Accessibility and the Classroom
Nazely Kurkjian
State University of New York at Binghamton
SWD in Higher Education
11% of students in postsecondary
institutions have self-identified as having
a disability.
U. S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics
(2015) https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=60
Accessibility: A Growing
Concern
● The way that colleges and universities deliver
content is changing.
● Students are driving demand for more dynamic
content.
● eLearning is presenting new barriers to access for
students with disabilities.
● Our technology environments are part of our
“place of public accommodation.”
Andrew Cioffi - Assistant Director, Office of Disability Services, Suffolk University
How SWD Access Digital Realm
Assistive Technology
- Screen reader (text-to-speech & navigation)
- Assistive listening units
Alternative formats
- Readable, navigable electronic formats
Alternate methods
- Captioning
- Audio descriptions
Andrew Cioffi - Assistant Director, Office of Disability Services, Suffolk University
http://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and-standards/communications-and-it/about-thesection-508-standards/section-508-standards
Some Quick Numbers
● In 2013, nearly half (46%) of college
students took at least 1 online course.
● By 2019, half of all college classes will be
e-Learning based.
http://elearningindustry.com/top-10-e-learning-statistics-for-2014-you-needto-know
Learning Space Access
1.
2.
3.
4.
Is the environment accessible?
Is the AT compatible with the IT?
Does the user have the skills?
Have options been identified?
Ron Stewart, Association on Higher Education and Disability
Considerations
Classroom technologies
- Podium / Equipment Rack
- Display equipment
- Clickers
- Hearing/Induction Loop Systems
- Assistive Listening Devices
Learning Management System
Video Stream/Classroom Capture Technologies
Websites
Captioning
http://www.washington.edu/accessibility/requirements/legal-cases-by-issue/
2010 ADA Standards
http://www.ada.gov/regs2010/2010ADAStandards/2010ADAstandards.htm
Induction Loop Systems
Challenges
● Procuring Technologies
○ Develop guidelines for procuring
equipment, software, etc.
○ Ask vendors for VPAT (Voluntary
Product Accessibility Template).
● “System Synergy” - Making sure all
technical systems work together fluidly.
● Costs
Technology Can Be the
Barrier or the Solution
“Emerging technologies are an educational resource … especially
for students with disabilities. Technological innovations have
opened a virtual world …. to many individuals with disabilities for
whom access to the physical world remains challenging. Ensuring
equal access to emerging technology … is a means to the goal of
full integration and equal educational opportunity for this nation’s
students with disabilities. ….”
The Kindle Letter (6/29/10)
http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-20100629.html
Paul Grossman, Professor of Disability Law, Hastings College of Law, University of California
Disclaimer
These materials are provided for informational
purposes only and are not to be construed as
legal advice. You should seek independent or
house counsel to resolve the individualized
legal issues that you are responsible for
addressing. Further, any policy or procedure
additions or revisions should be reviewed by
your college’s legal counsel prior to
implementation.
Legal Landscape
● Rehabilitation Act of 1973
○ Section 504
○ Section 508
● Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
○ Title II
○ Title III
● NYS IT Accessibility Policy
According to DOJ, the ADA covers websites and the Web Content
Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 AA are the appropriate standard
for both web and mobile.
http://lflegal.com/2015/03/legal-update-csun15/
SUNY’s Responsibilities
★ Federal Laws
- Institutional
responsibility
★ NYS IT Accessibility
Policy
- Specifically
mentions SUNY
- http://www.its.ny.go
v/policy/2010FAQAc
cessibilityComplianc
eReportForm.pdf
★ SUNY FACT2 Online
Accessibility Task
Force
- Section 508
Compliance
- http://commons.suny.
edu/fact2onlineacces
sibility/
University of Montana
● OCR response to OCR complaint (2014)
○ Alternate format materials
○ Learning Management System
○ Captions
○ Website
○ Personal Response Systems
● Two broad definitions:
○ Coverage: “electronic and information
technology”
○ Duty: “equal access”
Paul Grossman, Professor of Disability Law, Hastings College of Law,
University of California
Definitions: Electronic &
Information Technology
“
•The internet and intranet websites content
•Electronic books and electronic book reading systems
•Search engines and databases
•Learning management systems
•Classroom technology and multimedia
•Personal response systems (“clickers”)
•Telecommunications products (such as telephones)
•Information kiosks, Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) transaction
machines
•Technology support services and related resources
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights Resolution Agreement at University of Montana (2014)
Definitions: Accessible
“
“Accessible” means that individuals with
disabilities are able to independently acquire
the same information, engage in the same
interactions, and enjoy the same services
within the same timeframe as individuals
without disabilities, with substantially
equivalent ease of use.”
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights Resolution Agreement at
University of Montana (2014)
Remedial Actions
Accessibility audit
Meet accessibility standards of
◇ WCAG 2.0 Level AA
“
◇ Section 508
◇ ADA
EIT Accessibility Policy
Hire or designate staff member with responsibility and
commensurate authority to coordinate the University’s EI&T
Accessibility Policy and Procedures
EIT Accessibility Training
Grievance procedure
Confidential survey of students with DSS
Lessons from Lawsuits
◇ University of California at Berkeley - Alternate
format materials
◇ MIT/Harvard - Webcast captions
◇ Miami University - Websites, Alternate format
materials, eLearning platforms, Personal
Response Systems, Closed Captioning
Ways to Be Proactive
Cooperative Oversight
- Create partnerships with key players on your
campus.
- Join/Create a committee to oversee the provision of
access to members of campus community.
- Join list-servs.
- Keep up-to-date with disability rights legislation.
- Cost-share accessibility.
Accessibility is an ongoing process
Bottom Line/Takeaways
◇ If a student enrolls with DS, you have to provide
equitable access.
◇ Many schools are both proactive and reactive.
◇ You can be reactive, but if you haven’t planned
ahead, you have to quickly be able to provide
meaningful, timely, and equal access.
◇ We should do everything that is feasible to make
programs and services accessible out of the box and
be able to quickly address items, functions, and
activities that aren’t.
Have a plan!!!
Questions,
Comments,
Discussion
Resources
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SUNY Fact2 Online Accessibility Task Group:
http://commons.suny.edu/fact2onlineaccessibility/
Section 508 Standards: http://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-andstandards/communications-and-it/about-the-section-508-standards/section-508-standards
508 Accessibility CheckList: http://www.hhs.gov/web/508/accessiblefiles/checklists.html
New York State Information Technology Policy:
http://www.its.ny.gov/policy/2010FAQAccessibilityComplianceReportForm.pdf
WCAG 2.0: http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20/
2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design:
http://www.ada.gov/regs2010/2010ADAStandards/2010ADAstandards.htm
ADA Update - A Primer for State and Local Governments:
http://www.ada.gov/regs2010/titleII_2010/title_ii_primer.html
Higher Ed Accessibility Lawsuits, Complaints, and Settlements:
http://www.d.umn.edu/~lcarlson/atteam/lawsuits.html
University of Washington - Legal Cases by Issue:
http://www.washington.edu/accessibility/requirements/legal-cases-by-issue/
"Shame on us... If we let the wonders of educational technology and broadband internet lead to more inequality
as opposed to less"
Survey
http://www.cvent.com/d/xrqsxp