Transcript What is Equal Access

EASI
Equal Access to Software and
Information
Students and professionals
with disabilities must have the
same access to information
and resources as everyone else
EASI
www.rit.edu/~easi
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Norman Coombs CEO
[email protected]
Richard Banks CIO
[email protected]
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Presentation Outline
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The power of IT for people with disabilities
Survey of relevant legislation
How do people with disabilities access IT?
Impact of e-learning on people with
disabilities
E-learning problems and solutions
Designing web pages for accessibility
WAI guidelines and 508 standards
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Fifteen Plus Years
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What’s a historian want with a
computer?
Communication tool
Compensatory device
Teaching is communication
Computers don’t have to be
impersonal
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Why Adapt for
Disabilities?
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It’s the right thing to do
It makes economic sense
It’s the law
Do it for yourself
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It’s the Law
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Rehabilitation Act sections 504
and 508
Americans With Disabilities Act
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It’s the Law
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Equal education based in VR
504 and IDEA
Rights to effective, timely,
equivalent communication
based in ADA
Procurement standards based
in VR508
Does Sec. 508 apply to you?
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Who Has A Disability?
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Functional definition of
disability
A disability is a mismatch
between the person and the
interface
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Alternate Input Devices
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Onscreen keyboard
Eye gaze and switches
Alternate mouses
Voice recognition
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Alternate Output Devices
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Screen magnification with or
without speech synthesis
Screen reader with speech
synthesis
Screen reader with refreshable
Braille display
Braille embosser
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