[Athen] EASI Plans for 2008-09

[Prof Norm Coombs]

         EASI Plans for 2008-09

First, I want to thank you all for your encouragements for EASI to 
continue.  Yes we owe it to Dick Banks legacy.  Below are a list of 
Webinars. . . some single events and

some 4-part paid series.  Several of the items are things currently being 
planned.  I am also grateful for some other ideas you folk have sent in 
during the last few days.  I

also appreciate all the offers of help.  Planning and organizing takes 
time, but before September I will have a rather full schedule of events for 
the remainder of 2008 and

have some information on other activities I will be considering.  Frankly, 
I am still trying to clean up a number of loose ends so that I can start to 
plan the future with a clean

plate.

Your support attending the public Webinars, registering for the 4-part 
Webinar Series and your taking some of the online classes are crucial to 
our survival.  You are our

sole source of support.

Note the Webinar this Wednesday.  You can access it at 2 PM Eastern from 
http://easi.cc/entrance.htm

I promise you that we will have a full schedule in place by September.

For many of you, your memberships are coming near an end.  I'll send you 
individual reminders hopefully this week, and I hope you realize how much 
you are helping

others besides getting a useful service for yourself.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Here is the skeleton of what is  on the Webinar page.  You can get a fuller 
description at:
http://easi.cc/clinic.htm


Webinar Snapshot: AMIS a Free Software DAISY Player
Wed. July 23 at 2 PM EASTERN
Presenter: Norm Coombs

August

Free Webinar on the Word-to-DAISY Add-in
Thursday August 7 at 2 PM Eastern
Presenter: George Kerscher from the DAISY Consortium

Understanding the New Look of Office 2007
Presenter Joel Isaac
This will be on a Saturday in mid to late August

September
Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) Version 2 Guidelines
September 11 at 2 PM Eastern Presenters: WAI staff and consultants

Attend a Virtual Conference on Accessible Distance Education
EASI Paid Series of 4 live Webinars Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30 at 2 PM
Presenter Norman Coombs, Ph.D. and EASI CEO
Week 1 Sept. 9:  Overview of distance learning accessibility
Week 2 Sept. 16: Accessible distance learning is a three-legged stool
Week 3 Sept. 23: Designing simple, accessible content for distance education
Week 4 Sept. 30: More complex content: multimedia, science, math and graphics

Topics actively under final planning for Webinar 4-part Series
   Tips on Buying Accessible Hardware and Software (Making Informed Decisions)
   This will include tips on how to select the appropriate software for a 
person
   and how to make use of the VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template)

   Using Web 2.0 to Enhance Web Accessibility
   While the expanding interactive uses of the web have changed the 
environment
   so much that some have taken to calling it "Web 2.0". Many of these
   interactive features put up new accessibility, many of these features 
can be
   used to improve accessibility. For one thing, it makes it possible for a 
Web
   page to query the application accessing it and then adjust the display for
   maximum usability for that person.

   Update on Advances in Math and Science Accessibility
   Higher math and electronic scientific texts have been problems, but 
there have
   many people and several NSF grants working to change that. Recently this 
work
   has been bearing fruit. This series will explain the problems, the 
solutions
   and demonstrate the "how to" of using these solutions in education.

   Learning Disabilities and Adaptive Technology
   Part 1 Learning Disabilities - Adolescents and Adults
   Part 2: K-12 through Transition: One Size Does Not Fit All
   Part 3: LD and AT in Post-secondary Education
   Part 4: The Matrix: Incorporating Universal Design for Learning in a
   Post-secondary setting for Students with Learning Disabilities


We are looking for ideas for Webinars and we also would love to have 
volunteers
to be presenters. We will provide a free annual Webinar membership to any such
volunteer.



  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Norman Coombs norm.coombs at gmail.com
CEO EASI Equal Access to Software and Information
phone (949) 855-4852 (NOTE pacific time zone)
****READ ABOUT THE DICK BANKS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP:
http://easi.cc/scholarship.htm