[29] in Software Accessibility Project email archive
Online workshop on accessible info. technology
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Kathleen Cahill)
Thu Jan 18 09:16:21 2001
Message-Id: <200101181416.JAA21848@melbourne-city-street.MIT.EDU>
Date: Thu, 18 Jan 2001 09:19:27 -0500
To: swenzel@MIT.EDU, ninadm@MIT.EDU, kajosalo@MIT.EDU, davidcj@MIT.EDU,
carlj@MIT.EDU
From: Kathleen Cahill <kcahill@MIT.EDU>
Cc: web-access@MIT.EDU, sw-access@MIT.EDU, barbarar@MIT.EDU, donaghey@MIT.EDU
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
This online workshop sounds like it could be very useful for those who serve
students or staff with disabilities, or who are involved in accessibility
efforts at their institution. I would encourage you all to consider taking
this course, since accessibility is no longer just the concern of disabilities
services or adaptive tech. labs any longer.
The course periodically repeats. For more information, see
http://www.rit.edu/~easi.
Kathy
>Date: Wed, 17 Jan 2001 06:45:26 -0800
>Reply-To: AT in Postsecondary Ed <ADTECH-PS@BOBO.NWS.ORST.EDU>
>Sender: AT in Postsecondary Ed <ADTECH-PS@BOBO.NWS.ORST.EDU>
>From: Prof Norm Coombs <nrcgsh@RITVAX.ISC.RIT.EDU>
>Subject: Workshop includes 508 impact on campus
>Comments: To: easi@maelstrom.stjohns.edu, axslib-l@maelstrom.stjohns.edu,
> dsshe-l@ubvm.cc.buffalo.edu, symondda@MORRISVILLE.EDU
>To: Multiple recipients of list ADTECH-PS
> <ADTECH-PS@BOBO.NWS.ORST.EDU>
>
>EASI's online workshop on how to make a barrier-free information technology
>campus starting February will include discussion about the new 508
>regulations. The workshop is expanded to also include a new instructor,
>Joe Lazzaro, an adaptive technology specialist for the state of Mass.
>Information is at http://www.rit.edu/~easi/workshop.htm
>
>The workshop has been taken by thousands of people from more than three
>dozen countries. Here is the syllabus:
>
>
>Workshop on Adapting Computers and information technology for Persons With
>Disabilities
>
>Workshop description:
>
>This is a four-week online workshop providing an overview to the topic of
>adaptive computing technology and is ideal for administrators, teachers,
>librarians, computer support staff, ADA compliance officers and service
>providers. The workshop is delivered using e-mail and multimedia materials on
>the web. Multimedia presentations both enriches the content and makes it more
>accessible to participants with different learning styes and different
>disabilities. The workshop is designed to encourage and facilitate
>interactions
>between instructors and participants.
>Computer and education technology is rapidly becoming integral to most
>courses.
>On one hand, this holds the promise of enhanced independence for students
>with
>disabilities. On the other hand, depending on the design of the particular
>applications being used, it threatens to create needless barriers for such
>students possibly even preventing them from succeeding in college.
>Today's distributed computer environment means that providing support for the
>technology needs of students with disabilities is an institution-wide
>responsibility. It requires extensive planning and cooperation across several
>departments. "If it takes a village to raise a child, then, it takes the
>entire
>campus to support the adaptive technology needs of students with
>disabilities.
>It is no longer the sole province of the computer. It cannot be religated
>to the
>disabled student office either. Seemless service requires campus-wide
>cooperation. This course is designed to provide the broad knowledge of
>technology, the law and of student technological and pedigogical needs to
>facilitate such institutional planning.
>The workshop will be delivered by an e-mail listserv. It will also require
>the
>use of materials on the web. Our goal is to help participants discover
>internet
>resources that will let them remain current with the rapidly changing
>technologies.
>
>Three continuing education units are available from the Rochester Institute
>of
>Technology on request.
>instructors:
>Richard Banks
>EASI's electronic resource manager
>Norman Coombs, Ph.D.
>EASI chair
>Joe Lazzaro, Adaptive Technology Specialist
>Workshop lessons:
>Lesson 1: Introductions and definitions
>This will include: introductions by instructors and participants;
>introduction
>to the workshop; and basic definitions
>Lesson 2: Four reasons to provide barrier-free educational technology
>This will include: it's the right thing to do; it makes economic sense;
>it's the
>law; and participants should do it for themselves
>Lesson 3: computer input problems and solutions
>This will include: explanation of which disability groups have problems with
>keyboard and/or mouse input systems; alternative keyboard systems;
>alternative
>mouse systems; voice recognition
>Lesson 4: Computer output problems and solutions
>This will include: text-to-speach synthesizers reading text on the monitor;
>screen magnification systems; refreshable braille, braille embossers
>Lesson 5: Compensatory Strategies
>This will include: how users with disabilities use computer technology to
>compensate for their disability; ; how to use the adapted computer as an
>interface to scientific and math equipment;
>Lesson 6: Access to physical facilities and staff training
>This will include: designing a computer lab to accommodate users with
>different
>disabilities; the importance of both sensitivity and technical training for
>staff
>Lesson 7: Access to educational information
>This will include: how to provide lab manuals and materials in alternative
>formats; how to provide class materials in alternative formats; how to
>prepare
>institute materials in alternate formats;
>Lesson 8: Planning for an Accessible Campus or Institution
>
>
>
>EASI (Equal Access to Software and Information) is a non-profit organization,
>part of the Teaching, Learning and Technology Group and affiliated with the
>American Association for Higher Education. Our mission is to help make
>information technologies more accessible to users with disabilities.
>
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Kathy Cahill
MIT Adaptive Technology (ATIC) lab
77 Mass. Ave. 11-103
Cambridge MA 02139
(617) 253-5111
kcahill@mit.edu
