Information Technology Accessibility and Training of the Blind/VI Student Arnold Bailey arnoldbail@blind411.org http://www.blind411.org/ITinit/

Arnold Bailey

arnoldbail@blind411.org

http://www.blind411.org/ITinit/

Blind/VI in the Workplace “ Seven of ten of the blind and visually impaired persons are not employed". Blind and visually impaired students need to be competitive for job and career opportunities. Thirty years ago 70% of the jobs were manufacturing and 30% were Information and Services. Today, it is the reverse.

“ Seven of ten of the blind and visually impaired persons are not employed".

Blind and visually impaired students need to be competitive for job and career opportunities.

Thirty years ago 70% of the jobs were manufacturing and 30% were Information and Services. Today, it is the reverse.

“ Competitive” IT Workplace Skills Internet communications tools (i.e., Email, Mailing Lists, Conferencing). Internet research using search engines and online information retrieval Word processors and spreadsheets and keyboard typing training. Work collaboration experience Use of the latest assistive technology

Internet communications tools (i.e., Email, Mailing Lists, Conferencing).

Internet research using search engines and online information retrieval

Word processors and spreadsheets and keyboard typing training.

Work collaboration experience

Use of the latest assistive technology

IT is Important in K-12 Education Access to information Work sharing Communicating with peers, teachers, and mentors Take advantage of distance learning options

Access to information

Work sharing

Communicating with peers, teachers, and mentors

Take advantage of distance learning options

“ It is unlikely that electronic resources in educational institutions, libraries, and other organizations will be accessible to students and employees with disabilities without the establishment of specific policies and/or procedures.”

District Accessibility Policy An accessibility policy/guideline document states that the district will conform to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Section 508 Access Standards.

District Self Assessment Checklist A systematic process that compares accessibility practices versus goals. Performed yearly, throughout the district and rolled up to the district level. Action plans are developed address improvement. A set of questions that

A systematic process that compares accessibility practices versus goals.

Performed yearly, throughout the district and rolled up to the district level.

Action plans are developed address improvement.

A set of questions that

Sample Checklist Question 1. Computer labs and technology‐equipped classrooms are physically accessible to wheelchair users. 0-N/A 1-Not started 2-Started 3-Half complete 4-Mostly complete 5-Complete Comments

Sample Checklist Categories Physical Access (1-3) Computer Hardware and Software (4-7) Websites(8-9) Multimedia (10-15) Telecommunications Products (16-18) Self-Contained, Closed Products (19-21) Information Resources (22-24) Policies and Procedures (25-31) Support and Training (32-33) Assistive Technology and Individual Accommodations (34-38)

Physical Access (1-3)

Computer Hardware and Software (4-7)

Websites(8-9)

Multimedia (10-15)

Telecommunications Products (16-18)

Self-Contained, Closed Products (19-21)

Information Resources (22-24)

Policies and Procedures (25-31)

Support and Training (32-33)

Assistive Technology and Individual Accommodations (34-38)

Distance Learning/Conferencing Distance and instructor availability is a major concern because of distance and scheduling considerations Course availability is limited because of increases the cost of the course. Exceptional students are most susceptible to these issues because typically they are few and widely dispersed.

Distance and instructor availability is a major concern because of distance and scheduling considerations

Course availability is limited because of increases the cost of the course.

Exceptional students are most susceptible to these issues because typically they are few and widely dispersed.

“Introduction to IT” Training Create an Introduction to Information Technology program for Exceptional Students outlined in the slide “ “Competitive” IT Workplace Skills ”

“Accessible Web Design” Training “ Accessible Web Design” as part of the Introduction to Web Design curriculum. Accessibility as an integral part of web design Accessible design is becoming a key skill requirement of employers.

“ Accessible Web Design” as part of the Introduction to Web Design curriculum.

Accessibility as an integral part of web design

Accessible design is becoming a key skill requirement of employers.

The Time is Now! Educational entities are implementing information technology (IT) practices and procedures. Continued compliance is required. Distance Learning is widely being planned. The IT tools are available to enable students to be competitive for college or the workplace.

Educational entities are implementing information technology (IT) practices and procedures.

Continued compliance is required.

Distance Learning is widely being planned.

The IT tools are available to enable students to be competitive for college or the workplace.

Questions of the School District Is there a plan or program to ensure that blind/vi students are trained to be competitive in the use of today's Information Technology? Is there a plan or procedure that ensures that all information technology tools used by the student are accessible? Is accessibility training part of the districts Web Development courses?

Is there a plan or program to ensure that blind/vi students are trained to be competitive in the use of today's Information Technology?

Is there a plan or procedure that ensures that all information technology tools used by the student are accessible?

Is accessibility training part of the districts Web Development courses?

Accessibility Action Plan Have an accessibility policy/guideline document and checklist against Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Section 508 Access Standards. Include accessible web design and website maintenance in the Introduction to Web Development curriculum.

Have an accessibility policy/guideline document and checklist against Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Section 508 Access Standards.

Include accessible web design and website maintenance in the Introduction to Web Development curriculum.

Accessibility Action Plan Create an Introduction to Information Technology program for the blind/vi students As part of the policy, address the assurance that blind/vi students have equivalent availability of hardware and software. Investigate the use of “conferencing”/Distance Learning for group instruction of blind/vi students via the Internet/internal network.

Create an Introduction to Information Technology program for the blind/vi students

As part of the policy, address the assurance that blind/vi students have equivalent availability of hardware and software.

Investigate the use of “conferencing”/Distance Learning for group instruction of blind/vi students via the Internet/internal network.

References AccessIT.com http://www.washington.edu/accessit/ DO-IT Publications: Information Technology http://www.washington.edu/doit/Brochures/Technology/

AccessIT.com http://www.washington.edu/accessit/

DO-IT Publications: Information Technology http://www.washington.edu/doit/Brochures/Technology/