[Promotion-technology] Please take a moment to tell NSF and the Dept. of Ed. about the need for accessible mathematics

[David Andrews]

>
>[Apologies in advance for sending this out to multiple lists]
>
>There's a relatively painless way you can comment to the National 
>Science Foundation and the Department of Education about the need 
>for accessibility to mathematics in education. But be forewarned 
>that the deadline is July 1 (this Sunday), so be sure to submit 
>something this week.
>
>There's a very brief survey which the NSF and Dept. of Ed. are 
>asking people to fill out concerning a new jointly-funded K-16 
>Mathematics Education Initiative. I think it is important that the 
>feds hear about the issues students with disabilities face when 
>learning mathematics, and in particular the problems created by 
>inaccessible mathematics instructional content and assessments.
>
>There's only two items they ask for:
>(1) Explain the priority issue, challenge, or opportunity; provide a 
>brief rationale for its importance; and comment on the implications 
>it has for the teaching and learning of mathematics at the K-16 level.
>(2) Provide the evidence or research base that supports the priority 
>issue, challenge, or opportunity you have identified, including 
>references, if appropriate.
>
>Here's a direct link to the survey: 
>http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/k_16_initiative
>
>Here's a link to the Dear Colleague letter giving more background on 
>the initiative: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2012/nsf12080/nsf12080.jsp
>
>Finally, if you would like a few references for items to support the 
>need for accessible mathematics, you could take a look at this page:
>http://metrc.uoregon.edu/index.php/related-questions/122-how-can-mathematical-text-be-made-accessible-to-students-with-print-disabilities.html
>
>Even if you only have a few minutes to submit a couple of sentences, 
>that would be better than silence. Perhaps if the feds hear from 
>enough people they may set aside some of the $60 million they 
>mention to working on the problem.
>
>Best regards,
>
>--Steve Noble
>steve.noble at louisville.edu
>502-969-3088