindgeteducated.blogspot.com/" target=_blank
rel=nofollow>http://blindgeteducated.blogspot.com/</A></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: rgb(16,16,255) 2px solid">
<DIV
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif">
<DIV
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif"><FONT
face=Arial size=2>
<DIV
style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ccc 1px solid; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: #ccc 1px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; FONT-SIZE: 0px; MIN-HEIGHT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 5px 0px; BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid; LINE-HEIGHT: 0; PADDING-TOP: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ccc 1px solid"
readonly></DIV><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">From:</SPAN></B> DrV
<<A title=mailto:pumpkinracer@gmail.com
href="mailto:pumpkinracer@gmail.com"
target=_blank>pumpkinracer@gmail.com</A>><BR><B><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> Professionals in Blindness
Education Division List <<A title=mailto:pibe-division@nfbnet.org
href="mailto:pibe-division@nfbnet.org"
target=_blank>pibe-division@nfbnet.org</A>>; <A
title=mailto:braille-n-teach@mlist.cde.ca.gov
href="mailto:braille-n-teach@mlist.cde.ca.gov"
target=_blank>braille-n-teach@mlist.cde.ca.gov</A><BR><B><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Friday, July 29, 2011 10:23
PM<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B>
[Pibe-division] US Dept of Justice's & US Dept of Education's New
Accessible Technology Guidelines<BR></FONT>
<DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV class=h5><BR>
<DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,255); LETTER-SPACING: -1px">Hi
All,</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt"></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt">I sat down
& read through the documents & have to say "WOW!" Take the time to
read these eye-opening documents – especially the FAQ (Frequently Asked
Questions). What a powerful set of guidelines for students, parents, &
TVIs!</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt"></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt">The bar of
expectations set forth by the US Departments of Justice & Education
has been set surprisingly high! I would love to know whose input went into
composing the guidelines - for it looks like they did a Great
Job!</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt"></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt">The FAQ is a
MUST Read - The statements of what is expected of school districts &
universities & the examples they use are very clear.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt"></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt">I have attached
PDFs of the 2 letters & of the FAQ & took the liberty of
highlighting some points & examples (the links are at the end of this
if you want clean copies).</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt"></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt">In summary, the
FAQ makes the following points:</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt"></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt">Point #1: The
FAQ makes the point the Dear Colleague Letters do not impose new legal
obligations, but rather reflect long-standing law as it applies to new
technologies.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt"></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt">2. Does the DCL
apply in the context of students with other disabilities that affect the
ability to use printed materials?</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt">Electronic Book
Reader vs. Audiobook Example: The school is replacing the history
textbooks with electronic book readers as the principal means of conveying
curriculum content, including all homework assignments. In this example,
the electronic book readers provide greater functionality than audiobooks
provide, with the result that an audiobook would not afford the benefits
of the educational program in an equally effective and equally integrated
manner. For this reason the school may not continue to rely on audiobooks
to provide equal access to the curriculum. (Presumably this would apply to
embossed books as well – ie: an embossed textbook or even electronic file
of a textbook is not the same as an electronic book reader
file.)</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt"></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt">3. Does the DCL
mean that schools cannot use emerging technology?</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt">Answer: No. On
the contrary, the Department encourages schools to employ innovative
learning tools. The purpose of the DCL is to remind everyone that equal
access for students with disabilities is the law and must be considered as
new technology is integrated into the educational
environment.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt"></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt">4. Does the DCL
apply to elementary and secondary schools?</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt">Answer:
Yes.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt"></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt">5. Does the DCL
apply to all school operations and all faculty and staff?</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt">Answer: Yes -
all faculty and staff must comply with these requirements.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt">The law applies
to all faculty and staff - So, for example, if an adjunct faculty member
denies a student who is blind an equal opportunity to participate in a
course by assigning inaccessible course content, the school can be held
legally responsible for the faculty member's actions. Therefore, schools
should provide, and faculty and staff should participate in, professional
development about accessibility and emerging technology, and about the
role of faculty and staff in helping the school to comply with disability
discrimination laws.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt"></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt">6. Does the DCL
apply beyond electronic book readers to other forms of emerging
technology?</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt">Answer: Yes -
whether in a “brick and mortar,” online, or other “virtual” context - must
be operated in a manner that complies with Federal disability
discrimination laws.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt"></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt">7. Does the DCL
apply to … online content, such as online …. class
assignments…?</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt">Answer:
Yes</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt"></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt">8. Does the DCL
apply to pilot programs … ?</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt">Answer:
Yes</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt"></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt">9. Does the DCL
apply when planning to use an emerging technology in a class or school
where no students with visual impairments are currently
enrolled?</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt">Answer: Yes -
the legal obligations described in the DCL always apply. Just as a school
system would not design a new school without addressing physical
accessibility, the implementation of an emerging technology should always
include planning for accessibility.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt"></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt">10. What
questions should a school ask in determining whether emerging technology
is accessible, or can be made accessible, to students with
disabilities?</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt">Answer: Schools
should begin by considering accessibility issues up front, when they are
deciding whether to create or acquire emerging technology and when they
are planning how the technology will be used. To that end, schools should
include accessibility requirements and analyses as part of their
acquisition procedures.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt"></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt">Example: A
school intends to establish a Web mail system so that students can:
communicate with each other and with faculty and staff; receive important
messages from the school (e.g., a message about a health or safety
concern); and communicate with individuals outside the school. The school
must ensure that the educational benefits, services, and opportunities
provided to students through a Web mail system are provided in an equally
effective and equally integrated manner. Before deciding what system to
purchase, the school should make an initial inquiry into whether the
system is accessible to students who are blind or have low vision, e.g.,
whether the system is compatible with screen readers and whether it gives
users the option of using large fonts.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt"></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt">11. The DCL
states that where accessible technology is not available, a school can
comply with Section 504 and the ADA if it provides students with
disabilities “accommodations or modifications that permit them to receive
all the educational benefits provided by the technology in an equally
effective and equally integrated manner.”</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt"></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt">Example: A high
school teacher creates an online course that includes instruction, posting
of assignments and other course content, and a forum where students can
discuss their course work with the teacher and each other. The teacher
would like to incorporate video clips into the course, but is unable to
obtain the video clips with audio </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,255); LETTER-SPACING: -1px">descriptions.
As a modification, the teacher creates separate audio descriptions for
each video clip that narrate what is taking place in the video, and places
them in a separate section of the online course. The online course
includes links that enable persons who use screen readers to bypass the
video clips completely and instead listen to the audio descriptions. Here,
the use of detailed audio descriptions that are a part of the online
course would provide students with disabilities access to the same
opportunities and benefits in an equally effective and equally integrated
manner.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt"></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt">In
short:</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt"><SPAN>1.<SPAN> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt">Each teacher's
webpage, the assignments they post, & websites (including all video
materials) they suggest or require have to all be accessible.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt"><SPAN>2.<SPAN> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt">Calendar –
assignment – grade posting programs that schools/districts use, such as
Edline,<SPAN> </SPAN>Grade Book Wizard, and others need to be
fully accessible.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt"><SPAN>3.<SPAN> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt">If a teacher
refers students to textbook publisher websites the web-based materials
such as quizzes, study guides, and videos have to be fully
accessible.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt"></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt">The bar has
appropriately been set high by the US Dept of Justice & the US Dept of
Education.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt">I wonder how
many, if any, districts are truly in compliance with these
guidelines?</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt">What are VI
programs doing to ensure that district personal (superintendents,
principals, classroom teachers) are aware of the
requirements?</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt">I'd love to
hear VI teacher input & VI program administrator on this
topic.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt">Respectfully,</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt">Eric
V</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt">-----</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt"><SPAN>1.<SPAN> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt">June 29, 2010
US Department of Education Dear Colleague letter: <A
title=http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-20100629.html
href="http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-20100629.html"
target=_blank
rel=nofollow>www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-20100629.html</A>.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt"><SPAN>2.<SPAN> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt">Guidelines in
the form of Frequently Asked Questions: <A
title=http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/dcl-ebook-faq-201105.html
href="http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/dcl-ebook-faq-201105.html"
target=_blank
rel=nofollow>www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/dcl-ebook-faq-201105.html</A>.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt"><SPAN>3.<SPAN> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt">May 26, 2011
second US DOE Dear Colleague letter stating that the same legal
obligations apply to elementary and secondary schools:</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; LETTER-SPACING: -1pt"><A
title=http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-201105-ese.html
href="http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-201105-ese.html"
target=_blank
rel=nofollow>www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-201105-ese.html</A></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><SPAN
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