From gdietrich at htctu.net Tue Jan 4 20:02:57 2011 From: gdietrich at htctu.net (Gaeir Dietrich) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:14 2018 Subject: [Athen] AIM Commission Teleconference on January 7 open to public Message-ID: <03097C0E15BE43F7AA2B8EBC2A884D9F@htctu.fhda.edu> Advisory Commission on Accessible Instructional Materials in Postsecondary Education for Students with Disabilities: Notice of Teleconference On January 7, 2011, the members of the Advisory Commission on Accessible Instructional Materials in Postsecondary Education for Students with Disabilities (AIM Commission) will participate in a full Commission teleconference. The teleconference will focus primarily on the legal and technological findings of the Commission to date. Established by the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008, the AIM Commission has brought together government leaders, representatives from the publishing industry, individuals with print disabilities, representatives from two- and four-year institutions of higher education and leaders in accessible technology. The AIM Commission is charged with studying the current state of accessible materials for students with disabilities in postsecondary education and making recommendations to the U.S. Congress for improving access to and the distribution of instructional materials in accessible formats. For more information about the AIM Commission, please visit its Web site at http://www2.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/aim/index.html. Dial in: (800) 860-2442 Date of Call: January 7, 2011 Time of Call: 11:00 AM-5:00 PM Eastern This teleconference is open to the public and is open press. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Vasquez at sbcc.edu Thu Jan 6 10:17:38 2011 From: Vasquez at sbcc.edu (Laurie Vasquez) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:14 2018 Subject: [Athen] Important Civil Rights Victory for Test Takers with Disabilities Message-ID: <4D2596C1.1869.00F8.0@sbcc.edu> FYI Today is a landmark victory on behalf of a blind law school graduate against the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE), the administrator of a test virtually every law school graduate must take before getting a law license. NCBE refused to allow Stephanie Enyart, a blind 2009 UCLA Law School graduate, to use screen-reading computer software to take the "multistate" portion of the California bar exam. After she filed suit, a federal court in San Francisco issued an injunction in Stephanie's favor, and NCBE appealed. In a groundbreaking opinion issued Tuesday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, which hears federal appeals from much of the western United States, upheld Stephanie's right under the Americans with Disabilities Act to use the assistive software. The ruling is significant not only for blind law school graduates, but for every test-taker with a disability who needs accommodations on a test. For additional information on the opinion, please go to http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2011/01/04/10-15286.pdf From norm.coombs at gmail.com Thu Jan 6 15:08:45 2011 From: norm.coombs at gmail.com (Prof Norm Coombs) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:14 2018 Subject: [Athen] Important changes to EASI Webinar Jan. Schedule Message-ID: <6.0.3.0.2.20110106150510.051e2050@pop.gmail.com> EASI has made 3 changes to its Webinars scheduled in this month! 1 The 2-part Flash series is now a single Webinar. It is on Jan. 18, the date of the scheduled part 2 in the series. Part 1 from Jan. 11 is cancelled. 2 The Webinar on OneNote is changed from Jan. 10 to Jan. 19 3 the 4-part fee-based series starts a week later than planned and will be on Feb. 1, 8, 15 and 22 Norm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Once you choose hope, anything's possible. Christopher Reeve Norman Coombs norm.coombs@gmail.com Making Online Teaching Accessible: Inclusive Course Design for Students with Disabilities by Norman Coombs published by Jossey-Bass Oct 10,2010 http://www.josseybass.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0470499044.html From kmancuso at gmail.com Thu Jan 6 21:06:20 2011 From: kmancuso at gmail.com (Katherine Mancuso) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:14 2018 Subject: [Athen] this online class in audio description may interest some Message-ID: Date: Thu, 6 Jan 2011 08:53:03 -0500 From: Marie Cooper Subject: FW: Audio Description: free online course I'm passing this on for your interest. It comes from the accessibleimage li= stserv. Marie Stevens Cooper, M.S., CRC Director, disAbility Services Bucks County Community College Student Services Center 275 Swamp Rd. Newtown, PA 18940 215-968-8463 215-968-8033 fax cooperm@bucks.edu From: accessibleimage-bounce@freelists.org [mailto:accessibleimage-bounce@f= reelists.org] On Behalf Of Lisa Yayla Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2011 3:58 AM To: 'accessibleimage@freelists.org'; 'Art Beyond Sight Learning Tools'; 'Ac= cess to Art Museums'; 'Art Beyond Sight Advocacy'; 'Art Beyond Sight Theory= and Research'; 'Art Beyond Sight Educators List'; Alternate Media Subject: [accessibleimage] Audio Description: free online course Audio Description: The Visual Made Verbal - ON-LINE! And FREE! Note: While this option should not be construed as a substitute for a face= -to-face training, it may be helpful for some people. Audio Description is a literary art form. It's a type of poetry--a haiku. = It provides a verbal version of the visual--the visual is made verbal, and= aural, and oral. Using words that are succinct, vivid, and imaginative, describers convey th= e visual image from television and film that is not fully accessible to a s= ignificant segment of the population * and not fully realized by the rest o= f us--the rest of us, sighted folks who see but who may not observe. Audio= describers provide services in various multi-media settings, including the= ater, television, video, film, exhibits, museums, and educational venues--b= ut also at circuses, rodeos, ice skating exhibitions and myriad sports even= ts. * The American Foundation for the Blind now estimates that over 25 million = Americans are blind or have trouble seeing even with correction. For broadcast television, on film and videotape and on DVDs, AD enhances th= e regular program audio, precisely timed to occur only during the lapses be= tween dialogue. Until June of this 2009, description was accessed on telev= ised programs in the United States via a Secondary Audio Program channel; n= ow description audio is one of several additional audio tracks available di= gitally. This course is particularly timely: President Obama recently signed into la= w a mandate for description on broadcast television beginning late in 2011.= Thus, the need for professionally trained describers will increase dramat= ically throughout 2011. The sessions will introduce participants to the principles of description, = how to produce quality description, and the importance of close communicati= on with the "end users"-people who are blind or have low vision and all peo= ple who support this innovative use of technology to provide greater media = access. - go to: www.fracturedatlas.org - click on Program & Services - in the drop-down menu, click on ON-Line Courses. Before you go further, you'll need to click on "Become A Member" at the top= of the screen. Enter an email address and choose "community"-that's the f= ree option. You should then be eligible to take the course. Once you're a= ll signed up/signed in, you can simply click on Fractured U. and choose Cou= rses at the top. The course is listed about half-way down: Audio Descript= ion: The Visual Made Verbal. The course was developed and is monitored by Joel Snyder. . One of the fir= st audio describers, Snyder began describing theater events and media in 19= 81. In addition to his ongoing work in these genres (Kennedy Center, Arena= Stage, "Sesame Street," DVDs and feature films), each year he develops aud= io described tours for major museums throughout the United States including= the Smithsonian Institution, the Getty, the Albright-Knox, the National Aq= uarium, and several State museums and myriad National Park and Forest Servi= ce exhibit centers. He has introduced audio description/conducted audio description workshops = in 30 states and D.C. and over 25 countries; in summer 2008, Snyder present= ed workshops in Montpellier, Shanghai, Beijing and provided description for= the World Blind Union in Geneva. Most recently, he trained describers in = Brazil and presented papers on description in Italy at the International Co= nference on the Arts & Society and in Spain at the Universitat Autonoma de = Barcelona (where he is a Ph.D. candidate, expected 2011). www.audiodescribe.com > jsnyder@audiodescribe.com 301 920-0218 JOEL SNYDER President, Audio Description Associates, LLC "The Visual Made Verbal" (tm) ADA logo--an eye within an ear 6502 Westmoreland Avenue, Takoma Park, MD 20912 jsnyder@audiodescribe.com -- 301 920-0218 Cell: 301 452-1898 -- Fax: 408 445-0079 For more information about audio description, please visit: www.audiodescribe.com Director, Audio Description Project American Council of the Blind jsnyder@acb.org -- 202 467-5083 www.acb.org/adp ACB logo ADP logo -- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Katherine Mancuso: crusader of community art, social technology, & disability Current work: Walt Disney Imagineering & Parks and Resorts Online, Intern (work: accessibility evangelism & interactive projects) Research: Center for Assistive Technology & Environmental Access (http://www.catea.org ) Georgia Tech, Digital Media (http://dm.gatech.edu) Community: The Vesuvius Group: metaverse community builders ( http://www.thevesuviusgroup.com) Gimp Girl Community Liaison/Research Fellow (http://www.gimpgirl.com) Alternate ROOTS: arts*community*activism (http://www.alternateroots.org) Contact in the web, the metaverse, the world: http://twitter.com/musingvirtual http://muse.dreamwidth.org http://www.linkedin.com/in/kathymancuso SL: Muse Carmona ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From asuncion at alcor.concordia.ca Fri Jan 7 14:17:35 2011 From: asuncion at alcor.concordia.ca (Jennison Mark Asuncion) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:14 2018 Subject: [Athen] What is the top IT accessibility story of 2010? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <148001dd051f8c234af3559d9e0ae1e7.squirrel@webmail.concordia.ca> 112 folks voted on the top IT accessibility story of 2010. See results at http://twtpoll.com/r/tx35mt - until next year. -- Jennison Mark Asuncion Co-Director, Adaptech Research Network LinkedIn at From gdietrich at htctu.net Fri Jan 7 14:34:22 2011 From: gdietrich at htctu.net (Gaeir Dietrich) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:14 2018 Subject: [Athen] Request for stories about using alternate formats Message-ID: <3E4CAE105C3F4A75A6616FDB80E4EB9B@htctu.fhda.edu> Hi all and please forgive cross-posts. The Advisory Commission on Accessible Instructional Materials in Post-secondary Education is looking for personal stories from you and your students on the issues associated with obtaining and/or using accessible instructional materials. We would like personal stories as real-world examples help these issues come alive for those outside of our field who are not dealing with these issues all the time. If you have a story to share, please send it to Janet Gronneberg at CAST: Janet Gronneberg CAST AIM/NIMAS Center 40 Harvard Mills Square Wakefield, MA 01880 Office: 781-245-2212 Fax: 781-245-5212 jgronneberg@cast.org For more information on the work of the Commission or to join the public listserve, please see the CAST Web site: http://aim.cast.org/collaborate/p-s_commission ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Gaeir (rhymes with "fire") Dietrich High Tech Center Training Unit of the California Community Colleges De Anza College, Cupertino, CA www.htctu.net 408-996-6043 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ The HTCTU provides leadership, training, and support to the California Community Colleges in using technology to promote the success of students with disabilities. There is no success without access... -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From asuncion at alcor.concordia.ca Fri Jan 7 15:06:55 2011 From: asuncion at alcor.concordia.ca (Jennison Mark Asuncion) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:14 2018 Subject: [Athen] =?iso-8859-1?q?2011_CSUN_Conference_=96_Attendee_Registra?= =?iso-8859-1?q?tion_Opening_And_Important_Notices!=5D?= Message-ID: <8479a69e6d3643e55ed2e85d51bc30f0.squirrel@webmail.concordia.ca> Hello, Thought some folks who may not be on the CSUN Conference distribution list might find this information of interest. Jennison From: Center on Disabilities at CSUN Date: Fri, 7 Jan 2011 12:53:00 -0600 (CST) Subject: 2011 CSUN Conference ? Attendee Registration Opening And Important Notices! Hello Conference Friends, We hope you enjoyed your holiday break and are looking forward to the New Year and the 2011 CSUN Conference! We want to take this opportunity to provide you with news about attendee registration and additional announcements. We encourage you to review this so that you have the most up-to-date news on this year?s event to begin planning your conference experience. Attendee Registration Opens Monday Conference registration for attendees will open on Monday, January 10, 2011. Register early to receive your early bird discount fee! Visit the Registration Information page ( http://csunconference.org/index.cfm?EID=80000300&amp;p=378&amp;page=Text&amp;ECTID=755 ) for details about registration fees and deadlines. PLEASE NOTE: We want to advise you that there is a new process for attendee registration credit card payments. Due to a new university policy, credit card payments will be made directly through the Center on Disabilities once you have completed registering. Please follow the instructions outlined in the attendee registration procedures. Hotel Information Please be sure to check the Venue page ( http://csunconference.org/index.cfm?EID=80000300&amp;p=378&amp;page=Text&amp;ECTID=715 ) for information on room reservations at the Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel, tips about traveling and transportation to San Diego and other highlights. We apologize for any confusion regarding the temporary room block and rate issues that occurred during the winter break. This situation has now been resolved and the room block has re-opened. The Conference Room Rate is $195.00 per night ? be sure to mention ?CSUN Conference? for your hotel accommodations. Pre-Conference Workshops and General Sessions Our impressive roster of experts who will be presenting in-depth information on the latest issues and future trends in the areas of disabilities and technology has been posted on the conference web site for your convenience. The 2011 Pre-Conference Workshops are, again, impressive and informative offerings that will give you a reason to attend early and learn more at the conference. The Center on Disabilities? ATACP (Assistive Technology Applications Certificate Program) will be offered during the Pre-Conference Workshop days on Monday and Tuesday. Participants who register for both ATACP and the conference will receive a discounted fee for the training. Visit the Pre-Conference Workshops page ( http://csunconference.org/index.cfm?EID=80000300&amp;p=380&amp;page=PPVSchedule&amp;ECTID=0 ) to view the schedule of available workshops. The CSUN Conference will again be offering General Sessions that cover an even wider variety of topics that include the latest emerging technologies and information. We invite you to review the selections on the web site and ?Save a Seat? as soon as possible as seating is limited. Visit the General Sessions page ( http://csunconference.org/index.cfm?EID=80000300&amp;p=380&amp;page=Schedule&amp;ECTID=0 ) to view the schedule of available sessions. For more information about what?s happening at the 2011 Conference, visit our web-site at: www.CSUNconference.org. Please call 818-677-2578 or email us at:Conference@csun.edu if you have any questions or need more information. The CSUN Conference will take place March 14-19, 2011 and we look forward to seeing you then in San Diego! Best Regards, Sandy Plotin Managing Director Center on Disabilities 818-677-2578 Conference@csun.edu -- Jennison Mark Asuncion Co-Director, Adaptech Research Network LinkedIn at From hadi at illinois.edu Sun Jan 9 09:21:05 2011 From: hadi at illinois.edu (Rangin, Hadi Bargi) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:14 2018 Subject: [Athen] FW: webaim's screen reader survey closes Jan. 10 Message-ID: I don't remember to see this survey announcement on this list. I encourage our screen reader users to take this survey if they haven't already taken. http://webaim.org/projects/screenreadersurvey3/ Thanks, Hadi -----Original Message----- From: Equal Access to Software & Information [mailto:EASI@LISTSERV.ICORS.ORG] On Behalf Of Jennison Mark Asuncion Sent: Saturday, January 08, 2011 7:41 AM To: EASI@LISTSERV.ICORS.ORG Subject: webaim's screen reader survey closes Jan. 10 The folks at WebAIM have a survey to learn more about the experiences of screen reader users on the web. If you have a few minutes this weekend (survey closes on January 10) please consider filling it out. The results will definitely help folks who work in the field of IT accessibility. The survey is available in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese at http://webaim.org/projects/screenreadersurvey3/ ? ? Jennison From jbailey at uoregon.edu Mon Jan 10 13:50:45 2011 From: jbailey at uoregon.edu (James L Bailey) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:14 2018 Subject: [Athen] Maxima, a Computer Algebra System Message-ID: <3cfb781fcd78b9f5437ea470f9816392@uoregon.edu> Anyone familiar with Maxima, a Computer Algebra System? A student is presenting it to me as a screen-reader accessible algebra system. They're at http://maxima.sourceforge.net/ . -- Best regards, James -- James Bailey Adaptive Tech Coordinator University of Oregon From john.gardner at orst.edu Mon Jan 10 14:35:00 2011 From: john.gardner at orst.edu (John Gardner) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:14 2018 Subject: [Athen] [SPAM] RE: Maxima, a Computer Algebra System In-Reply-To: <3cfb781fcd78b9f5437ea470f9816392@uoregon.edu> References: <3cfb781fcd78b9f5437ea470f9816392@uoregon.edu> Message-ID: <00c701cbb116$9ea966d0$dbfc3470$@gardner@orst.edu> Hi James, this application was strongly recommended on the Blind Math list serv by Jamal Mazrui. Jamal is a well-known blind software guy. I haven't used this application myself, but Jamal is to be believed. John -----Original Message----- From: athen-bounces@athenpro.org [mailto:athen-bounces@athenpro.org] On Behalf Of James L Bailey Sent: Monday, January 10, 2011 1:51 PM To: Access Technologists in Higher Education Network Subject: [Athen] Maxima, a Computer Algebra System Anyone familiar with Maxima, a Computer Algebra System? A student is presenting it to me as a screen-reader accessible algebra system. They're at http://maxima.sourceforge.net/ . -- Best regards, James -- James Bailey Adaptive Tech Coordinator University of Oregon _______________________________________________ Athen mailing list Athen@athenpro.org http://athenpro.org/mailman/listinfo/athen_athenpro.org From jbailey at uoregon.edu Tue Jan 11 09:12:06 2011 From: jbailey at uoregon.edu (James L Bailey) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:14 2018 Subject: [Athen] accessible web survey tools Message-ID: <0717cc5cb81179fb56046018388dd9e5@uoregon.edu> What do you all recommend for accessible web based surveys? Thanks. -- Best regards, James -- James Bailey Adaptive Tech Coordinator University of Oregon From burke at mso.umt.edu Tue Jan 11 09:41:44 2011 From: burke at mso.umt.edu (Burke, Dan (DSS)) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:14 2018 Subject: [Athen] accessible web survey tools In-Reply-To: <0717cc5cb81179fb56046018388dd9e5@uoregon.edu> References: <0717cc5cb81179fb56046018388dd9e5@uoregon.edu> Message-ID: Survey Gizmo is good. Despite its accessibility certifications, I find Survey Monkey to be troublesome at times with a screen reader ... the first choice in a questionaire item echoes the entire item I've just read. If it's a long item, then it can be difficult to actually separte teh string of text from the first possible answer. Dan Burke Assistant Director/Assistive Technology Coordinator Disability Services for Students The University of Montana Emma B. Lommasson Center 154 Missoula, MT 59812 406.243.4424 406.243.5330 FAX www.umt.edu/disability -----Original Message----- From: athen-bounces@athenpro.org [mailto:athen-bounces@athenpro.org] On Behalf Of James L Bailey Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2011 10:12 AM To: Access Technologists in Higher Education Network Subject: [Athen] accessible web survey tools What do you all recommend for accessible web based surveys? Thanks. -- Best regards, James -- James Bailey Adaptive Tech Coordinator University of Oregon _______________________________________________ Athen mailing list Athen@athenpro.org http://athenpro.org/mailman/listinfo/athen_athenpro.org From skeegan at stanford.edu Tue Jan 11 11:21:25 2011 From: skeegan at stanford.edu (Sean J Keegan) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:14 2018 Subject: [Athen] accessible web survey tools In-Reply-To: <0717cc5cb81179fb56046018388dd9e5@uoregon.edu> References: <0717cc5cb81179fb56046018388dd9e5@uoregon.edu> Message-ID: Hi James, > What do you all recommend for accessible web based surveys? Have you looked at the study from Ohio State University that reviewed a number of different survey tools? http://wac.osu.edu/workshops/survey_of_surveys/ Some of the data is from 2008 and may be a bit dated, but I think the overall information is still useful (and is one of the best evaluations done on survey tools). Take care, Sean Sean Keegan On Jan 11, 2011, at 9:13 AM, James L Bailey wrote: > > What do you all recommend for accessible web based surveys? Thanks. > > -- > Best regards, > > James > > -- > > James Bailey > Adaptive Tech Coordinator > University of Oregon > > > > _______________________________________________ > Athen mailing list > Athen@athenpro.org > http://athenpro.org/mailman/listinfo/athen_athenpro.org From petri.1 at osu.edu Tue Jan 11 11:56:57 2011 From: petri.1 at osu.edu (Ken Petri) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:14 2018 Subject: [Athen] accessible web survey tools In-Reply-To: References: <0717cc5cb81179fb56046018388dd9e5@uoregon.edu> Message-ID: Thanks Sean. And you're right--it's a bit out of date. For one, the caveats about high-contrast and tab navigability re: SurveyMonkey no longer hold. We've been using Survey Gizmo at the WAC for quite a while for both CIC surveys and also for surveys to our DS office students. James, in SG, I recommend avoiding the "sortable" and star-ratng questions. Those are still problematic with keyboard and screen reader. Also, you might have a look at our "tips" section. Those still hold: http://wac.osu.edu/workshops/survey_of_surveys/#tips SurveyMonkey has done some nice things with table markup in their grid-based questions that are specifically geared for accessibility. It's definitely worth trying out. We will update our information in the next few months. So I have added in a note at the top of the page warning about the age of the information.... Best, ken -- Ken Petri Program Director, OSU Web Accessibility Center 102D Pomerene Hall, 1760 Neil Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210 Office: 614.292.1760 | Mobile: 614.218.1499 | Fax: 614.292.4190 http://wac.osu.edu | petri.1@osu.edu On Tue, Jan 11, 2011 at 2:21 PM, Sean J Keegan wrote: > Hi James, > > > What do you all recommend for accessible web based surveys? > > Have you looked at the study from Ohio State University that reviewed a > number of different survey tools? > > http://wac.osu.edu/workshops/survey_of_surveys/ > > Some of the data is from 2008 and may be a bit dated, but I think the > overall information is still useful (and is one of the best evaluations done > on survey tools). > > Take care, > Sean > > Sean Keegan > > On Jan 11, 2011, at 9:13 AM, James L Bailey wrote: > > > > > What do you all recommend for accessible web based surveys? Thanks. > > > > -- > > Best regards, > > > > James > > > > -- > > > > James Bailey > > Adaptive Tech Coordinator > > University of Oregon > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Athen mailing list > > Athen@athenpro.org > > http://athenpro.org/mailman/listinfo/athen_athenpro.org > > > _______________________________________________ > Athen mailing list > Athen@athenpro.org > http://athenpro.org/mailman/listinfo/athen_athenpro.org > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From skeegan at stanford.edu Wed Jan 12 16:40:00 2011 From: skeegan at stanford.edu (Sean J Keegan) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:14 2018 Subject: [Athen] DAISY pipeline and Windows Server 2008? Message-ID: <4D2E49E0.1040701@stanford.edu> Hello all, Has anyone had any success (or failure) installing and running the DAISY Pipeline on Windows Server 2008? The DAISY site lists only Windows 98, Me, and XP (although I have been able to run some parts of Pipeline on Windows 7, 32-bit). Thanks, Sean -- Sean Keegan, M.S. Associate Director, Assistive Technology Office of Accessible Education - Stanford University http://studentaffairs.stanford.edu/oae From sozi1 at mscd.edu Thu Jan 13 13:21:23 2011 From: sozi1 at mscd.edu (Ozi, Selim) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:14 2018 Subject: [Athen] Athen Digest, Vol 60, Issue 8 In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hi Sean, When you are installing Daisy pipe line within win2008 platform please make sure you run Hyper V to run multiplatform Operating system. If you are running win 2008 r2 remote desktop client (computer image in 64 bit environment) please use your old XP 32 bit image with daisy pipe line running hyperV. Hope this helps. Thanks. Selim ?zi. Access Center , Disability Accommodations And Adaptive Technology for Metropolitan State College of Denver. 303-556-8387. This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential information.? Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited.? If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender immediately by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message. -----Original Message----- From: athen-bounces@athenpro.org [mailto:athen-bounces@athenpro.org] On Behalf Of athen-request@athenpro.org Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2011 1:00 PM To: athen@athenpro.org Subject: Athen Digest, Vol 60, Issue 8 Send Athen mailing list submissions to athen@athenpro.org To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://athenpro.org/mailman/listinfo/athen_athenpro.org or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to athen-request@athenpro.org You can reach the person managing the list at athen-owner@athenpro.org When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of Athen digest..." Today's Topics: 1. DAISY pipeline and Windows Server 2008? (Sean J Keegan) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2011 16:40:00 -0800 From: Sean J Keegan To: Access Technology Higher Education Network , Alternate Media Subject: [Athen] DAISY pipeline and Windows Server 2008? Message-ID: <4D2E49E0.1040701@stanford.edu> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Hello all, Has anyone had any success (or failure) installing and running the DAISY Pipeline on Windows Server 2008? The DAISY site lists only Windows 98, Me, and XP (although I have been able to run some parts of Pipeline on Windows 7, 32-bit). Thanks, Sean -- Sean Keegan, M.S. Associate Director, Assistive Technology Office of Accessible Education - Stanford University http://studentaffairs.stanford.edu/oae ------------------------------ _______________________________________________ Athen mailing list Athen@athenpro.org http://athenpro.org/mailman/listinfo/athen_athenpro.org End of Athen Digest, Vol 60, Issue 8 ************************************ From ron at altformatsolutions.com Tue Jan 18 11:00:34 2011 From: ron at altformatsolutions.com (Ron Stewart) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:14 2018 Subject: [Athen] AHG Minutes posted Message-ID: <007901cbb741$fd6f5400$f84dfc00$@com> The minutes from the AHG meeting have been posted. If you volunteered or are interested in be engage in any of the activities discussed please provide input or contact committee chairs directly. We have run into some technical issues with election results which we are working to resolve. http://athenpro.org/node/138 Professional Standards - Ron Stewart Strategic Plan Development - Howard Kramer Product evaluation - Ron Stewart Educause Collaboration - Terrill Thompson Vendor Collaborations - Hadi Rangin ATHEN Communications - Sean Keegan It is your organization so you all need to get involved. Ron Stewart **************************************************************************** *** Ron Stewart Managing Consultant Altformat Solutions LLC 8300 West Weller St Yorktown, IN 47396 Mobile: 609 213-2190 Fax: 765 405-1484 ron@altformatsolutions.com www.altformatsolutions.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From saroj_primlani at ncsu.edu Tue Jan 18 12:10:33 2011 From: saroj_primlani at ncsu.edu (Saroj Primlani) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:14 2018 Subject: [Athen] Dynamic Live Chat plugin Message-ID: <003a01cbb74b$c31aba10$49502e30$@edu> FYI, wonder if this could be used with environments with non-accessible chat modules? Dynamic Live Chat can be dynamically included within any standard HTML page using JavaScript http://gutterstar.net/dynamic_live_chat.php Saroj -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From info at karlencommunications.com Wed Jan 19 04:25:56 2011 From: info at karlencommunications.com (Karlen Communications) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:14 2018 Subject: [Athen] Workshops on accessible PDF in Toronto Message-ID: <000901cbb7d4$0593e780$10bbb680$@karlencommunications.com> I know some of the ATHEN members are from Canada and thought those in the Toronto area would be interested in the series of workshops I'm doing for CNIB in Toronto. http://www.accesscontent.ca/workshops.aspx Contact CNIB if you are interested. These workshops will be offered a few times a year. You can also request on-site workshops or customized ones if you have enough participants. Contact Mike Park (Michael.Park@cnib.ca) for the on-site or customized workshops. Cheers, Karen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From pratikp1 at gmail.com Wed Jan 19 05:52:09 2011 From: pratikp1 at gmail.com (Pratik Patel) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:14 2018 Subject: [Athen] FW: Introducing Free Kindle Software with Accessibility Features In-Reply-To: <6796832.2768441295429900987.JavaMail.em-build@massmail-sender-na-i-4f106e22.us-east-1.amazon.com> References: <6796832.2768441295429900987.JavaMail.em-build@massmail-sender-na-i-4f106e22.us-east-1.amazon.com> Message-ID: <001001cbb7e0$1205abf0$361103d0$@gmail.com> Colleagues, This is an extremely important first step toward full accessibility to many books. While I'd like to see Amazon provide ubiquitous access by making their mobile devices and mobile software (along with the Mac software) accessible, it gets blind or visually impaired people the beginning of the dream of having the same access to electronic books as their sighted peers. -----Original Message----- From: Amazon.com [mailto:store-news@amazon.com] Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2011 4:38 AM To: pratikp1@gmail.com Subject: Introducing Free Kindle Software with Accessibility Features Dear blind-interest@amazon.com subscriber, Amazon.com is releasing a new version of Kindle for PC that adds accessibility features designed for blind and low-vision customers. Kindle for PC with Accessibility Plugin is a free, downloadable application for your Windows PC. It provides the following accessibility features: text-to-speech reading with adjustable voice settings, voice-guided menu navigation, large font sizes, high contrast reading mode, keyboard navigation, and accessible shortcuts. With this software, for the first time ever, the entire collection of English language books in the Kindle Store can be read aloud. With over 750,000 English language titles, Amazon offers the largest selection of accessible ebooks. In order to use the text-to-speech feature, an external screen reader program must be installed and running on the Windows PC. The free download is available at: http://www.amazon.com/kindle/accessibility We welcome your feedback at: kindle-PC-accessibility-feedback@amazon.com Sincerely, The Kindle Team ===================================================================== (c) 2011 Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Amazon, the Amazon a logo, the AmazonKindle logo, Kindle, and Whispersync are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Amazon.com, 410 Terry Avenue, North, Seattle, WA 98109. Reference: 18358260 Please note that this message was sent to the following e-mail address: pratikp1@gmail.com From kestrell at panix.com Wed Jan 19 08:20:16 2011 From: kestrell at panix.com (Kestrell) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:14 2018 Subject: [Athen] FW: Introducing Free Kindle Software with AccessibilityFeatures References: <6796832.2768441295429900987.JavaMail.em-build@massmail-sender-na-i-4f106e22.us-east-1.amazon.com> <001001cbb7e0$1205abf0$361103d0$@gmail.com> Message-ID: Has anyone installed and run this on a computer using Jaws? I have been trying to do so all morning and keep getting stuck in an infinite loop re a message that some component of Microsoft Windows Journal Viewer is not available. Kestrell ----- Original Message ----- From: "Pratik Patel" To: "'ACBNY board list'" ; "'ACBNY-L'" ; ; ; "Access Technology Higher Education Network" ; "Alternate Media" Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2011 8:52 AM Subject: [Athen] FW: Introducing Free Kindle Software with AccessibilityFeatures > Colleagues, > > This is an extremely important first step toward full accessibility to > many books. While I'd like to see Amazon provide ubiquitous access by > making their mobile devices and mobile software (along with the Mac > software) accessible, it gets blind or visually impaired people the > beginning of the dream of having the same access to electronic books as > their sighted peers. > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Amazon.com [mailto:store-news@amazon.com] > Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2011 4:38 AM > To: pratikp1@gmail.com > Subject: Introducing Free Kindle Software with Accessibility Features > > Dear blind-interest@amazon.com subscriber, > > Amazon.com is releasing a new version of Kindle for PC that adds > accessibility features designed for blind and low-vision customers. > > Kindle for PC with Accessibility Plugin is a free, downloadable > application for your Windows PC. It provides the following accessibility > features: text-to-speech reading with adjustable voice settings, > voice-guided menu navigation, large font sizes, high contrast reading > mode, keyboard navigation, and accessible shortcuts. > > With this software, for the first time ever, the entire collection of > English language books in the Kindle Store can be read aloud. With over > 750,000 English language titles, Amazon offers the largest selection of > accessible ebooks. In order to use the text-to-speech feature, an > external screen reader program must be installed and running on the > Windows PC. > > The free download is available at: > http://www.amazon.com/kindle/accessibility > > We welcome your feedback at: kindle-PC-accessibility-feedback@amazon.com > > Sincerely, > The Kindle Team > > ===================================================================== > > (c) 2011 Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved. > > Amazon, the Amazon a logo, the AmazonKindle logo, Kindle, and Whispersync > are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. > > Amazon.com, 410 Terry Avenue, North, Seattle, WA 98109. > Reference: 18358260 > > Please note that this message was sent to the following > e-mail address: pratikp1@gmail.com > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Athen mailing list > Athen@athenpro.org > http://athenpro.org/mailman/listinfo/athen_athenpro.org From danc at washington.edu Wed Jan 19 09:32:46 2011 From: danc at washington.edu (Dan Comden) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:14 2018 Subject: [Athen] FW: Introducing Free Kindle Software with AccessibilityFeatures In-Reply-To: References: <6796832.2768441295429900987.JavaMail.em-build@massmail-sender-na-i-4f106e22.us-east-1.amazon.com> <001001cbb7e0$1205abf0$361103d0$@gmail.com> Message-ID: The new Kindle app installed fine on my system while running JAWS (v 12.0.55). I followed the instructions and had JAWS running before running the install. This is on a system running Win7-64. I would remove your downloaded installer, download another copy, and retry the process. The problems I'm having now are 1. The content is not readable by JAWS -- it's still all graphics. But the menus and controls are readable and I can open my archived content. Just can't read it with JAWS. 2. The Help command launches a browser window to Amazon's Kindle sales page. I've sent a msg to their support email, will report back if something positive happens -*- Dan On Wed, Jan 19, 2011 at 8:20 AM, Kestrell wrote: > Has anyone installed and run this on a computer using Jaws? I have been > trying to do so all morning and keep getting stuck in an infinite loop re a > message that some component of Microsoft Windows Journal Viewer is not > available. > > Kestrell > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Pratik Patel" > To: "'ACBNY board list'" ; "'ACBNY-L'" > ; ; ; > "Access Technology Higher Education Network" ; > "Alternate Media" > Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2011 8:52 AM > Subject: [Athen] FW: Introducing Free Kindle Software with > AccessibilityFeatures > > >> Colleagues, >> >> This is an extremely important first step toward full accessibility to >> many books. ?While I'd like to see Amazon provide ubiquitous access by >> making their mobile devices and mobile software (along with the Mac >> software) accessible, it gets blind or visually impaired people the >> beginning of the dream of having the same access to electronic books as >> their sighted peers. >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Amazon.com [mailto:store-news@amazon.com] >> Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2011 4:38 AM >> To: pratikp1@gmail.com >> Subject: Introducing Free Kindle Software with Accessibility Features >> >> Dear blind-interest@amazon.com subscriber, >> >> Amazon.com is releasing a new version of Kindle for PC that adds >> accessibility features designed for blind and low-vision customers. >> >> Kindle for PC with Accessibility Plugin is a free, downloadable >> application for your Windows PC. ?It provides the following accessibility >> features: text-to-speech reading with adjustable voice settings, >> voice-guided menu navigation, large font sizes, high contrast reading mode, >> keyboard navigation, and accessible shortcuts. >> >> With this software, for the first time ever, the entire collection of >> English language books in the Kindle Store can be read aloud. ?With over >> 750,000 English language titles, Amazon offers the largest selection of >> accessible ebooks. ?In order to use the text-to-speech feature, an external >> screen reader program must be installed and running on the Windows PC. >> >> The free download is available at: >> http://www.amazon.com/kindle/accessibility >> >> We welcome your feedback at: kindle-PC-accessibility-feedback@amazon.com >> >> Sincerely, >> The Kindle Team >> >> ===================================================================== >> >> (c) 2011 Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved. >> >> Amazon, the Amazon a logo, the AmazonKindle logo, Kindle, and Whispersync >> are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. >> >> Amazon.com, 410 Terry Avenue, North, Seattle, WA 98109. >> Reference: 18358260 >> >> Please note that this message was sent to the following >> e-mail address: pratikp1@gmail.com >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Athen mailing list >> Athen@athenpro.org >> http://athenpro.org/mailman/listinfo/athen_athenpro.org > > > _______________________________________________ > Athen mailing list > Athen@athenpro.org > http://athenpro.org/mailman/listinfo/athen_athenpro.org > From skeegan at stanford.edu Wed Jan 19 16:26:18 2011 From: skeegan at stanford.edu (Sean J Keegan) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:14 2018 Subject: [Athen] CPU load and DAISY/MP3 generation Message-ID: <4D37812A.4080804@stanford.edu> Hello all, I am looking for information about how much CPU load can be expected during full-text/full-audio DAISY generation as well as during MP3 creation. We are running a few tests on a 200 page MS Word document with the Save As DAISY plugin, but I was curious as to what others may be experiencing for CPU consumption as well as RAM requirements. Your experiences do not have to conform to my test instance of a 200 page MS Word document with the Save As DAISY plugin, but I would like to get some ideas as to what others are experiencing when creating either DAISY or MP3 files. Qualitative feedback, such as "It took much longer to open XYZ application when creating MP3 or DAISY files" is also useful. If possible, please include the generic computer configuration you are using (e.g., Windows 7, 4GB RAM, 2.8 Core i3, etc.) as well as the software you are utilizing. Thanks in advance, Sean -- Sean Keegan, M.S. Associate Director, Assistive Technology Office of Accessible Education - Stanford University http://studentaffairs.stanford.edu/oae From ea at emptech.info Thu Jan 20 00:58:48 2011 From: ea at emptech.info (E.A. Draffan) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:14 2018 Subject: [Athen] FW: Introducing Free Kindle Software with Accessibility Features In-Reply-To: <001001cbb7e0$1205abf0$361103d0$@gmail.com> References: <6796832.2768441295429900987.JavaMail.em-build@massmail-sender-na-i-4f106e22.us-east-1.amazon.com> <001001cbb7e0$1205abf0$361103d0$@gmail.com> Message-ID: <63048.157.82.73.52.1295513928.squirrel@www.emptech.info> Many thanks Pratik for this one. Sadly I have just had to write to Kindle to ask if there are any reasons why we may not download it from the UK! Probably something legal and very frustrating. This could help so many folk who find reading text and navigating around the Kindle difficult. Best wishes E.A. Mrs E.A. Draffan Learning Societies Lab, ECS, University of Southampton, Tel +44 (0)23 8059 7246 > Colleagues, > > This is an extremely important first step toward full accessibility to > many books. While I'd like to see Amazon provide ubiquitous access by > making their mobile devices and mobile software (along with the Mac > software) accessible, it gets blind or visually impaired people the > beginning of the dream of having the same access to electronic books as > their sighted peers. > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Amazon.com [mailto:store-news@amazon.com] > Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2011 4:38 AM > To: pratikp1@gmail.com > Subject: Introducing Free Kindle Software with Accessibility Features > > Dear blind-interest@amazon.com subscriber, > > Amazon.com is releasing a new version of Kindle for PC that adds > accessibility features designed for blind and low-vision customers. > > Kindle for PC with Accessibility Plugin is a free, downloadable > application for your Windows PC. It provides the following accessibility > features: text-to-speech reading with adjustable voice settings, > voice-guided menu navigation, large font sizes, high contrast reading > mode, keyboard navigation, and accessible shortcuts. > > With this software, for the first time ever, the entire collection of > English language books in the Kindle Store can be read aloud. With over > 750,000 English language titles, Amazon offers the largest selection of > accessible ebooks. In order to use the text-to-speech feature, an > external screen reader program must be installed and running on the > Windows PC. > > The free download is available at: > http://www.amazon.com/kindle/accessibility > > We welcome your feedback at: kindle-PC-accessibility-feedback@amazon.com > > Sincerely, > The Kindle Team > > ===================================================================== > > (c) 2011 Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved. > > Amazon, the Amazon a logo, the AmazonKindle logo, Kindle, and Whispersync > are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. > > Amazon.com, 410 Terry Avenue, North, Seattle, WA 98109. > Reference: 18358260 > > Please note that this message was sent to the following > e-mail address: pratikp1@gmail.com > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Athen mailing list > Athen@athenpro.org > http://athenpro.org/mailman/listinfo/athen_athenpro.org > From burke at ucla.edu Thu Jan 20 11:52:16 2011 From: burke at ucla.edu (Patrick Burke) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:14 2018 Subject: [Athen] The EReader That Didn't Read In The Night In-Reply-To: References: <6796832.2768441295429900987.JavaMail.em-build@massmail-sender-na-i-4f106e22.us-east-1.amazon.com> <001001cbb7e0$1205abf0$361103d0$@gmail.com> Message-ID: <201101201952.p0KJqIuE008912@mail.ucla.edu> Hi all, I got Kestrell's infinite-loop effect when installing Kindle for PC on one machine (EEEPC netbook), but not on another (boring Dell desktop workstation). I managed to download & sync a couple of titles. In the cruelest cut for E.A., one of the books I found was Hound Of The Baskervilles for free. So they're stealing British literature & giving it away to Americans, but not letting Brits read it. HARSH! But the best/worst part is this: In Chapter Two there are a couple of documents (old manuscript, newspaper article) which are skipped completely! What happened to the mysterious disappearing text?! ... My guess is that those sections are in italics, & the Kindle plugin can't read them yet. I have written to the Kindle feedback team. Will update if I learn more. So ... It's great, it's amazing. But within 20 pages of the first book I read there is a major problem. Patrick At 08:20 AM 1/19/2011, Kestrell wrote: >Has anyone installed and run this on a computer using Jaws? I have >been trying to do so all morning and keep getting stuck in an >infinite loop re a message that some component of Microsoft Windows >Journal Viewer is not available. > >Kestrell > >----- Original Message ----- From: "Pratik Patel" >To: "'ACBNY board list'" ; "'ACBNY-L'" >; ; >; "Access Technology Higher Education >Network" ; "Alternate Media" > >Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2011 8:52 AM >Subject: [Athen] FW: Introducing Free Kindle Software with >AccessibilityFeatures > > >>Colleagues, >> >>This is an extremely important first step toward full accessibility >>to many books. While I'd like to see Amazon provide ubiquitous >>access by making their mobile devices and mobile software (along >>with the Mac software) accessible, it gets blind or visually >>impaired people the beginning of the dream of having the same >>access to electronic books as their sighted peers. >> >> >>-----Original Message----- >>From: Amazon.com [mailto:store-news@amazon.com] >>Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2011 4:38 AM >>To: pratikp1@gmail.com >>Subject: Introducing Free Kindle Software with Accessibility Features >> >>Dear blind-interest@amazon.com subscriber, >> >>Amazon.com is releasing a new version of Kindle for PC that adds >>accessibility features designed for blind and low-vision customers. >> >>Kindle for PC with Accessibility Plugin is a free, downloadable >>application for your Windows PC. It provides the following >>accessibility features: text-to-speech reading with adjustable >>voice settings, voice-guided menu navigation, large font sizes, >>high contrast reading mode, keyboard navigation, and accessible shortcuts. >> >>With this software, for the first time ever, the entire collection >>of English language books in the Kindle Store can be read >>aloud. With over 750,000 English language titles, Amazon offers >>the largest selection of accessible ebooks. In order to use the >>text-to-speech feature, an external screen reader program must be >>installed and running on the Windows PC. >> >>The free download is available at: http://www.amazon.com/kindle/accessibility >> >>We welcome your feedback at: kindle-PC-accessibility-feedback@amazon.com >> >>Sincerely, >>The Kindle Team >> >>===================================================================== >> >>(c) 2011 Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved. >> >>Amazon, the Amazon a logo, the AmazonKindle logo, Kindle, and >>Whispersync are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. >> >>Amazon.com, 410 Terry Avenue, North, Seattle, WA 98109. >>Reference: 18358260 >> >>Please note that this message was sent to the following >>e-mail address: pratikp1@gmail.com >> >> >> >> >>_______________________________________________ >>Athen mailing list >>Athen@athenpro.org >>http://athenpro.org/mailman/listinfo/athen_athenpro.org > > >_______________________________________________ >Athen mailing list >Athen@athenpro.org >http://athenpro.org/mailman/listinfo/athen_athenpro.org -- Patrick J. Burke Coordinator UCLA Disabilities & Computing Program Phone: 310 206-6004 E-mail: burke ucla. edu Department Contact: dcp@oit.ucla.edu From petri.1 at osu.edu Thu Jan 20 13:52:12 2011 From: petri.1 at osu.edu (Ken Petri) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:14 2018 Subject: [Athen] FW: Introducing Free Kindle Software with Accessibility Features In-Reply-To: <63048.157.82.73.52.1295513928.squirrel@www.emptech.info> References: <6796832.2768441295429900987.JavaMail.em-build@massmail-sender-na-i-4f106e22.us-east-1.amazon.com> <001001cbb7e0$1205abf0$361103d0$@gmail.com> <63048.157.82.73.52.1295513928.squirrel@www.emptech.info> Message-ID: Hi Dan, Pratik and all, I played with this yesterday for about an hour and will be doing more work with it soon. I was using NVDA. Kindle for PC with Accessibility Plugin works decently, but it has a number of quirks and impracticalities. I imagine Amazon is well aware of them, but I'm going to write them and detail the problems I found, anyway. First, in reference Dan's email, you must type Ctrl + R to have a book read aloud. Kindle will then read in a voice that is packaged with the Amazon plugin, itself. You can switch between a male and female voice--it defaults to the female--and easily speed up or slow down the reading (via Shift + + or -). You can also browse by sentence with Ctrl + Shift + up or down arrow. So, at least currently, you have no direct access to the text. The screen reader (NVDA or JAWS) allows access to the menus, but the shipped TTS reads the content, not your screen reader. You can read by sentence or continuously. There does not seem to be any finer-grained navigation. For instance, though you can get to a table of contents via the top level menu, it's not possible to use it, because using the table of contents requires clicking on a link in the table and this is not possible. In fact, currently, it is not possible to get a cursor into the text of a book, at all. This makes it impossible to select a portion of the text, click a link, etc. You can, however, highlight all of the text on a page (Ctrl + Shift + H). While this seems kind of silly, I believe they must have done this in order to facilitate the creation of highlights that you can then retrieve later via the notes and highlights panel. You can also set a bookmark on a page. Where a bookmark contains only the location reference, a highlight contains the location reference and the highlighted text. So, theoretically, if not practically, you could skim through highlights and hear snippets of each to help orient yourself without having to hit Ctrl + R and read the page. In practice, though, I am having trouble understanding why highlighting an entire page is at all desirable. More practical is the Ctrl + Shift + N combination, which allows you to write a note for a page. These notes appear in the notes and marks panel. Once written and saved, though, you cannot edit or delete a note. You can set a bookmark from the top level menu, but, again, I couldn't figure out a way to delete a bookmark (or a highlight, for that manner). I guess the take-away is the current Kindle for PC with Accessibility Plugin provides access to a whole lot of books, and (we can hope) there will be quick updates that make navigating, highlighting, and note-taking in these books more practical. Good first effort, Amazon. Keep up the good work! ken -- Ken Petri Program Director, OSU Web Accessibility Center 102D Pomerene Hall, 1760 Neil Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210 Office: 614.292.1760 | Mobile: 614.218.1499 | Fax: 614.292.4190 http://wac.osu.edu | petri.1@osu.edu On Thu, Jan 20, 2011 at 3:58 AM, E.A. Draffan wrote: > Many thanks Pratik for this one. Sadly I have just had to write to Kindle > to ask if there are any reasons why we may not download it from the UK! > Probably something legal and very frustrating. This could help so many > folk who find reading text and navigating around the Kindle difficult. > > Best wishes E.A. > > Mrs E.A. Draffan > Learning Societies Lab, > ECS, University of Southampton, > Tel +44 (0)23 8059 7246 > > > > > Colleagues, > > > > This is an extremely important first step toward full accessibility to > > many books. While I'd like to see Amazon provide ubiquitous access by > > making their mobile devices and mobile software (along with the Mac > > software) accessible, it gets blind or visually impaired people the > > beginning of the dream of having the same access to electronic books as > > their sighted peers. > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Amazon.com [mailto:store-news@amazon.com] > > Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2011 4:38 AM > > To: pratikp1@gmail.com > > Subject: Introducing Free Kindle Software with Accessibility Features > > > > Dear blind-interest@amazon.com subscriber, > > > > Amazon.com is releasing a new version of Kindle for PC that adds > > accessibility features designed for blind and low-vision customers. > > > > Kindle for PC with Accessibility Plugin is a free, downloadable > > application for your Windows PC. It provides the following accessibility > > features: text-to-speech reading with adjustable voice settings, > > voice-guided menu navigation, large font sizes, high contrast reading > > mode, keyboard navigation, and accessible shortcuts. > > > > With this software, for the first time ever, the entire collection of > > English language books in the Kindle Store can be read aloud. With over > > 750,000 English language titles, Amazon offers the largest selection of > > accessible ebooks. In order to use the text-to-speech feature, an > > external screen reader program must be installed and running on the > > Windows PC. > > > > The free download is available at: > > http://www.amazon.com/kindle/accessibility > > > > We welcome your feedback at: kindle-PC-accessibility-feedback@amazon.com > > > > Sincerely, > > The Kindle Team > > > > ===================================================================== > > > > (c) 2011 Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved. > > > > Amazon, the Amazon a logo, the AmazonKindle logo, Kindle, and Whispersync > > are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. > > > > Amazon.com, 410 Terry Avenue, North, Seattle, WA 98109. > > Reference: 18358260 > > > > Please note that this message was sent to the following > > e-mail address: pratikp1@gmail.com > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Athen mailing list > > Athen@athenpro.org > > http://athenpro.org/mailman/listinfo/athen_athenpro.org > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Athen mailing list > Athen@athenpro.org > http://athenpro.org/mailman/listinfo/athen_athenpro.org > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ankmk4 at uaa.alaska.edu Thu Jan 20 22:09:54 2011 From: ankmk4 at uaa.alaska.edu (Kaela Parks) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:14 2018 Subject: [Athen] Kaltura Message-ID: Anyone using Kaltura? I'm not seeing a lot about accessibility. There are a couple of options that appear to be fee based captioning services -but I want to know more about usability from an end-user perspective. If anyone has input I'd appreciate it. Kaela Parks, Director Disability Support Services University of Alaska Anchorage www.uaa.alaska.edu/dss www.uaa.alaska.edu/accessibility -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From saroj_primlani at ncsu.edu Fri Jan 21 03:35:44 2011 From: saroj_primlani at ncsu.edu (Saroj Primlani) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:14 2018 Subject: [Athen] Jim Thatcher's response to DOJ Message-ID: <000c01cbb95f$57596860$060c3920$@edu> Jim Thatcher's response to DOJ ANPRM http://www.jimthatcher.com/anprm.htm Saroj -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jongund at illinois.edu Fri Jan 21 06:27:26 2011 From: jongund at illinois.edu (Gunderson, Jon R) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:14 2018 Subject: [Athen] Jim Thatcher's response to DOJ In-Reply-To: <000c01cbb95f$57596860$060c3920$@edu> References: <000c01cbb95f$57596860$060c3920$@edu> Message-ID: Here are some additional response recommendations from web accessibility staff at Big Ten Universities (CIC): http://tinyurl.com/dojcicresponse Jon From: athen-bounces@athenpro.org [mailto:athen-bounces@athenpro.org] On Behalf Of Saroj Primlani Sent: Friday, January 21, 2011 5:36 AM To: greg_kraus@ncsu.edu Cc: athen@athenpro.org Subject: [Athen] Jim Thatcher's response to DOJ Jim Thatcher's response to DOJ ANPRM http://www.jimthatcher.com/anprm.htm Saroj -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From pratikp1 at gmail.com Fri Jan 21 14:40:16 2011 From: pratikp1 at gmail.com (Pratik Patel) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:14 2018 Subject: [Athen] ACB Web Accessibility comments for DOJ ANPRM Message-ID: <012901cbb9bc$2d94d570$88be8050$@gmail.com> Dear all, I am pleased to post these comments that the American Council of the Blind will be submitting to the Department of Justice in response to its Advancd Notice of Proposed Rule Making regarding the web. The thoughts behind this response were from Paul Edwards, Kim Charlson, Eric Bridges, Mark Richard, and yself. I was pleased to have been afforded the opportunity to serve as the primary author. We also used quite a bit of material that was developed by Lainey Feingold; we have, however, departed in many ways from her original draft. I hope this is useful. Regards, Pratik Comments of the American Council of the Blind regarding the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on 28 CFR Parts 35 and 36; CRT Docket No. 110; RIN 1190-AA61, Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability; Accessibility of Web Information and Services of State and Local Government Entities and Public Accommodations, published in the Federal Register July 26, 2010, 75 FR 43452 January 21, 2011 For further information, contact Eric Bridges Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs American Council of the Blind 2200 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 650 Arlington, VA 22201 202-467-5081 ebridges@acb.org Introduction The American Council of the Blind (ACB) is a national membership organization. Its members are blind, visually impaired, and fully sighted individuals who are concerned about the dignity and well-being of blind people throughout the nation. Established in 1961, ACB is one of the largest organizations of people who are blind in the world, with more than 70 state and special interest affiliates and a nationwide network of chapters and members spanning the globe. In framing our comments on web accessibility, the American Council of the Blind wants to begin by exploring some general principles that we believe are at the heart of where regulations must go in the future. To do this, it is necessary to take the same approach as the Department of Justice did in reviewing the history of web regulation as it applies to the Americans with Disabilities Act. As the DOJ rightly asserts, there was an early commitment to making website accessibility a general principle of the ADA which was provided through various letters and public comments that the DOJ made available in late 1990's. Instead of asserting that there was an ongoing, affirmative requirement that websites be accessible, the Department chose to make web accessibility a vague and an ambiguous requirement. It never provided specific guidance to covered entities. This approach did a disservice to people who were blind or have low vision in that it created an assumption that the best and only way that standards could be developed for this group was through painstaking standard development over years. Differing efforts through the creation and implementation of Section 508 guidelines in the late 1990's and early 2000's left web accessibility requirements and standards in disarray. It left covered entities to wonder which, if any, standards applies to them. Further fueling the unfortunate situation was the utter silence from the Department on specific guidance regarding access to the web. At the heart of this ANPRM is the same approach. Specific questions target specific pieces of equipment, aspects of the web, and audio description. The American Council of the Blind urges the department to go beyond this approach to the place the Department knew it should have been in 1991. It is now time for the Department to clearly and unequivocally proclaim that accessibility of the web is an inherent component for making programs and activities and places of public accommodation accessible. We recognize that it will still be necessary to determine what accessibility means for specific kinds of equipment. We are aware that this will mean working to develop and implement standards that will apply to specific parts of the web. However, we are convinced that people with disabilities have waited long enough for a clear and general assertion by the Department that there is an affirmative obligation to assure that web platforms that are being used to make programs and activities accessible under Title II and websites being deployed in places of public accommodation under Title III must, within the constraints inherent in both titles, be accessible. There is another principle that we believe must be clearly articulated as we begin the second decade of the 21st century. Perhaps the best way to describe this notion is to again look at where we were in 1991 and where we are today. In 1991 the web did not exist as we know it today. The changes brought about even in the last five years have been rapid and unimagined. Access to the internet was limited to research universities and the military. Rudimentary systems permitted text-based e-mail. Much of the interactivity that has come to define today's web environments has come about in the last ten years. Aspects of the web and the digital life-style have reached beyond the use of computing into the realm of an ecosystem that will come to be defined as the age of convergence. In 2011, virtually every piece of equipment being deployed makes use of computers. Many pieces of equipment are also directly connectable to the internet or can be accessed wirelessly or utilizing a remote control. Essentially, this means that we must go beyond looking at equipment, by itself. The accessibility of computers, whether tiny ones in washing machines or larger ones in kiosks, must be an inherent consideration in any regulations developed for the web and equipment accessibility. More to the point, it is no longer possible or credible to see the regulation of equipment, the web and audio description as separate endeavors. All three of the ANPRM areas overlap. It is time that the Department consider the adoption of general principles that clearly articulates the convergence that the computer chip has created. The simple truth is that, with the advent of inexpensive computer chips, accessibility of equipment is potentially readily achievable and can be accomplished without much difficulty or expense. However, if the Department continues to take the approach that it has in the past, there will be no clear mandate that manufacturers must accept for them to work to develop and implement standards that must apply to all equipment. Clearly Title II entities are required to make their programs and activities accessible to people with disabilities. Where the web is concerned, they have been able to avoid compliance by claiming that web accessibility is either not required or that there is a lack of clarity. The net result has been the deployment of websites which are less accessible to people who are blind or have low vision. The Department has been complicit in creating decreased accessibility because it has consistently failed to make it clearly adopt and enforce web accessibility as a general principle that underpins the Americans with Disabilities Act. Finally, we would argue that it is time that the Americans with Disabilities Act acknowledges other Federal laws that have begun to create standards and principles of accessibility. We believe that the standards that are currently available that apply to website accessibility under Section 508 need to be consciously incorporated as minimum requirements for state and local governments. Many states have already chosen to adopt these standards. However, we believe that the Department has an affirmative responsibility to make 508 compliance an inherent component of Title II of the ADA. We also believe that creating general principles for web accessibility which shall apply to both Titles II and III of the ADA will have the effect of advancing the objectives that are at the heart of Section 255 and the newly signed Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act. To summarize then, we assert that the failure to enforce web access as a general principle in 1990's has done an immense disservice to people with disabilities and more specifically we aver that people who are blind or have low vision have been most severely impacted by this failure. The Department must take this opportunity to clearly articulate that there is a categorical and ineluctable affirmative requirement for web accessibility that applies equally to state and local governments and places of public accommodation. The Department must espouse principles of universal design that will, within a reasonable time frame, require state and local governments to only develop and deploy web platforms that are accessible. We believe that, if the Department clearly adopts an unequivocal general principle, we will gradually get to a place where web accessibility will assume the place it should as a civil right for people with disabilities. Answers to Questions Posed in the ANPRM Question 1. Should the Department adopt the WCAG 2.0's ``Level AA Success Criteria'' as its standard for Web site accessibility for entities covered by titles II and III of the ADA? Is there any reason why the Department should consider adopting another success criteria level of the WCAG 2.0? Please explain your answer. Answer to Question 1. While we believe that Level AA Success Criteria of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 is appropriate to apply to all covered entities doing business on the web, we ask the Department to apply these success criteria through the incorporation of the revised section 508 guidelines. We further ask the Department to apply the World Wide Web consortium's Authoring Tools Accessibility Guidelines (ATAG) 1.0 in addition to the Web "content" Accessibility Guidelines. As discussed in the introductory remarks, federal, state and local governments as well as many business and other entities not only operate a variety of channels through which communication occurs and services are rendered, but increasing convergence of hardware and software being used in the communication and service delivery makes it necessary to consider accessibility to electronic information in a holistic manner. A simple view of the web leads to the application of the Level AA success criteria; however, when seen in an environment of increased use of dynamic content, mobile devices, kiosks, and software application (apps), it becomes vital for the DOJ to consider communication as a whole. In an era of blurring boundaries for the way communication occurs, an approach that recognizes the web as a single component of a multi-faceted communication and business processes will be the only way to ensure that people who are blind or visually impaired can benefit from variety of services. Indeed, we find the Department's singular view of the web as a mere consumption medium disconcerting. As will be discussed in response to the Department's other inquiries, it is no longer the case that web sites appear as a static canvas upon which a limited number of technically-minded people have the capacity to draw. Rather, the sophistication of interactive elements has taken us beyond what could have been conceivable in the mid to late 1990's. For a set of regulations designed to address future technologies and environments, applying a model that relies on the understanding of the web from yesteryears' perspective does a grave disservice to people with disabilities. We ask the DOJ to rely on the web as a "platform" and not as a "site"-a platform that has the capacity to serve multiple needs (including content creation and content consumption). Ultimately, the web is but a single manifestation of the electronic communication system which is transforming our expectations of technology. And, as such, to ACB, it is vital that the Department make clear the unequivocal applicability of "effective communications" test to the web. It should be well understood that applying a technical set of standards, be it Section 508, ATAG, or WCAG, is merely one method of achieving this effective communication. The Department thusly discusses in its revised Title II and III regulations nature of effective communications: "In order to be effective, auxiliary aids and services must be provided in accessible formats, in a timely manner, and in such a way as to protect the privacy and independence of the individual with a disability." (Sections 35.160 and 36.303C.) This necessitates that covered entities take appropriate steps to ensure that all electronic communications, among other activities, are timely, are in appropriate formats, and accessible to persons with disabilities as they are to those without disabilities while maintaining their privacy and independence. With this said, the Department's question recognizes that technical standards are needed for Title II and III entities to know what they should do in order to make their web platforms accessible to persons with disabilities. For many reasons, Level AA Success Criteria of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines is the appropriate web accessibility standard to meet the content consumption need-especially when it is brought in through the latest revision of Section 508. Similarly, the Authoring Tools Accessibility Guidelines provide additional guidance on elements of the platform that allow users to create content. Among other benefits, when the adoption of WCAG occurs via the latest revision of Section 508, it brings along functional requirements for effective communication. This, we believe, will be vital as web content is delivered through systems and devices that are not yet on the market WCAG 2.0, which has been developed as a result of a rigorous multi-year process, is robust and stable and has been designed to "keep up with" changing technology. The Abstract of WCAG 2.0 specifically states "WCAG 2.0 success criteria are written as testable statements that are not technology-specific." The WCAG 2.0 Level AA success criteria focus on how people with disabilities actually use and interact with web sites, and allow for flexibility by web designers and developers. Designed to place emphasis on outcomes and on design strategies that will ensure accessibility, the WCAG 2.0 guidelines are not tied to or dependent on any particular technology. They are as valid and usable in the cloud computing environment as in the dedicated server world, as appropriate on social networking sites as on e-commerce platforms and they are useful for people using any of the many varieties of assistive technologies that people with disabilities utilize to access and participate in the online world. WCAG explains what is needed to allow people with disabilities to use the web, but does not mandate particular solutions tied to particular technologies. Techniques for meeting criteria are offered, but the criteria themselves were specifically drafted to be forward looking - to explain what must be done, but not how to do it. Adherence to the WCAG 2.0 Level AA success criteria would not require a Title II or III entity to alter the look or feel of its websites. Secondly, a wide array of stakeholders was integrally involved in developing WCAG 2.0. Industry, government, people with disabilities, and technology experts all participated in the very open and public process that led to final adoption of WCAG 2.0. The multi-year process ended with a detailed Implementation Report demonstrating that the Guidelines were effective and able to be implemented in a wide range of web settings. The report, which points to specific sites using the WCAG 2.0 Success Criteria, is online at http://www.w3.org/WAI/GL/WCAG20/implementation-report/. Bringing WCAG through Section 508 revision will provide an added layer of assurance. In particular, the adoption of Section 508 will provide a clear linkage to all Title II entities-the explicit linkage that has been missing by reference. WCAG is an international - and internationally accepted - standard. Companies in the United States that do business abroad benefit from a consistent standard, adherence to which meets legal requirements wherever the Internet is accessed. International entities that operate across multiple boundaries will be able to utilize the WCAG recommendations. Additionally, WCAG 2.0 has extensive instructional and support materials including detailed and continually updated "How to Meet" and "Techniques" documents that provide specific information on how to satisfy the guidelines using different technologies. When the Section 508 refresh process is completed and WCAG is imported to Section 508, additional resources will be made available through http://www.section508.gov . Sites that already meet WCAG standards (either WCAG 2.0 or its predecessor, WCAG 1.0 (in place since 1999)) remind us that while web accessibility regulations may be new under the ADA, web accessibility itself is not new as conceived by the Department. The Department of Justice has long recognized web accessibility as a component of ADA implementation in theory. The Department must ensure that these important new regulations recognize the landscape that currently exists and move accessibility forward. The fact that the DOJ has long recognized web accessibility as part of the ADA, and that commercial entities, large and small, as well as state and local governments, are already using WCAG, helps demonstrate why the standard is appropriate and should be adopted by the Department. Again, however, ACB believes that this adoption of WCAG Level AA should not occur in isolation without a significant recognition of the fact that all covered entities have an affirmative obligation to provide effective communication to persons with disabilities. WCAG is a technical reference standard. The techniques to comply with WCAG vary from situation to situation and from technology to technology. The underlying need to effectively communicate does not diminish. Consequently, we ask the department to avoid a simple adoption of WCAG level AA success criteria. Even if a covered entity provides a fully accessible website, there is no guarantee that the device or the medium through which this content is being delivered will be itself accessible. We posit that elements of the revised Section 508 criteria that specifically address functional requirements will provide additional assurance to people who are blind or visually impaired that vital communication is being conducted in an effective manner. In addition, considering the platform needs that go beyond mere content consumption, we believe that it is essential to address the web's transformative role in permitting cloud-based authoring. This not only provides the means to alter communication as seen through the implementation of such social networking phenomena as Facebook and Twitter, but has far-reaching implications for federal, state, and local governments, businesses, and the society as a whole. Leaving this portion of the web platform unaddressed will, in particular, mean limiting access to vital processes necessary for successful employment. ACB must ask the Department to not stand idle while a significant opportunity to address the historic unemployment rate among people who are blind or visually impaired is affected. If unaddressed, blind or visually impaired Americans are likely to lose even more ground in being able to perform necessary business functions which are a part of the day-to-day working environments. Whether as business owners, through self-employment, or as part of a covered entity, persons with disabilities do encounter significant number of situations where they are unable to use the content creation aspects of the web. Therefore, we must ask the Department to apply the Authoring Tools Accessibility Guidelines in addition to the revised Section 508. Question 2. Should the Department adopt the section 508 standards instead of the WCAG guidelines as its standard for Web site accessibility under titles II and III of the ADA? Is there a difference in compliance burdens and costs between the two standards? Please explain your answer. Answer to Question 2. Section 508 has been a critically important standard for the federal government; it was drafted to be that--a tool for federal agencies. As the Department knows, Section 508 is currently under active revision, in large part to assure conformance with WCAG 2.0. When TEITAC, the industry-consumer advisory committee assisting the Access Board with the Section 508 refresh, turned in its report on revision of the 508 standards it made its recommendation as identical to WCAG 2.0 as possible given that WCAG 2.0 was not completed as of the report date. (See April 2008 TEITAC Report to Access Board at http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/refresh/report/, stating "The Committee worked to harmonize its recommendations with the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 (WCAG 2.0) Working Group." Moreover, all of the commenters, both industry and consumer, that added supplemental comments to the final report addressing the web portions urged the access board to either adopt WCAG 2.0 for the Web portion of the new 508 standards or make the new standards as identical as possible to WCAG 2.0. Given the importance of international harmonization, and the extensive support materials available for WCAG 2.0, the Title II and III web regulations should refer to the efforts to harmonize Section 508 in order to bring WCAT level AA success criteria for web content and functional requirements for other needs. Moreover, Authoring Tools Accessibility Guidelines should be relied upon in order to make interfaces accessible for content creation purposes. Question 3. How should the Department address the ongoing changes to WCAG and section 508 standards? Should covered entities be given the option to comply with the latest requirements? Answer to Question 3. As discussed in the response to Question 1 above, WCAG 2.0 is a stable international standard adopted after a rigorous, open and transparent process. It is designed to be flexible and allow for new technologies. We urge the Department to adopt "the most current" version of WCAG through Section 508 as the web accessibility standard for Title II and III entities. In addition, the most current version of ATAG can be used by Title II and III entities. In particular, the requirements for Title II and Title III entities must be harmonized. The unnecessary bifurcation of current set of requirements has led to enormous confusion and difficulty in implementation. If and when there is a WCAG 3.0, as with its predecessors 1.0 and 2.0, it will have been designed with full input of all stakeholders. Moreover, as evidenced by the migration from WCAG 1.0 to WCAG 2.0 in 2008, any update to WCAG Guidelines will not inconvenience anyone or force anyone who has adopted its predecessor to engage in costly and awkward retrofitting. As such, the latest revisions of these recommendations will provide a single source for covered entities. We see a similar process to occur for the Authoring Tools Accessibility Guidelines, and believe that the most current versions of the standard must be applied. The Department should avoid a scenario under which entities can jump back and forth between two standards (Section 508 and WCAG). This will indeed be the case if the Department does not use the revised Section 508 standard. We can very well conceive scenarios where the application of Section 508 is required for the Federal government and other covered entities are asked to only apply WCAG's level AA success criteria. Instead, we ask the Department to serve as a mediator to ensure that the Section 508 revisions fully incorporate WCAG. But, beyond the discussion of technical standards, it is inconceivable that the Department would consider foregoing the opportunity to emphasize the need for effective communication. No matter what version of which standard is used, in no way does the obligation for the covered entity to effectively communicate with persons with disabilities diminished. It is certainly the case that technology changes will require a fresh perspective on technical needs; however, the fundamental principles inherent in communication remain the same. Question 4. Given the ever-changing nature of many Web sites, should the Department adopt performance standards instead of any set of specific technical standards for Web site accessibility? Please explain your support for or opposition to this option. If you support performance standards, please provide specific information on how such performance standards should be framed. Answer to Question 4. The criteria listed by the Department in applying "effective communication" in its latest revisions are quite specific and provide general performance guidance to covered entities. These criteria already apply to other aspects of DOJ's Title II and Title III regulations. Not to do the same for the web would be a fundamental departure for the DOJ. In particular, language suggested by other parties in response to this ANPRM suggests creating additional language to achieve performance criteria-language that is unproven in contexts other than single instances. In fact, this language has been used in settlements with a few entities-a fact which we find particularly curious because of the compromised and unproven nature of the language. Therefore, we strongly urge the Department to emphasize "effective communication" as the overarching criteria by which the entities will be judged. The "effective communication" criteria, as suggested above, emphasizes usability and equal access for people with disabilities to the full range of activities and services available through the web platform of a covered entity. We recognize that such generalized criteria, however, cannot replace technical standards, which are critical to ensuring accessibility. We, therefore, also recognize the importance of adopting WCAG through the revised Section 508 and ATAG. The ever-changing nature of many websites does not mean that technical standards are not needed, but simply means that those sites must have appropriate content management systems and robust accessibility features, characteristics and policies that ensure continued compliance with web accessibility standards. Generalized criteria, while important and necessary are not on its own specific or clear enough to ensure accessibility for the multi-layered complexity of websites provided by Title II and III entities and would not provide sufficient guidance to those entities that seek to make their websites accessible to people with disabilities. On the other hand, generalized "effective communication" criteria are needed to ensure that any new developments in the Internet or implementation approaches that are not captured by Section 508 and ATAG standards are undertaken in a manner that ensures equal accessibility and usability to people with disabilities. The WCAG 2.0 Level AA Success Criteria are founded on principles that go to the core of accessibility in the context of the World Wide Web. The Success Criteria - which tell site developers what to do but not how to do it - are organized around four key principles: to be accessible, content on the web must be "perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust." (See WCAG 2.0 introduction at http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20/#intro-layers-guidance. The "how" part of the Standards is in the Techniques documents, which allow developers to embrace new methods as new technologies become available.) WCAG does not specify "how" but only "what" should be accomplished. It does so in a testable fashion, an aspect of any web regulation of great importance to covered entities and developers. Because of this, WCAG 2.0 has many of the characteristics sought in effective communication criteria. We urge the Department to adopt a generalized effective communication criteria in addition to Section 508 and ATAG in part to clarify the principles underlying the technical standards. This two-pronged regulatory construct (general performance and technical specifications) is currently used in the Department's new construction regulations. Section 36.401(a) of the DOJ's Title III regulations defines discrimination as including a failure to design and construct facilities that are "readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities" and Section 36.406 requires that new construction "shall comply" with the technical standards set forth in the Standards for Accessible Design. For the reasons stated in response to Question 11 below there should not be a distinction between "new" and "existing" or "remodeled" web sites (except insofar as the undue burden defense will apply; both should be required to meet this two pronged approach to compliance. Coverage limitations Question 5. The Department seeks specific feedback on the limitations for coverage that it is considering. Should the Department adopt any specific parameters regarding its proposed coverage limitations? How should the Department distinguish, in the context of an online marketplace, between informal or occasional trading, selling, or bartering of goods or services by private individuals and activities that are formal and more than occasional? Are there other areas or matters regarding which the Department should consider adopting additional coverage limitations? Please provide as much detail as possible in your response. Answer to Question 5. In no place other than this question in this ANPRM is it more apparent that the Department's conception of the web which is akin to a physical "place of accommodation" is faulty. The evident linkages among covered entities and the services that they utilize in order to communicate with their customers by using related technologies, third-party websites and services, and emerging platforms are perhaps the very things that would be excluded by the Department's well-meaning (but less understood)exclusions. In a world where governments communicate by using social networking, educational institutions use virtual classroom platforms, and commercial and noncommercial entities use technologies in order to effect cost-savings and achieve efficiency, the boundaries between web sites is tenuous at best and nonexistent at worst. Moreover, these boundaries are rapidly disappearing. We fear that, by implementation date, the exemptions that the Department would conceive will have transformed into a genuine set of concerns for people with disabilities wherein, rather than affording protection to "small, noncommercial" entities as intended, these exclusions will have become a source for significant concern. In addition, the technical basis upon which the exemptions are conceived will have altered dramatically. We recognize the challenge of determining regulations in an area that shows exponential growth; however, a set of regulations that are based on "effective communication" as the base of all further conceptions will allow the DOJ to avoid the pitfalls inherent in relying on technical limitations. Rather than specify exemptions and exclusions in its rule, we ask that the Department leave all discussion of such matters to the technical assistance material it will make available. We find rules to be far more effective if and when they are constructed in an affirmative manner---i.e., what "is" covered and applicable instead of what "is not." Even in its technical assistance material, it is critical that all exemptions be very narrowly tailored. An accessible website allows people with disabilities to obtain information and participate in core programs and services provided by covered entities. Any exemption creates the possibility that people with disabilities will be locked out of an aspect of those programs, services, and information. Each instance of an exemption must therefore be both fully justified and extremely limited. We find very little on the web that is not necessary for a person who is blind or visually impaired to utilize in either a way that is related to employment, education, interacting with her government, or to conduct essential life activities. Links to external pages The ANPRM recognizes that a covered entity must be responsible for a linked website it does not operate or control "to the extent an entity requires users of its website to utilize another website in order to take part in its goods and services (e.g., payment for items on one website must be processed through another website)." If the Department creates an exemption for linked sites that a covered entity does not operate or control, it is crucial that a clear exception be made for external linked sites that are needed to participate in the goods and services offered by the covered entity. (In other words, any 'exemption' for linked sites must have an 'exception' for certain types of linked sites.) The interrelationship between sites is often hard to discern, and a member of the public with (or without) a disability may not even know they are leaving one site and going to another. For example, a bank may contract with a third party to provide online banking services; the bank may not own, operate or control the online banking site but online banking is obviously an important service the bank offers to the public. In such a situation, existing ADA regulations governing "contractual, licensing, or other arrangements" would mandate that the bank (the covered entity) would be responsible for ensuring that the online banking platform conforms to the Department's new web accessibility regulations. In other words, the planned web accessibility regulations must not in any way undermine Section 36.202 of the current Title III regulations which prevent a Title III entity from discriminating "directly or through contractual, licensing or other arrangements." In addition, it must be noted once again that in no way does the use of an externally-linked web site by a covered entity diminish the entity's obligation to effectively communicate with its customers. Would the use of a third-party web platform prevent blind or visually impaired people from using the products or services offered by the covered entity? The current trend highly suggests that it is most likely that excluding categories of sites damages the ultimate goal of providing full access. Instead, we recommend that the Department rely on undue burden as its primary method for gauging whether or not externally linked sites should or should not be covered. Informal and occasional trading by private individuals We appreciate the Department's concern about distinguishing between business entities (ranging from sole proprietorships to large corporations) and private individuals. An exemption from the web accessibility regulations that would address "informal or occasional trading, selling, or bartering of goods or services by private individuals" may be appropriate but only if certain (interrelated) key principles are incorporated into the exemption. These exemptions should be provided on a case by case basis through technical assistance. Even the thinking must be governed by the overarching principle of effective communication: (a) Each page owned or controlled by a covered entity and used by private individuals for occasional trading, selling or bartering must meet WCAG 2.0 Level AA and the generalized performance standard when considering the page without the content posted by the private individual. In other words, if the format for the content supplied by the private individual is dictated, managed or created by a covered entity, then that formatting must be, and must support, accessibility; (b) The tools and content that the Title II or III entity provide to the public to enable private individuals (non-covered entities) to post and review content must meet the web accessibility requirements (this ensures that a person with a disability can use the tools and access the content). See our discussion of the Authoring Tools Accessibility Guidelines and further consider the web as a platform rather than a site; (c) It must be possible for a private individual to create and share accessible content (i.e., content that conforms to the web accessibility regulations) on the page owned or operated by the covered entity if they choose to. In this regard, the Department should urge covered entities to encourage private party occasional sellers or traders to make their content accessible by offering technical assistance in an economical fashion as part of the guidelines and requirements and rules they already impose. (d) The regulations must be cognizant that private individuals may be posting content with the very same tools on the very same covered website that other Title II or III entities are using. For example, a private individual may use eBay to sell one item, while a Title II or III entity may also use eBay. A regulatory exemption on this issue must be very narrowly tailored so as not to exclude content posted on a site by a Title II or III entity that is also used by private individuals. Just as occasionally selling one item may not transform an individual into a Title III entity, so too will using a general site to post content not shield a Title III entity from its obligations. An exemption that includes these principles will ensure that people with disabilities will be able, themselves, to be the "informal and occasional seller, trader or barterer." A narrowly tailored exemption will also ensure that people with disabilities will have access to all content that otherwise covered entities post in a marketplace setting, and that individual occasional sellers, etc. choose to make accessible. It is vital that the Department address the distinction between accessible content and the ability to post such content. While it may choose to exempt certain sites, it should not exempt platforms. In fact, the Department's regulations should look forward and encourage the posting of accessible content by application of Section 508 and ATAG requirements. Web content created or posted by website users for personal, noncommercial use As with an exemption for casual, private sellers, an exemption for web content created or posted for personal (narrowly and carefully defined) noncommercial (again carefully defined) use must be very narrowly tailored. The same core principles listed above must be included in any exemption for this type of content. Without them, people with disabilities will be locked out of social, professional and educational networks and other community sites the Internet is offering today, and will offer tomorrow. Private communications between and among individuals who are not covered entities and who are communicating in a private context may be appropriately exempted from the regulation through technical assistance. However, the systems used for such private communication must not be. A web-based communication system used by a covered entity must be accessible. When communications between two individuals occur in other contexts, however, such as an academic environment, the regulatory result must be different. For example, two private individuals may use a photo-sharing site for nothing more than sharing family photos. Those individuals may choose not to share accessible content, but that site must offer tools to support accessible photo sharing for others who want it. On the other hand, photos of a school event shared by students on a site offered by the school to encourage student interaction must be accessible so that all students, including those with disabilities, can participate in this virtual school activity. The photos in these two examples may be shared on the same site, but the accessibility obligations would be quite different. The Department must be very wary of creating an exemption that would exclude vast swaths of the Internet made available by covered entities from much needed accessibility requirements. An exemption for personal, noncommercial use must recognize both who is creating content, the context in which it is delivered, and the purpose for which the content is intended. For example, colleges and universities using Facebook to communicate with students, or holding classes through Facebook, cannot be exempt from accessibility requirements. They remain Title II or III entities regardless of where they are conducting their educational programs and providing educational services. Content shared by fellow students in an online class in response to a class assignment or teacher request must be subject to the web accessibility regulations, even though there may not be a "commercial" purpose for the content. This is crucial as more educational institutions use the Internet to stream online lectures, post readings, and host student chat forums. Web accessibility guidelines must apply to Internet use for educational purposes so that students with disabilities are fully included in all aspects of the learning process. In today's web environment, the Department must carefully delineate what is meant by "noncommercial." There is significant content available without charge on major commercial sites that is posted by covered Title II and III entities. A covered entity (large or small) that posts content for free on a site such as YouTube or iTunes must not be exempt from providing that content in conformance with the Department's web accessibility standards. A Title II or III entity retains that characteristic regardless of where their activities take place. The core principles for any exemption in the context of content posted for personal noncommercial use require that language in any exemption include the following: (a) Each page owned or controlled by a covered entity used by the private individuals for the exempted purposes (e.g. private use) must meet the Department's web accessibility regulations when considering the page without regard to the content posted by the private individual for the exempted use. (In other words, if the format for the content supplied by the private individual is dictated, managed or created by a covered entity, then that formatting must be, and must support, accessibility); (b) The tools and content provided by the Title II or III entity to private individuals to enable them post and review the exempted content must themselves meet the web accessibility requirements; (c) It must be possible for a private individual to create and share accessible content on the page owned or operated by the covered entity if they choose to; and (d) Any exemption must be narrowly tailored to private individuals communicating with private individuals for private purposes. For example, a school that is otherwise a Title II or III entity that uses a website to facilitate the exchange of information with or between its students must ensure that all content on that website - even content posted by an individual student -- is accessible. Ultimately, no matter what exemption the Department chooses to apply through technical assistance, it should carefully consider the applicability of effective communication to the entity in question. The DOJ is no longer considering auxiliary aids and services within the context of physical modifications; it must recognize the challenges that it faces in tailoring narrow regulations in an increasingly expanding digital world. Compliance Issues Question 6. What resources and services are available to public accommodations and public entities to make their Web sites accessible? What is the ability of covered entities to make their Web sites accessible with in-house staff? What technical assistance should the Department make available to public entities and public accommodations to assist them with complying with this rule? Answer to Question 6. There are significant resources available to the public to assist in making websites comply with WCAG 2.0 Level AA via the revised Section 508. The Web Accessibility Initiative of the World Wide Web Consortium has abundant resources available at http://www.w3.org/WAI/. Many private and non-profit organizations also provide covered entities with resources, including training materials, direct training, site evaluation, site remediation, and site creation. Similarly, the World Wide Web Consortium further provides resources for training related to the Authoring Tools Accessibility Guidelines. With appropriate training, or already qualified staff, even the smallest covered entities should be able to make their websites accessible with in-house staff or reasonable outside assistance. The revision of Section 508 will mean that further resources will be available through GSA-maintained http://www.section508.gov . These training resources combined with free tools and techniques available through other sources will make the work of the entities more than achievable. DOJ Technical assistance is always a welcomed addition to available resources, and guidance on the new web accessibility regulations should be incorporated into the Department's ADA Technical Assistance services. Given extensive resources available in the private and non-profit marketplace, it is our believe that the Department will be able to reuse a significant amount of material already available. We see no reason that the Department will be unable to utilize the material at Section508.gov. The technical assistance material that the Department does provide, however, must ensure that it covers emerging technologies as well as technologies from 10 years ago. We find it very important to engage with the Department to ensure that people who are blind or visually impaired are no longer left behind. Question 7. Are there distinct or specialized features used on Web sites that render compliance with accessibility requirements difficult or impossible? Answer to Question 7. No. All pages and all functions of a website can be made accessible in conformance with WCAG 2.0 Level AA Success Criteria via Section 508 and ATAG. The Department should not embark on the slippery slope of carving out site features to be exempt from coverage. This is particularly so given the rapidly evolving nature of the web. A feature that may require extra effort to make accessible today may be either readily accessible - or obsolete -- tomorrow. We find it particularly disconcerting that the Department is seeking exemptions to technologies and platforms that may just be on the verge of being successful or are just beginning to be deployed. Rather than allowing the freedom to innovate in the accessibility space, the Department is encouraging stagnancy. We are compelled to remind the DOJ once again that these regulations should be designed to look toward the future. Moreover, the "undue burden" defense should be available in connection to covered entities that meet the well-established Department of Justice undue burden criteria. There is no reason, and no empirical or statutory justification, for the Department to create new exceptions to a well-developed and effective legal framework. Additional defenses and exceptions in the web context are not needed. When faced with accessibility challenges, covered entities have shown creativity. For some time, for example, it was believed that the very nature of a visual CAPTCHA rendered the security measure inaccessible to blind computer users. Entities committed to web access, however, have developed and instituted alternative audio CAPTCHAs that, when properly designed and implemented, eliminate what was once, and all too often continues to be, an absolute barrier to online access for individuals with visual impairments. Logic And text-based CAPTCHAs, which render the security feature accessible to individuals with both visual and hearing impairments, are also now available. Examples of companies with alternative audio or logic CAPTCHAs include Bank of America, Ing Direct, Rite Aid, and the country's three largest credit reporting agencies, which use a unique telephone-based CAPTCHA for those who cannot see the standard visual CAPTCHA. (Information about Bank of America's accessible online security program known as "Sitekey" available at http://www.bankofamerica.com/privacy/index.cfm?template=sitekey. Telephone-based CAPTCHA used by national credit reporting agencies can be found through http://www.annualcreditreport.com . Rite Aid's audio CAPTCHA can be found at https://www5.riteaid.com/myriteaid/forgot-password# . A simple logic CAPTCHA can be found at http://lflegal.com/contact. Question 8. Given that most Web sites today provide significant amounts of services and information in a dynamic, evolving setting that would be difficult, if not impossible, to replicate through alternative, accessible means, to what extent can accessible alternatives still be provided? Might viable accessible alternatives still exist for simple, non-dynamic Web sites? Answer to Question 8. There are no "viable accessible alternatives" to the particular manner in which information, programs and services are offered on a covered entity's web site. Even the most simple, non-dynamic websites have unique online characteristics that cannot be replicated in a different format. The Internet is not just a format that is instantly available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is a method of service and information delivery that allows a user to find content that the user may not know he was looking for. Well-designed, accessible sites allow all users to privately interact with information in a way that is unique to the online world. In this regard, we once again ask the Department to consider the "effective communication" tests that it has established for covered Title II and Title III entities. The expectation of independence and privacy required cannot simply be established by a covered entity offering a telephone-based service. A staffed 24/7 phone service might be able to answer some questions, or even provide some services, but a phone staff could never, for example, read aloud all information on a site to a person with a visual impairment in the order the person wants to read the information. A phone service can never provide an equivalent alternative for the ability to independently engage one's curiosity in the pursuit of information, programs and services that a website offers. Similarly, other alternatives such as Large Print, Braille, electronic or audio formats of web content can never be equally accessible to a website. Even the simplest web information can be updated and changed on a moment's notice. The same cannot be said of information mailed (or emailed) to a person's house. Even assuming a simple, one-page static website operated by a Title II or III entity with a staffed 24-7 phone service, regulations would be unable to meaningfully define "simple" or account for the fact that a site can become dynamic overnight. The ground-breaking regulations under consideration give the Department an opportunity to provide site owners and operators with clear direction on web accessibility. The Department's regulations should not allow Title II and III entities to avoid accessibility with the claim that accessible alternatives are provided. Effective Date Question 9. The Department seeks comment on the proposed time frames for compliance. Are the proposed effective dates for the regulations reasonable or should the Department adopt shorter or longer periods for compliance? Please provide as much detail as possible in support of your view. Answer to Question 9. Single Implementation Date. The Department should adopt a single deadline by which a covered entity's website must meet the new web regulations. For the reasons stated here, that deadline should be six months after the Department's new rule is published in the federal register. A staggered implementation date - with one date for "new or completely redesigned" websites, another for existing sites, and yet another for "new pages" on "existing sites," is confusing to both the general public and web designers. Unnecessary conflict and potential litigation will arise over whether a site has been "completely redesigned" or whether new pages were added to an existing site. The only exceptions for full accessibility by the single implementation deadline discussed here should be for (i) legacy pages which exist for historic purposes, addressed in Question 10 below; and (ii) situations where the entity can satisfy the undue burden defense in connection with content posted before the effective date of the regulation and not substantially refreshed thereafter. When a member of the public goes to a web site, they don't know if it is new, wholly redesigned, or partially redesigned. The public needs to have a consistent and realistic expectation of accessibility and covered entities need a clear standard for implementation. If the covered entity deems it necessary to have the content available on its platform, then it should make it accessible by the appropriate date unless it applies for the undue burden defense. Effective Date. As the Department is intimately aware, the regulatory process does not happen overnight. The public is currently responding to an ANPRM on the issue of web accessibility, which will be followed by an NPRM and then the final regulation. Given the length of the process, the web accessibility requirements should be effective within six months of the publication of the new regulation. The Department of Justice has repeatedly made clear that the ADA as currently written already applies to the websites of Title II and III entities, and that those entities are required to make their websites accessible. The current rulemaking should be seen as clarifying existing law and setting more specific standards for assessing compliance with the ADA. Any implementation delay is inconsistent with the Department's previously stated position. Moreover, covered entities both public and private have been making their websites accessible for many years. Bank of America committed to online accessibility in 2000. (The bank's web accessibility agreement, the first in the country, is on line at http://lflegal.com/2000/03/bank-of-america-initial-agreement/. Major League Baseball undertook a very significant commitment in 2010 to make not only http://www.mlb.com comply with WCAG 2.0 Level AA, but to ensure that all thirty team sites meet accessibility standards. (The MLB web accessibility agreement is available on line at http://lflegal.com/2010/02/mlb-agreement/. Amazon, eBay and Target Stores have rigorous accessibility programs, as do many other sites currently operating on line. More information about some of the large commercial entities that have committed to web accessibility can be found at http://lflegal.com/2010/09/doj-anprm-web/. Instead of recognizing companies that have already taken steps to ensure that their websites are available to people with disabilities, a two year implementation delay as suggested by the Department rewards companies that have ignored the Department's position on this issue and have not yet brought their sites into compliance. As long as the standards adopted by the Department do not differ widely from currently accepted accessibility standards (and they would not with a rule embracing WCAG 2.0 Level AA via the adoption of the revised Section 508 and the adoption of ATAG) there is no reason for a significant delay. On the other hand, a two-year implementation period will be harmful to people with disabilities because covered entities will be encouraged to delay implementing accessibility and will be empowered to implement inconsistent levels of accessibility. Such a delay will stall overall progress towards making the Internet accessible. As a result, people with disabilities will continue to be unnecessarily excluded from online goods, services, information, and communities. Although a phase-in period may be appropriate for other types of regulations such as ADA construction standards, it does not make sense in the context of web design. Accessibility enhancements can often be made without any significant delay, pages are constantly refreshed and new content is both constant and essential to the modern Internet. Few if any websites even take two years to design from scratch, or two years to redesign. Thus, a two year waiting period following publication of the final regulations, especially in light of the publicity this matter will receive through the ANPRM and NPRM processes, is simply unwarranted. With today's demands for fresh, current, online presence, few if any Title II or III entities would leave their websites unchanged, updated, unrefreshed for two years. This means that if a two year waiting period were granted, websites would be built, redesigned, refreshed and updated without reference to accessibility. For these reasons, with the exception of legacy pages discussed below, we urge the Department to adopt a single implementation date no later than six months after the final rule is published in the federal register. Question 10. The Department seeks comment regarding whether such a requirement would cause some businesses to remove older material rather than change the content into an accessible format. Should the Department adopt a safe harbor for such content so long as it is not updated or modified? Answer to Question 10. Once again, the Department's question considers web accessibility from the prism of what should be "excluded" rather than what should be "included." Reframing the covered content in terms of its usage and purposes may be helpful in understanding the distinction. The entire process, as considered through the lens of "effective communication" takes on a different and distinct cast. Effective communication begs the question that should be asked when considering any exemption: What purpose does the content serve? Most covered entities keep existing sites because the content, features, and services that such sites provide serve a useful purpose to the mission of the entity in question. As such, the role that the content plays is important to the entity. If it is so, then it must be important to the communication it provides to people who are blind or visually impaired. No exemption, however small, can change this fact. If the covered entity chooses to remove pages, it is difficult to imagine that it does so solely because it finds the requirement burdensome. If the pages serve no purpose and are removed, the accessibility requirement will not have been the primary reason for their removal. As with the exemptions discussed in response to Question 5 above, an exemption (or "safe harbor") for older online content that has not been updated or modified must be very narrowly tailored. This exemption should be limited to pre-existing website pages that are no longer actively viewed or used. The Department must be careful not to exempt all existing content as supposed "legacy" content. (Existing content (posted prior to the effective date of the new regulations and not substantially refreshed thereafter) should be subject to the undue burden defense.) Question 11. Should the Department take an incremental approach in adopting accessibility regulations applicable to Web sites and adopt a different effective date for covered entities based on certain criteria? For instance, should the Department's regulation initially apply to entities of a certain size (e.g., entities with 15 or more employees or earning a certain amount of revenue) or certain categories of entities (e.g., retail Web sites)? Please provide as much detail and information as possible in support of your view. Answer to Question 11. There should be a consistent requirement for all websites provided by covered entities. Carving out an exception for revenue or number of employees is not necessary. The well-established "undue burden" defense will be available to Title II and III entities that cannot meet the new regulations for content posted prior to the effective date and not substantially refreshed since the effective date. The five-pronged definition of "undue burden," which takes into account the size of an entity, its financial and other resources, the number of its employees and other factors will adequately protect the legitimate interests of covered entities without erecting additional barriers to implementation of new web accessibility regulations. Entity size is also not a predictor of ability to satisfy either a generalized performance standard or WCAG 2.0 Level AA criteria. The WCAG 2.0 Implementation Report includes sites of various sizes that have met levels A, AA and AAA Success Criteria. http://www.w3.org/WAI/GL/WCAG20/implementation-report/. The Department should also clarify, as it has done elsewhere, that if full compliance with the new web accessibility regulations would create an "undue burden" for content posted prior to the effective date and not substantially refreshed after that date for a Title II or III entity, the covered entity must comply with those regulations, to the "maximum extent feasible" and/or provide an alternative even if full compliance would result in an undue burden. Cost and Benefits of Web Site Regulations Question 12. What data source do you recommend to assist the Department in estimating the number of public accommodations (i.e., entities whose operations affect commerce and that fall within at least one of the 12 categories of public accommodations listed above) and State and local governments to be covered by any Web site accessibility regulations adopted by the Department under the ADA? Please include any data or information regarding entities the Department might consider limiting coverage of, as discussed in the ``coverage limitations'' section above. Response to Question 12. Question the relevance of this particular inquiry. There was no need to estimate the number of entities covered by the original Title II and III regulations, and the requested information should not affect their further regulatory actions here. A cursory Google search indicates that vast numbers of Title II and III entities will be covered by new web accessibility regulations. More importantly, millions of Americans with disabilities will benefit from clear regulatory guidance from the Department of Justice on this important issue - guidance that underscores the Department's long-publicized position that accessible websites are required by the existing ADA and its regulations. As these regulations are merely intended to clarify the Department's already-existing stands, we find the need for an economic impact analysis unnecessary. For covered entities which should have already been in compliance with the DOJ's application of the ADA to the web, the economic impact resulting from a clarification is irrelevant. Question 13. What are the annual costs generally associated with creating, maintaining, operating, and updating a Web site? What additional costs are associated with creating and maintaining an accessible Web site? Please include estimates of specific compliance and maintenance costs (software, hardware, contracting, employee time, etc.). What, if any, unquantifiable costs can be anticipated from amendments to the ADA regulations regarding Web site access? Answer to Question 13. Many entities keep answers to these types of questions confidential for proprietary reasons. Some of the factors involved in building accessibility into a website are discussed in a document entitled "Financial Factors in Developing a Web Accessibility Business Case for Your Organization," available on the Web Accessibility Initiative Website at http://www.w3.org/WAI/bcase/fin.html. It is widely recognized that costs of accessibility enhancements comprise a very small percentage of the overall cost of maintaining a web presence. While there are certainly initial accessibility-related start-up costs for entities that have not yet undertaken any accessibility work and minimal on-going costs for maintaining access, these costs must be seen as an investment in full equality in the 21st century to millions of people with disabilities. The undue burden defense will be available to covered entities who have not yet complied with the law and need to enhance content posted prior to the effective date and not refreshed since that date, and will protect such entities from unwarranted costs in meeting the new web guidelines. Cost factors should be irrelevant to providing access to new and re-designed websites, just as they are when considering access to new construction and alteration in the built environment. As the Department has clearly recognized, covered entities should have provided accessibility to its websites and services; if such entities have not done so, the economic impact and the costs associated with bringing the web presence in compliance should be seen as that needed for the purpose of retrofitting. It is not a new burden. ACB has recognized and always worked with companies interested in making web accessibility a priority. In doing so, the organization has always worked to ensure that entities always consider accessibility from the design and development phase. This ensures that training, and development costs are negligible and are clearly a part of doing business. Question 14. What are the benefits that can be anticipated from action by the Department to amend the ADA regulations to address Web site accessibility? Please include anticipated benefits for individuals with disabilities, businesses, and other affected parties, including benefits that cannot be fully monetized or otherwise quantified. Answer to Question 14. We find the need to justify potential benefits from these regulations that will clarify web accessibility requirements utterly insulting. The benefits from long-overdue Title II and III web accessibility regulations are incalculable. Benefits will flow to people with disabilities and the non-disabled public. Web accessibility regulations will be good for private sector businesses, for consumer health and healthcare generally, for the market economy as a whole, for the education system in the United States, for public sector services, and more. The Department's introduction to the web ANPRM recognizes the significant and diverse ways in which Americans in the 21st century spend time online. Bringing accessibility to each of these arenas benefits people with disabilities and society as a whole. Indeed, a question as to the benefits of web accessibility is the same as a question about the benefits of the Internet to society overall. Given the rapid migration of government services, commerce, education and healthcare resources to the web, it is manifest that many if not most public and private institutions believe greater utilization of the web to be in their best interests. Their actions must also represent a belief that greater use of the Internet benefits the public as well. That being so, it should hardly be necessary to make a separate argument regarding the benefits of Internet accessibility for persons with disabilities. Society has already answered that question for everyone. Nonetheless, we briefly address the Department's question here. State and Local government web accessibility ensures civic engagement by the widest possible range of citizenry. As more and more government entities, large and small, migrate information and services to the web, citizens with disabilities who use computers are either denied access to those services or have to obtain them in a more expensive manner (from public employees) if government websites are not accessible. As our population ages it will be able to stay civically engaged if state and local government websites comply with government-mandated web accessibility requirements. In addition, accessible online services, information and goods allow people to stay in their communities (including rural communities) when otherwise they would be required to move to urban and institutional settings because of lack of transportation, physical access, and other factors. The Department is not coming in "ahead of the curve" on the issue of accessible online information and services by public entities. (There are millions of examples of programs, services and information on line. One is the website of the Pennsylvania Adoption agency - a detailed site benefiting and serving families touched by adoption, kids waiting to be adopted, potential adopting parents http://www.adoptpakids.org/. It is an example that demonstrates the many categories of individuals who will benefit from the proposed regulations.) Regulations must be strong and robust to make sure citizens with disabilities are not locked out of the new public sector reality. Similarly, significant education programs and resources offered by both Title II and III entities are already on line, and again, the Department's regulations in many ways need to play "catch-up." Some institutions provide those resources through accessible web pages, but many more do not. The ones that have not must not be rewarded by delayed implementation or regulations guaranteeing anything less than full accessibility. Students with disabilities at all levels - from grade school through higher education, trade school, and supplemental programs will benefit from the Department's proposed web accessibility regulations. Making all online education tools and information available to all citizens who wish to benefit from them has untold positive consequences for the country. Again this is important for people of all ages, and is critical for the lifelong education of our population that all are predicting will be needed to keep them competitive and employed. Benefits to the private retail sector are readily apparent. The more individuals who can use a website that sells products or services, the more products and services those individuals can purchase. The sooner and more completely Title III entities open their virtual doors to the disabled public, the sooner that segment of the public can become customers. And in the future, the elderly, who also benefit from web accessibility, will comprise an increasing percentage of consumers with resources. Purchases made online have already come to predominate over purchases made in brick-and-mortar stores for many types of products, and there are several reasons that people with disabilities would be particularly likely to shop online if accessible websites enabled them to do so. Physical barriers in the built environment, as well as a lack of accessible transportation, make it difficult for many people with disabilities to travel to retail establishments. People with visual impairments cannot independently navigate the array of products available at a store and the information conveyed on the labels of those products as is possible when those same products are displayed on an accessible website in an accessible manner. People with hearing or speech impairments may similarly find it difficult to obtain information from store personnel about merchandise when they can easily find that same information online. And of course, people with disabilities want to shop on line for the same reasons that their non-disabled peers do, including convenience, privacy, and cost savings. The Internet actually holds enormous potential to level the playing field of commerce for people with disabilities in a way never experienced before, and robust regulations from the Department of Justice on web accessibility will ensure that this potential is realized. Benefits resulting from accessible online healthcare and medical information will also be significant. In August 2010, a Harris poll found that "The Internet is now a very important source of health information, education and perhaps reassurance for a majority of Americans." The poll found that "more than half of the searchers have discussed information they found online with their doctors or have searched online because of a discussion with their doctors." See report on Harris Poll at http://bit.ly/aOdXF4. Potentially increased employment of people with disabilities is also a likely benefit of web accessibility regulations. Many jobs are now done on line, and certainly many jobs are advertised on line. Many Title II and III entities have a section on their websites for career seekers to gather information and often fill out job applications. Access to this employment source by people with disabilities is a benefit to those individuals, and to society at large. Accessibility of online travel information will benefit both travelers with disabilities and the sellers of the travel-related goods and services they are purchasing. The web is now widely used for researching hotels and airfares, making reservations, booking services at travel destinations, and more. The travel industry will benefit from more individuals being able to use their online services. The ability to participate in online entertainment and communities will be a significant benefit to people with disabilities from the proposed regulations. In 2010, Major League Baseball demonstrated the possibility of this benefit in upgrading its websites, including online video and audio players to ensure their accessibility to persons with visual impairments. Significant statistical resources are available demonstrating both the numbers of people with disabilities in the United States today and the number of Americans online. The intersection of these resources bolster the Department's efforts to regulate in this area and underscore the importance of web accessibility regulations to a wide swath of the American public. (Various 2010 Disability statistics are available on line at http://www.disabilitycompendium.org/. See also http://dsc.ucsf.edu/main.php. General statistics related to Internet use in the United States is available from the Advisory Committee to the Congressional Internet Caucus at http://www.netcaucus.org/statistics/. Question 15. What, if any, are the likely or potential unintended consequences (positive or negative) of Web site accessibility requirements? For example, would the costs of a requirement to provide captioning to videos cause covered entities to provide fewer videos on their Web sites? Answer to Question 15. The likely or potential unintended positive consequences of website accessibility requirements are discussed in response to Question 14 above. In addition to those benefits, it is widely recognized and understood that accessible web pages are easier to use on mobile devices (where significant amounts of online time is spent), assist in the sought-after "search engine optimization", and are friendlier for other automated access techniques. Accessibility also makes a site easier to use with next-generation intelligent agent browsers. We are not aware of any negative consequences, either likely or potential. The specific answer to the Department's question about captioning is a resounding "no." First, the technologies for captioning web-based videos and other audio content are expanding by the day and many mainstream tools are now available, including the free auto-timing and auto-captioning tools available via Google's YouTube site. The free MAGpie caption authoring tool provided by the National Center for Accessible Media is also useful and widely used for captioning the audio content of all kinds of videos. See http://ncam.wgbh.org/invent_build/web_multimedia/tools-guidelines/magpie. Second, the cost to caption a video is a very small fraction of the cost to create any commercial video even today and those costs are expected to continually decrease to approaching zero in the future. Third, if it is an undue burden for a covered entity to caption some or all of its video content posted prior to the effective date of the new regulations, the Department's undue burden regulations will be applicable. No public entity will be required by new regulations to provide fewer videos. (See response to Question 11.) The most significant positive impact of these regulations will be the way in which accessibility to digital content will have to be approached by covered entities. The need to provide access to variety of content and platforms will result in entities to innovate in order to ensure that they can provide accessible information. The mindset of "separate but equal" will have to disappear in light of the Department's application of the effective communication test. Despite what is often argued by industry regarding innovation, it remains a fact that accessibility improvements do, in fact, constitute innovation. Question 16. Are there any other effective and reasonably feasible alternatives to making the Web sites of public accommodations accessible that the Department should consider? If so, please provide as much detail about these alternatives, including information regarding their costs and effectiveness in your answer. Answer to Question 16. No. See response to Question 8. Impact on Small Entities Question 17. The Department seeks input regarding the impact the measures being contemplated by the Department with regard to Web accessibility will have on small entities if adopted by the Department. The Department encourages you to include any cost data on the potential economic impact on small entities with your response. Please provide information on capital costs for equipment, such as hardware and software needed to meet the regulatory requirements; costs of modifying existing processes and procedures; any affects to sales and profits, including increases in business due to tapping markets not previously reached; changes in market competition as a result of the rule; and cost for hiring web professionals for to assistance in making existing Web sites accessible. Answer to Question 17. As noted elsewhere (see answer to Question 11), the Department's undue burden analysis will allow small businesses to consider various costs identified in Question 17 when considering web accessibility obligations for content posted prior to the effective date of the regulations and not refreshed after that date. It is to be expected that entities not familiar with or experienced in providing website accessibility will be fearful of its implications and will foresee potential costs and burdens that arise out of their fear rather than out of the experience of those who have embraced the concept. Therefore, we urge the Department to look behind the fears and expect that any responders who allege such risks provide data to support their claims and to distinguish actual experience from unfounded, albeit sincere, fear. As stated elsewhere, the costs of providing and creating access is remarkably different if done so at the entity level. Rather than considering accessibility as something with which an entity must comply, a full consideration of providing universal access by integrating access into product and service design ensures that innovation occurs. The increased market opportunity can more than offset any cost being considered by a small entity. Question 18. Are there alternatives that the Department can adopt, which were not previously discussed in response to Questions 11 or 16, that will alleviate the burden on small entities? Should there be different compliance requirements or timetables for small entities that take into account the resources available to small entities or should the Department adopt an exemption for certain or all small entities from coverage of the rule, in whole or in part. Please provide as much detail as possible in your response. Answer to Question 18. As discussed in previous questions, there should not be different compliance requirements or timetables for small entities because those entities will be able to avail themselves of the undue burden defense for content posted prior to the effective date of the new regulations. For the same reason, and for the reasons stated in response to Questions 9 and 11, under no circumstances should small entities, regardless of the definition, be exempted from coverage in whole or in part. It is difficult to imagine that the Department is considering exemptions for entities based on a mistaken understanding of web as being entirely analogous to the physical environment. As previously discussed, building accessibility to the web requires a commitment, some training, and a careful attention to detail. In particular, no categorical exemptions should be granted for covered entities form having to meet the effective communication test. Exemptions, if granted, should be on a case by case basis. Other Issues Question 19. The Department is interested in gathering other information or data relating to the Department's objective to provide requirements for Web accessibility under titles II and III of the ADA. Are there additional issues or information not addressed by the Department's questions that are important for the Department to consider? Please provide as much detail as possible in your response. Answer to Question 19. There are a few significant questions and considerations that the Department has left unaddressed. First, in its economic analysis, the Department has failed to entirely consider the impact of not clarifying and implementing accessibility requirements would be on people with disabilities. Rather than asking what benefits would clarifying rules would have on people with disabilities, we posit that the Department should consider the negative impact of not clarifying rules. The listing of the benefits that the Department has asked responders to provide should, in and of itself, serve as a reminder that the impact of not acting is significant on people who are blind or visually impaired and, indeed, all people with disabilities. We find it particularly galling that people with disabilities must justify having full access to information, communication, and services that covered entities provide. Secondly, we further find it difficult that the Department considers web accessibility in isolation. The ecosystem which increasingly represents the web includes electronic communication of many different kinds. For example, the DOJ does not address e-mail as a communication medium at all. Many covered entities have been using inaccessible electronic mail to communicate with employees and customers. It is absolutely essential that any regulations promulgated by the Department include all forms of electronic communications. Thirdly, the department has made several references to captioning for videos on the web. Despite publishing an ANPRM that deals particularly with audio description, the Department has failed to make any references to audio description for web video. ACB is concerned that the regulations that the Department plans to publish will not address audio description requirements for the web. The department must not forego audio description in its conception of what it considers effective communication. And finally, we highly urge the Department to question the regulations it is about to promulgate in terms of their applicability to technologies and circumstances that will be in effect 20 years from now. We are uncertain that the conception of these regulations are even adequate to address the current challenges we face. We specifically ask the Department to view pervasive use of social networking as a single instance of all-around communication medium that defies boundaries. When all covered entities view social networking as the means to reach their customers and provide better services and support, it should be important to the Department to see that people who are blind or visually impaired are given the opportunity to participate in as many ways as possible. For dignity, independence, and privacy, people with disabilities ask nothing less than equal treatment. It is not the question of how to provide access to a particular medium that the Department should be considering; rather the question should be how to make all communication accessible. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From skeegan at stanford.edu Fri Jan 21 15:39:42 2011 From: skeegan at stanford.edu (Sean J Keegan) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:14 2018 Subject: [Athen] OmniPage Batch Manager question Message-ID: <4D3A193E.6020700@stanford.edu> Hello all, I am working with the Batch Manager for OmniPage Pro 17 in an attempt to automate some processes. I have set up "input" and "output" folders as well as specified a job workflow (i.e., watch the input folder, OCR file, process, save the file, etc.). The job workflow is able to load the file from the "input" folder and perform OCR and process any corrections. However, when I get to the final step of the process to saving the exported file, the automated job workflow process seems to freeze. The only way I get the completed files to appear in the "output" folder is to manually stop the specific job workflow OR add a new file to the "input" folder to start the job workflow process again. I know I am probably missing something simple, but have been through the interface several times and cannot figure out why the job workflow seems to freeze at the "Save" step. Take care, Sean -- Sean Keegan, M.S. Associate Director, Assistive Technology Office of Accessible Education - Stanford University http://studentaffairs.stanford.edu/oae From Michael.Nusen at ppcc.edu Fri Jan 21 20:03:30 2011 From: Michael.Nusen at ppcc.edu (Nusen, Michael) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:14 2018 Subject: [Athen] OmniPage Batch Manager question In-Reply-To: <4D3A193E.6020700@stanford.edu> References: <4D3A193E.6020700@stanford.edu> Message-ID: <88C9E5B80FC64A469DF44C1AC78F853F6382585960@cccsdna51> We used to have workflow freezes despite the use of a high-powered quad processor CAD-capable workstation or even with processing only 1 chapter at a time. We got tired of the problems & switched to ABBYY FineReader in late 2006. Michael Nusen Coordinator, OASIS/CAC (Office of Accommodative Services and Instructional Support/Computer Access Center) Pikes Peak Community College michael.nusen@ppcc.edu 719-502-3022 -----Original Message----- From: athen-bounces@athenpro.org [mailto:athen-bounces@athenpro.org] On Behalf Of Sean J Keegan Sent: Friday, January 21, 2011 4:40 PM To: Access Technology Higher Education Network; Alternate Media Subject: [Athen] OmniPage Batch Manager question Hello all, I am working with the Batch Manager for OmniPage Pro 17 in an attempt to automate some processes. I have set up "input" and "output" folders as well as specified a job workflow (i.e., watch the input folder, OCR file, process, save the file, etc.). The job workflow is able to load the file from the "input" folder and perform OCR and process any corrections. However, when I get to the final step of the process to saving the exported file, the automated job workflow process seems to freeze. The only way I get the completed files to appear in the "output" folder is to manually stop the specific job workflow OR add a new file to the "input" folder to start the job workflow process again. I know I am probably missing something simple, but have been through the interface several times and cannot figure out why the job workflow seems to freeze at the "Save" step. Take care, Sean -- Sean Keegan, M.S. Associate Director, Assistive Technology Office of Accessible Education - Stanford University http://studentaffairs.stanford.edu/oae _______________________________________________ Athen mailing list Athen@athenpro.org http://athenpro.org/mailman/listinfo/athen_athenpro.org From skeegan at stanford.edu Mon Jan 24 11:58:57 2011 From: skeegan at stanford.edu (Sean J Keegan) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:14 2018 Subject: [Athen] OmniPage Batch Manager question In-Reply-To: <88C9E5B80FC64A469DF44C1AC78F853F6382585960@cccsdna51> References: <4D3A193E.6020700@stanford.edu> <88C9E5B80FC64A469DF44C1AC78F853F6382585960@cccsdna51> Message-ID: <4D3DDA01.3080904@stanford.edu> > We used to have workflow freezes despite the use > of a high-powered quad processor CAD-capable workstation > or even with processing only 1 chapter at a time. Yep - that's is very similar to the problem I am having. Very capable hardware, there is just something that is causing the Batch Manager to freeze on the "Save" part of the workflow. I have also gotten a few private comments from others reporting this same behavior with OmniPage. > We got tired of the problems & switched to > ABBYY FineReader in late 2006. Are you using the Professional or Corporate Edition? I was doing some research and it looks like the Corporate Edition is needed for watching "Hot Folders". Take care, Sean -- Sean Keegan, M.S. Associate Director, Assistive Technology Office of Accessible Education - Stanford University http://studentaffairs.stanford.edu/oae From ankmk4 at uaa.alaska.edu Wed Jan 12 12:32:11 2011 From: ankmk4 at uaa.alaska.edu (Kaela Parks) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:15 2018 Subject: [Athen] accessible web survey tools In-Reply-To: References: <0717cc5cb81179fb56046018388dd9e5@uoregon.edu> Message-ID: We use Qualtrics which has some nice options for evaluating the level of accessibility for all questions during the design process. Kaela Parks, Director Disability Support Services University of Alaska Anchorage RH 105, 3211 Providence Drive Anchorage, AK 99508 Ph. 907-786-4535 Fax 907-786-4531 www.uaa.alaska.edu/dss www.uaa.alaska.edu/accessibility From: athen-bounces@athenpro.org [mailto:athen-bounces@athenpro.org] On Behalf Of Ken Petri Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2011 10:57 AM To: Access Technology Higher Education Network Subject: Re: [Athen] accessible web survey tools Thanks Sean. And you're right--it's a bit out of date. For one, the caveats about high-contrast and tab navigability re: SurveyMonkey no longer hold. We've been using Survey Gizmo at the WAC for quite a while for both CIC surveys and also for surveys to our DS office students. James, in SG, I recommend avoiding the "sortable" and star-ratng questions. Those are still problematic with keyboard and screen reader. Also, you might have a look at our "tips" section. Those still hold: http://wac.osu.edu/workshops/survey_of_surveys/#tips SurveyMonkey has done some nice things with table markup in their grid-based questions that are specifically geared for accessibility. It's definitely worth trying out. We will update our information in the next few months. So I have added in a note at the top of the page warning about the age of the information.... Best, ken -- Ken Petri Program Director, OSU Web Accessibility Center 102D Pomerene Hall, 1760 Neil Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210 Office: 614.292.1760 | Mobile: 614.218.1499 | Fax: 614.292.4190 http://wac.osu.edu | petri.1@osu.edu On Tue, Jan 11, 2011 at 2:21 PM, Sean J Keegan wrote: Hi James, > What do you all recommend for accessible web based surveys? Have you looked at the study from Ohio State University that reviewed a number of different survey tools? http://wac.osu.edu/workshops/survey_of_surveys/ Some of the data is from 2008 and may be a bit dated, but I think the overall information is still useful (and is one of the best evaluations done on survey tools). Take care, Sean Sean Keegan On Jan 11, 2011, at 9:13 AM, James L Bailey wrote: > > What do you all recommend for accessible web based surveys? Thanks. > > -- > Best regards, > > James > > -- > > James Bailey > Adaptive Tech Coordinator > University of Oregon > > > > _______________________________________________ > Athen mailing list > Athen@athenpro.org > http://athenpro.org/mailman/listinfo/athen_athenpro.org _______________________________________________ Athen mailing list Athen@athenpro.org http://athenpro.org/mailman/listinfo/athen_athenpro.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From pepnetnortheast at rit.edu Mon Jan 17 13:58:49 2011 From: pepnetnortheast at rit.edu (pepnetnortheast@rit.edu) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:15 2018 Subject: [Athen] Happy 2011: eFolio online trainings available Message-ID: <8115A24A02dbf287D9ismtpEDA62@129.21.53.181> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From wink.harner at mcmail.maricopa.edu Thu Jan 20 09:15:24 2011 From: wink.harner at mcmail.maricopa.edu (Wink Harner) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:15 2018 Subject: [Athen] tactile astronomy resources Message-ID: <003b01cbb8c5$a02b2000$e0816000$@harner@mcmail.maricopa.edu> Hi all ATHEN-ites We need resources for a student who is significantly VI who needs some tactile resources for an intro astronomy class. The lab portion of the class covers the northern hemisphere winter/spring seasons; the lecture portion of the class covers the whole sky. We have an astronomy dome lab for observation. We expect to be able to do raised line printing for some of the handouts & charts. The instructor(s) have provided all materials in PDF format which our adaptive lab can either enlarge w/contrast or produce raised-line charts. Student is a JAWS user; instructor(s) use WEBCT for all homework assignments. We are providing a classroom assistant which can also provide out-of-class assistance to read screens as necessary. Any other suggestions will be most welcome! Please let us know ASAP about any tactile astronomy resources available.Thanks in advance for your collective wisdom and willingness to share resources & solutions. Wink Harner Manager Disability Resources & Services Mesa Community College 1833 W. Southern Avenue Mesa AZ 85202 480-461-7447 winkharner@mesacc.edu -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From wink.harner at mcmail.maricopa.edu Thu Jan 20 09:36:41 2011 From: wink.harner at mcmail.maricopa.edu (Wink Harner) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:15 2018 Subject: [Athen] FW: tactile astronomy resources Message-ID: <006401cbb8c8$9978c570$cc6a5050$@harner@mcmail.maricopa.edu> Forwarding bounced message. From: Wink Harner [mailto:wink.harner@mcmail.maricopa.edu] Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2011 10:15 AM To: 'Access Technology Higher Education Network' Cc: 'DSSHE-L@LISTSERV.BUFFALO.EDU'; Kevin Healy Subject: tactile astronomy resources Hi all ATHEN-ites We need resources for a student who is significantly VI who needs some tactile resources for an intro astronomy class. The lab portion of the class covers the northern hemisphere winter/spring seasons; the lecture portion of the class covers the whole sky. We have an astronomy dome lab for observation. We expect to be able to do raised line printing for some of the handouts & charts. The instructor(s) have provided all materials in PDF format which our adaptive lab can either enlarge w/contrast or produce raised-line charts. Student is a JAWS user; instructor(s) use WEBCT for all homework assignments. We are providing a classroom assistant which can also provide out-of-class assistance to read screens as necessary. Any other suggestions will be most welcome! Please let us know ASAP about any tactile astronomy resources available.Thanks in advance for your collective wisdom and willingness to share resources & solutions. Wink Harner Manager Disability Resources & Services Mesa Community College 1833 W. Southern Avenue Mesa AZ 85202 480-461-7447 winkharner@mesacc.edu -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Jesse.Hausler at colostate.edu Thu Jan 27 11:23:07 2011 From: Jesse.Hausler at colostate.edu (Hausler,Jesse) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:15 2018 Subject: [Athen] Job Opening - Colorado State University - Fort Collins, CO - Assistive Technology Resource Center Message-ID: I apologize for the cross-posting. I am leaving my position at Colorado State University and am assisting with the search for a replacement. The position could be described as part Assistive Technology IT Coordination and part Accessibility/Universal Design consultation and education. This is truly a great job in a great location with a fun and exciting working culture. The Assistive Technology Resource Center at Colorado State University seeks individuals to apply for the position of Assistive Technology/Information Technology Support Specialist. This is a full time (40 hours/week) administrative professional position in Fort Collins, Colorado. The Position Announcement is attached. For a full job description, or to apply, please contact Marla Roll at mcroll@cahs.colostate.edu. http://www.colostate.edu/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/cwis202/db.cgi?db=jobs&uid=faculty&college=Applied%20Human%20Sciences&sb=10&so=descend&view_records=1&nh=1&mh=1 Jesse Hausler Colorado State University 970-491-6258 http://atrc.colostate.edu -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Position Announcement.docx Type: application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document Size: 18855 bytes Desc: Position Announcement.docx URL: From gdietrich at htctu.net Thu Jan 27 17:13:30 2011 From: gdietrich at htctu.net (Gaeir Dietrich) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:15 2018 Subject: [Athen] tactile astronomy resources In-Reply-To: <003b01cbb8c5$a02b2000$e0816000$@harner@mcmail.maricopa.edu> References: <003b01cbb8c5$a02b2000$e0816000$@harner@mcmail.maricopa.edu> Message-ID: A professor at Edinboro University did some wonderful astronomy tactiles a number of years ago. His name was Dr. David Hurd and his e-mail was dhurd@edinboro.edu. You might also try contacting Lucia Hasty. I believe she knew David, and I have a very vague memory that maybe she had access to his tactiles.not sure. Astronomy is actually a great science for a blind student to take. When it comes to star charts and such, tactile diagrams really do convey as much as pictures do. A sighted student is not going to get much more information with their eyes than the blind student can get with their fingers-and that is unusual in the sciences where observation is so much a part of them. The stars are so far away that none of us can really tell all that much by looking. Mostly astronomy is very theoretical, and that aspect really makes it quite accessible. I know it's non-intuitive, but I often encouraged blind students to take astronomy-especially if they had never seen. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Gaeir (rhymes with "fire") Dietrich High Tech Center Training Unit of the California Community Colleges De Anza College, Cupertino, CA www.htctu.net 408-996-6043 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ _____ From: athen-bounces@athenpro.org [mailto:athen-bounces@athenpro.org] On Behalf Of Wink Harner Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2011 9:15 AM To: 'Access Technology Higher Education Network' Cc: Kevin Healy; DSSHE-L@LISTSERV.BUFFALO.EDU Subject: [Athen] tactile astronomy resources Hi all ATHEN-ites We need resources for a student who is significantly VI who needs some tactile resources for an intro astronomy class. The lab portion of the class covers the northern hemisphere winter/spring seasons; the lecture portion of the class covers the whole sky. We have an astronomy dome lab for observation. We expect to be able to do raised line printing for some of the handouts & charts. The instructor(s) have provided all materials in PDF format which our adaptive lab can either enlarge w/contrast or produce raised-line charts. Student is a JAWS user; instructor(s) use WEBCT for all homework assignments. We are providing a classroom assistant which can also provide out-of-class assistance to read screens as necessary. Any other suggestions will be most welcome! Please let us know ASAP about any tactile astronomy resources available.Thanks in advance for your collective wisdom and willingness to share resources & solutions. Wink Harner Manager Disability Resources & Services Mesa Community College 1833 W. Southern Avenue Mesa AZ 85202 480-461-7447 winkharner@mesacc.edu -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kcahill at MIT.EDU Thu Jan 27 17:43:37 2011 From: kcahill at MIT.EDU (Kathleen Cahill) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:15 2018 Subject: [Athen] tactile astronomy resources In-Reply-To: References: <003b01cbb8c5$a02b2000$e0816000$@harner@mcmail.maricopa.edu>, Message-ID: <64E6EEC0B310504E9221AA9658121D090A0F4D7D8D@EXPO11.exchange.mit.edu> National Braille Press also publishes a book of tactile diagrams related to astronomy called "Touch the Stars" by Noreen Grice. You can look it up at http://www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/TOUCH.html . It looks like it's a book for kids but if the tactile diagrams are in the book, I'm sure they could prove useful to a student! Kathy ________________________________________ From: athen-bounces@athenpro.org [athen-bounces@athenpro.org] On Behalf Of Gaeir Dietrich [gdietrich@htctu.net] Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2011 8:13 PM To: 'Access Technology Higher Education Network' Subject: Re: [Athen] tactile astronomy resources A professor at Edinboro University did some wonderful astronomy tactiles a number of years ago. His name was Dr. David Hurd and his e-mail was dhurd@edinboro.edu. You might also try contacting Lucia Hasty. I believe she knew David, and I have a very vague memory that maybe she had access to his tactiles?not sure. Astronomy is actually a great science for a blind student to take. When it comes to star charts and such, tactile diagrams really do convey as much as pictures do. A sighted student is not going to get much more information with their eyes than the blind student can get with their fingers?and that is unusual in the sciences where observation is so much a part of them. The stars are so far away that none of us can really tell all that much by looking. Mostly astronomy is very theoretical, and that aspect really makes it quite accessible. I know it?s non-intuitive, but I often encouraged blind students to take astronomy?especially if they had never seen. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Gaeir (rhymes with "fire") Dietrich High Tech Center Training Unit of the California Community Colleges De Anza College, Cupertino, CA www.htctu.net 408-996-6043 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ________________________________ From: athen-bounces@athenpro.org [mailto:athen-bounces@athenpro.org] On Behalf Of Wink Harner Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2011 9:15 AM To: 'Access Technology Higher Education Network' Cc: Kevin Healy; DSSHE-L@LISTSERV.BUFFALO.EDU Subject: [Athen] tactile astronomy resources Hi all ATHEN-ites We need resources for a student who is significantly VI who needs some tactile resources for an intro astronomy class. The lab portion of the class covers the northern hemisphere winter/spring seasons; the lecture portion of the class covers the whole sky. We have an astronomy dome lab for observation. We expect to be able to do raised line printing for some of the handouts & charts. The instructor(s) have provided all materials in PDF format which our adaptive lab can either enlarge w/contrast or produce raised-line charts. Student is a JAWS user; instructor(s) use WEBCT for all homework assignments. We are providing a classroom assistant which can also provide out-of-class assistance to read screens as necessary. Any other suggestions will be most welcome! Please let us know ASAP about any tactile astronomy resources available?Thanks in advance for your collective wisdom and willingness to share resources & solutions. Wink Harner Manager Disability Resources & Services Mesa Community College 1833 W. Southern Avenue Mesa AZ 85202 480-461-7447 winkharner@mesacc.edu From winkharner at mesacc.edu Thu Jan 27 19:19:29 2011 From: winkharner at mesacc.edu (Wink Harner) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:15 2018 Subject: [Athen] tactile astronomy resources In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <931548318.260701.1296184769229.JavaMail.root@mailstore1.mesacc.edu> Gaier, Thanks for the info & referrals. Will follow up with David & Lucia tomorrow. Also appreciate your insight. Will share with both the teacher & the student tomorrow. Hope all is well BTW how does one get a teaching certificate/license for college in CA? Wink ----- Original Message ----- From: "Gaeir Dietrich" To: "Access Technology Higher Education Network" Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2011 6:13:30 PM Subject: Re: [Athen] tactile astronomy resources A professor at Edinboro University did some wonderful astronomy tactiles a number of years ago. His name was Dr. David Hurd and his e-mail was dhurd@edinboro.edu . You might also try contacting Lucia Hasty. I believe she knew David, and I have a very vague memory that maybe she had access to his tactiles?not sure. Astronomy is actually a great science for a blind student to take. When it comes to star charts and such, tactile diagrams really do convey as much as pictures do. A sighted student is not going to get much more information with their eyes than the blind student can get with their fingers?and that is unusual in the sciences where observation is so much a part of them. The stars are so far away that none of us can really tell all that much by looking. Mostly astronomy is very theoretical, and that aspect really makes it quite accessible. I know it?s non-intuitive, but I often encouraged blind students to take astronomy?especially if they had never seen. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Gaeir (rhymes with "fire") Dietrich High Tech Center Training Unit of the California Community Colleges De Anza College, Cupertino, CA www.htctu.net 408-996-6043 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ From: athen-bounces@athenpro.org [mailto:athen-bounces@athenpro.org] On Behalf Of Wink Harner Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2011 9:15 AM To: 'Access Technology Higher Education Network' Cc: Kevin Healy; DSSHE-L@LISTSERV.BUFFALO.EDU Subject: [Athen] tactile astronomy resources Hi all ATHEN-ites We need resources for a student who is significantly VI who needs some tactile resources for an intro astronomy class. The lab portion of the class covers the northern hemisphere winter/spring seasons; the lecture portion of the class covers the whole sky. We have an astronomy dome lab for observation. We expect to be able to do raised line printing for some of the handouts & charts. The instructor(s) have provided all materials in PDF format which our adaptive lab can either enlarge w/contrast or produce raised-line charts. Student is a JAWS user; instructor(s) use WEBCT for all homework assignments. We are providing a classroom assistant which can also provide out-of-class assistance to read screens as necessary. Any other suggestions will be most welcome! Please let us know ASAP about any tactile astronomy resources available?Thanks in advance for your collective wisdom and willingness to share resources & solutions. Wink Harner Manager Disability Resources & Services Mesa Community College 1833 W. Southern Avenue Mesa AZ 85202 480-461-7447 winkharner@mesacc.edu _______________________________________________ Athen mailing list Athen@athenpro.org http://athenpro.org/mailman/listinfo/athen_athenpro.org -- Wink Harner -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kestrell at panix.com Fri Jan 28 05:20:46 2011 From: kestrell at panix.com (Kestrell) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:15 2018 Subject: [Athen] tactile astronomy resources References: <003b01cbb8c5$a02b2000$e0816000$@harner@mcmail.maricopa.edu> Message-ID: <39659B994FDD41B39F1BC7296E84E4C6@Galatea> Not so much a resource as an example of a blind physicist: Kent Cullers, who is head of research, I believe, at the SETI Project, is blind. He was the blind physicist mentioned in Carl Sagan's book _Contact_. Kestrell ----- Original Message ----- From: Wink Harner To: 'Access Technology Higher Education Network' Cc: Kevin Healy ; DSSHE-L@LISTSERV.BUFFALO.EDU Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2011 12:15 PM Subject: [Athen] tactile astronomy resources Hi all ATHEN-ites We need resources for a student who is significantly VI who needs some tactile resources for an intro astronomy class. The lab portion of the class covers the northern hemisphere winter/spring seasons; the lecture portion of the class covers the whole sky. We have an astronomy dome lab for observation. We expect to be able to do raised line printing for some of the handouts & charts. The instructor(s) have provided all materials in PDF format which our adaptive lab can either enlarge w/contrast or produce raised-line charts. Student is a JAWS user; instructor(s) use WEBCT for all homework assignments. We are providing a classroom assistant which can also provide out-of-class assistance to read screens as necessary. Any other suggestions will be most welcome! Please let us know ASAP about any tactile astronomy resources available.Thanks in advance for your collective wisdom and willingness to share resources & solutions. Wink Harner Manager Disability Resources & Services Mesa Community College 1833 W. Southern Avenue Mesa AZ 85202 480-461-7447 winkharner@mesacc.edu ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ Athen mailing list Athen@athenpro.org http://athenpro.org/mailman/listinfo/athen_athenpro.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From gdietrich at htctu.net Fri Jan 28 07:59:35 2011 From: gdietrich at htctu.net (Gaeir Dietrich) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:15 2018 Subject: [Athen] Looking for knowledgeable people in FL Message-ID: <5497DB0A4919487988BF293715B96FD2@htctu.fhda.edu> Hi folks! I am looking for a recommendation of one or two people in Florida who can speak knowledgeably about alternate format issues in higher ed. It would be best if these people were from four-year colleges and even better if they could be from different four-year schools. Berkie, you're still in Florida, yes? Who else is good down there? ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Gaeir (rhymes with "fire") Dietrich High Tech Center Training Unit of the California Community Colleges De Anza College, Cupertino, CA www.htctu.net 408-996-6043 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ The HTCTU provides leadership, training, and support to the California Community Colleges in using technology to promote the success of students with disabilities. There is no success without access... -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From skeegan at stanford.edu Fri Jan 28 17:08:52 2011 From: skeegan at stanford.edu (Sean J Keegan) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:15 2018 Subject: [Athen] Audio problem with Livescribe Pen Message-ID: <4D4368A4.1070207@stanford.edu> Hello all, I have a situation with a Livescribe Pen and would like to know if anyone has experienced a similar problem. I have a student who cannot transfer their Livescribe audio files from the pen to computer. The notebook images are loaded on the computer, but audio is not (i.e., there is no green text). The result is that no audio will play from the Livescribe Desktop interface. I tested the pen with separate notebook to see if there was something wrong with the recording or synchronization capabilities of the pen, but everything worked fine. The student did report that the pen got undocked in the middle of a synchronization a few months ago and this is when playback stopped working. So, there is audio on the pen that will playback, but the student cannot transfer the audio to the Livescribe Desktop nor are those synchronized with the notebook images. I suspect that the disruption in the synchronization process caused an error in the pen, but the only solutions I have found so far call for a master reset of the pen's firmware (and that will erase all the content). Anyone have any tricks to getting audio off the Livescribe Pens? Take care, sean -- Sean Keegan, M.S. Associate Director, Assistive Technology Office of Accessible Education - Stanford University http://studentaffairs.stanford.edu/oae From SKelmer at stlcc.edu Sat Jan 29 07:24:15 2011 From: SKelmer at stlcc.edu (Kelmer, Susan M.) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:15 2018 Subject: [Athen] Employment Request References: <4D4368A4.1070207@stanford.edu> Message-ID: I hope you all will indulge me for a few minutes. As of the end of June, I will no longer have my adaptive technology position at St. Louis Community College. State budget cuts have hit us pretty hard the last few years, but I was always protected because I was in the IT department, which never usually had to suffer through cuts. This year is different, and my position was eliminated. Most of you know me at least somewhat and know what I've been involved in within the community. I've made presentations at AHG in Colorado, am currently Secretary of ATHEN, and have consulted with campuses around the country on their alt-format production processes. Working as I have in such a specialized way for the last 11 years has backed me into a corner as far as employment goes. I am willing to relocate to some areas of the country (west rather than east, north rather than south). I am, of course, searching all the job sites and making contacts wherever I can, but any pointers and suggestions are welcome. They can be sent to me privately to keep the discussion off the lists. Thanks in advance. Susan Kelmer Lab Coordinator/Adaptive Technologist St. Louis Community College - Meramec 314-984-7951 -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: winmail.dat Type: application/ms-tnef Size: 3055 bytes Desc: not available URL: From winkharner at mesacc.edu Sat Jan 29 08:02:09 2011 From: winkharner at mesacc.edu (Wink Harner) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:15 2018 Subject: [Athen] Audio problem with Livescribe Pen In-Reply-To: <006101cbbfc4$dd6b19b0$98414d10$@glascoe@mcmail.maricopa.edu> Message-ID: <1707497528.275060.1296316929879.JavaMail.root@mailstore1.mesacc.edu> To Sean et al ATHEN-ites, Try this and see if it helps. Thanks to our math dept. guru at MCC! Wink ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sue Glascoe" To: "Wink Harner" Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2011 7:57:35 AM Subject: RE: [Athen] Audio problem with Livescribe Pen One thing to try is a ?soft boot? Hold the power button down past when it says record. Sometimes you have to let go and hold the power down again, eventually it will say ?Checking file system? and you will see a progress bar below this. Sometimes I have to hold the power button down several times to get it to this. This is supposed to reset any issues with the pen without erasing any data. Sue Glascoe MCC Math Dept ~following my North Star ! cid:asu_edu.B60@goomoji.gmailcid:asu_edu.B68@goomoji.gmail From: Wink Harner [mailto:winkharner@mesacc.edu] Sent: Friday, January 28, 2011 9:21 PM To: sue.glascoe@mcmail.maricopa.edu Subject: Fw: [Athen] Audio problem with Livescribe Pen Can you answer this, Sue? Sent via DROID on Verizon Wireless -----Original message----- From: Sean J Keegan To: Access Technology Higher Education Network , Alternate Media Sent: Sat, 29 Jan 2011, 01:10:41 GMT+00:00 Subject: [Athen] Audio problem with Livescribe Pen Hello all, I have a situation with a Livescribe Pen and would like to know if anyone has experienced a similar problem. I have a student who cannot transfer their Livescribe audio files from the pen to computer. The notebook images are loaded on the computer, but audio is not (i.e., there is no green text). The result is that no audio will play from the Livescribe Desktop interface. I tested the pen with separate notebook to see if there was something wrong with the recording or synchronization capabilities of the pen, but everything worked fine. The student did report that the pen got undocked in the middle of a synchronization a few months ago and this is when playback stopped working. So, there is audio on the pen that will playback, but the student cannot transfer the audio to the Livescribe Desktop nor are those synchronized with the notebook images. I suspect that the disruption in the synchronization process caused an error in the pen, but the only solutions I have found so far call for a master reset of the pen's firmware (and that will erase all the content). Anyone have any tricks to getting audio off the Livescribe Pens? Take care, sean -- Sean Keegan, M.S. Associate Director, Assistive Technology Office of Accessible Education - Stanford University http://studentaffairs.stanford.edu/oae _______________________________________________ Athen mailing list Athen@athenpro.org http://athenpro.org/mailman/listinfo/athen_athenpro.org -- Wink Harner -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.gif Type: image/gif Size: 642 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image002.gif Type: image/gif Size: 427 bytes Desc: not available URL: From ShelleyHaven at techpotential.net Sat Jan 29 14:45:04 2011 From: ShelleyHaven at techpotential.net (Shelley Haven) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:15 2018 Subject: [Athen] Audio problem with Livescribe Pen In-Reply-To: <4D4368A4.1070207@stanford.edu> References: <4D4368A4.1070207@stanford.edu> Message-ID: <688D05AB-3D3D-4E9E-9CBE-6E818945DE9A@techpotential.net> Hi, Sean! I've had this happen on a couple of occasions (on a Mac, BTW), fiddled around with various things, and eventually got the audio connected with the notes on the computer. In one case, the audio had indeed downloaded but just wasn't "attached" to the handwritten notes. Check the Audio Sessions list to see if the audio file is there. I eventually found that if I wrote and recorded more on that particular page, it forced the pen to re-download (upload?) the page and it now had the audio attached (i.e., notes were green). The other time, no audio had been transferred. I wrote to Livescribe and received instructions -- kind of tedious, but they worked. Our exchange is copied below. (In the second set of instructions, the Livescribe rep defaulted back to Windows nomenclature.) Good luck! - Shelley _____________________________ Shelley Haven ATP, RET Assistive Technology Consultant www.TechPotential.net ----excerpts from Livescribe emails------------ > I can't find a solution to this issue in either the Knowledge Base or the forums, hence this letter. I created two separate sessions today, both over two hours long. The paper notes from each session transferred properly to Livescribe Desktop, but the audio from the first session will not. (It shows 0 bytes for the audio file under Paper Replay Recordings.) However, the audio is clearly on the pen -- I can click anywhere on my paper notes and the pen plays properly and shows the correct time. Also, the pen reflects the correct amount of time remaining (that is, it indicates that I actually used 2+ hours of my remaining recording time). > > Why is the audio file not downloading from the pen to my computer? Is there any way to force a download, or otherwise extract it from the pen? > We can try renaming the data folder to resolve your issue. > > NOTE: This will only transfer notes and sessions still on your Pulse? smartpen. If you have deleted anything from your smartpen, this process will not recover the deleted data, but we have included steps to access your previous data in case you need it. > > To rename the data folder: > > 1. Shut down Livescribe Desktop. > 2. Activate your ?Finder? menu by clicking somewhere on an unused area of your desktop. > 3. From the menu options at the top of your desktop (Finder, File, Edit, View, Go, etc.) click ?Go? and access ?Home?, ?Library?, and then the ?Application Support? folder. > 4. Click on the ?Livescribe? folder located in ?Application Support? and press ?Return? on your keyboard. > 5. Rename the ?Livescribe? folder to something else (for example ?Livescribe - Old?. This way you can keep the files as a backup in case you need to access them later). > 6. Dock your Pulse? smartpen. > 7. Open Livescribe Desktop on your Macintosh. > 8. Name your smartpen and click the ?Name and Transfer? button. > > All of the files on your smartpen should now transfer. > > If you ever need to access your previous data, you can repeat the above rename process steps 1 through 4, but on step 5 rename the current ?Livescribe? folder to ?Livescribe - New? and rename the ?Livescribe - Old? folder back to ?Livescribe?. Run the Livescribe Desktop and you will see your previous notes and sessions. > Quick question before I actually do this: is there any way to consolidate the notes & sessions from (using your example) "Livescribe - Old" and "Livescribe - New" so that they can be accessed in the same instance of Livescribe Desktop? > After you've renamed the My Livescribe folder and docked the Pulse Smartpen - There will be a new folder created named "My Livescribe". You can go back to Start>My Documents>My Livescribe and rename that to "My Livescribe 3". Then rename the original folder that you've named "My Livescribe 2" to "My Livescribe". Then redock your Pulse Smartpen again. This will transfer any notes and sessions that hadn't already transferred to your old data folder. I hope this helps. ----end excerpts---------------- On Jan 28, 2011, at 5:08 PM, Sean J Keegan wrote: > Hello all, > > I have a situation with a Livescribe Pen and would like to know if anyone has experienced a similar problem. > > I have a student who cannot transfer their Livescribe audio files from the pen to computer. The notebook images are loaded on the computer, but audio is not (i.e., there is no green text). The result is that no audio will play from the Livescribe Desktop interface. > > I tested the pen with separate notebook to see if there was something wrong with the recording or synchronization capabilities of the pen, but everything worked fine. The student did report that the pen got undocked in the middle of a synchronization a few months ago and this is when playback stopped working. > > So, there is audio on the pen that will playback, but the student cannot transfer the audio to the Livescribe Desktop nor are those synchronized with the notebook images. > > I suspect that the disruption in the synchronization process caused an error in the pen, but the only solutions I have found so far call for a master reset of the pen's firmware (and that will erase all the content). > > Anyone have any tricks to getting audio off the Livescribe Pens? > > Take care, > sean > -- > Sean Keegan, M.S. > Associate Director, Assistive Technology > Office of Accessible Education - Stanford University > http://studentaffairs.stanford.edu/oae > > _______________________________________________ > Athen mailing list > Athen@athenpro.org > http://athenpro.org/mailman/listinfo/athen_athenpro.org > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From burke at ucla.edu Mon Jan 31 10:50:58 2011 From: burke at ucla.edu (Patrick Burke) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:15 2018 Subject: [Athen] Jaws Meets MS Word Meets Logic Symbols Message-ID: <201101311850.p0VIox2Y017044@mail.ucla.edu> Hi all, Does anyone out there know how/if you can get Jaws (11/12) to read logic symbols in MS Word (2003)? (Triangular therefore signs, if p then q notation etc.) We have a file where the symbols will read a numeric value (not the symbol name) with Jaws moving line-by-line, but I can't interrogate them in char-by-char mode. (Braille doesn't show anything for most of them.) One possible cause appears to be the difference between the old old Windows Character Map (= standard Unicode = good) & the Word Insert tool (= bad).: http://www.personal.psu.edu/ejp10/blogs/gotunicode/2008/03/micrsoft-word-logic-inserting.html Any experience with these symbols that you can share would be very welcome. Thanks much, Patrick -- Patrick J. Burke Coordinator UCLA Disabilities & Computing Program Phone: 310 206-6004 E-mail: burke ucla. edu Department Contact: dcp@oit.ucla.edu From john.gardner at orst.edu Mon Jan 31 11:33:26 2011 From: john.gardner at orst.edu (John Gardner) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:15 2018 Subject: [Athen] Jaws Meets MS Word Meets Logic Symbols In-Reply-To: <201101311850.p0VIox2Y017044@mail.ucla.edu> References: <201101311850.p0VIox2Y017044@mail.ucla.edu> Message-ID: <007601cbc17d$bbe54a30$33afde90$@gardner@orst.edu> Hi Patrick. Dunno about Jaws, but Window-Eyes reads these symbols just fine. John -----Original Message----- From: athen-bounces@athenpro.org [mailto:athen-bounces@athenpro.org] On Behalf Of Patrick Burke Sent: Monday, January 31, 2011 10:51 AM To: ATHEN Subject: [Athen] Jaws Meets MS Word Meets Logic Symbols Hi all, Does anyone out there know how/if you can get Jaws (11/12) to read logic symbols in MS Word (2003)? (Triangular therefore signs, if p then q notation etc.) We have a file where the symbols will read a numeric value (not the symbol name) with Jaws moving line-by-line, but I can't interrogate them in char-by-char mode. (Braille doesn't show anything for most of them.) One possible cause appears to be the difference between the old old Windows Character Map (= standard Unicode = good) & the Word Insert tool (= bad).: http://www.personal.psu.edu/ejp10/blogs/gotunicode/2008/03/micrsoft-word-log ic-inserting.html Any experience with these symbols that you can share would be very welcome. Thanks much, Patrick -- Patrick J. Burke Coordinator UCLA Disabilities & Computing Program Phone: 310 206-6004 E-mail: burke ucla. edu Department Contact: dcp@oit.ucla.edu _______________________________________________ Athen mailing list Athen@athenpro.org http://athenpro.org/mailman/listinfo/athen_athenpro.org From skeegan at stanford.edu Mon Jan 31 12:46:02 2011 From: skeegan at stanford.edu (Sean J Keegan) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:15 2018 Subject: [Athen] OmniPage Batch Manager question In-Reply-To: <4D3A193E.6020700@stanford.edu> References: <4D3A193E.6020700@stanford.edu> Message-ID: <4D471F8A.9060007@stanford.edu> Hello all, I think I found an answer regarding the issue I encountered with OmniPage 17 Professional and wanted to pass it along to others. For those not familiar, there is the full description of the problem below. Also, just as a note, I also obtained a copy of Abbyy Finereader Corporate Edition and the "batch manager" function works exactly as you would expect; it processes incoming files and then saves out those files. Buried in the OmniPage Help documentation for its Batch Manager (or poor excuse thereof) is a section on Job Life Cycles. It states: "Life cycles are important because saving of a job result will always be performed at the end of a life cycle." The end of a life cycle only occurs when it has been deactivated. Basically, when the Job has been deactivated, then whatever the workflow process was actually processing will be saved. For a job that involves "Folder Watching", the save process will begin when the job itself is deactivated. You can set up a daily, weekly or monthly job process where the system will deactivate (and then, in theory, reactivate), but I was not able to leave my computer running alone for several days to test this. Also, I found that if you dump three separate files into a "watched folder", then when the job life cycle ends, the results of all three files get saved to the same file. Total pain if those three files are all separate. You can force the Batch Manager to ask for file names, but if trying to set up a truly independent "in/out" system based on folder watching, you will be disappointed. So for those who were also having issues with folder watching and the actual "save" part of the workflow, it looks like OmniPage 17 Pro is not the answer (at least for full automation). That being said, Abbyy Finereader Corporate Edition seems to have gotten the process correct and it works just as you would expect. Take care, Sean On 1/21/11 3:39 PM, Sean J Keegan wrote: > Hello all, > > I am working with the Batch Manager for OmniPage Pro 17 in an attempt to > automate some processes. I have set up "input" and "output" folders as > well as specified a job workflow (i.e., watch the input folder, OCR > file, process, save the file, etc.). > > The job workflow is able to load the file from the "input" folder and > perform OCR and process any corrections. However, when I get to the > final step of the process to saving the exported file, the automated job > workflow process seems to freeze. The only way I get the completed files > to appear in the "output" folder is to manually stop the specific job > workflow OR add a new file to the "input" folder to start the job > workflow process again. > > I know I am probably missing something simple, but have been through the > interface several times and cannot figure out why the job workflow seems > to freeze at the "Save" step. > > Take care, > Sean > > -- Sean Keegan, M.S. Associate Director, Assistive Technology Office of Accessible Education - Stanford University http://studentaffairs.stanford.edu/oae From wink.harner at mcmail.maricopa.edu Mon Jan 31 13:54:24 2011 From: wink.harner at mcmail.maricopa.edu (Wink Harner) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:15 2018 Subject: [Athen] FW: help Message-ID: <006a01cbc191$6c709f90$4551deb0$@harner@mcmail.maricopa.edu> Anyone out there in ATHEN land have the answer to this life's burning question? Wink -----Original Message----- From: Dawn Gruichich [mailto:dawn.gruichich@cgcmail.maricopa.edu] Sent: Monday, January 31, 2011 11:20 AM To: Wink Harner; Gene Heppard Subject: help Hello Can either one of you tell me what version of Zoom text is compatible with Windows 7. We for some reason are having a problem with it. By the way name change. Thanks Dawn From danc at uw.edu Mon Jan 31 14:31:21 2011 From: danc at uw.edu (Dan Comden) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:15 2018 Subject: [Athen] FW: help In-Reply-To: <8035005640877070708@unknownmsgid> References: <8035005640877070708@unknownmsgid> Message-ID: We are using v9.1 (9.19.0) with Win7-64 bit I would ask AISquared about compatibility for older versions. 32 vs 64 bit makes a difference, in my experience. On Mon, Jan 31, 2011 at 4:54 PM, Wink Harner wrote: > Anyone out there in ATHEN land have the answer to this life's burning > question? > > Wink > > > -----Original Message----- > > Hello > Can either one of you tell me what version of Zoom text is compatible > with Windows 7. We for some reason are having a problem with it. -- -*- Dan Comden ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? danc@uw.edu ?? ?Access Technology Center ? www.uw.edu/itconnect/accessibility/atl/ ?? ?University of Washington ? ? ?UW Information Technology From winkharner at mesacc.edu Mon Jan 31 15:41:00 2011 From: winkharner at mesacc.edu (Wink Harner) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:15 2018 Subject: [Athen] FW: help In-Reply-To: References: <8035005640877070708@unknownmsgid> Message-ID: <00b401cbc1a0$50afae90$f20f0bb0$@edu> Thanks Dan. I passed the info on and hope it does the trick. We've run into some really quirky reactions after upgrading to OS7. Wink -----Original Message----- From: athen-bounces@athenpro.org [mailto:athen-bounces@athenpro.org] On Behalf Of Dan Comden Sent: Monday, January 31, 2011 3:31 PM To: Access Technology Higher Education Network Subject: Re: [Athen] FW: help We are using v9.1 (9.19.0) with Win7-64 bit I would ask AISquared about compatibility for older versions. 32 vs 64 bit makes a difference, in my experience. On Mon, Jan 31, 2011 at 4:54 PM, Wink Harner wrote: > Anyone out there in ATHEN land have the answer to this life's burning > question? > > Wink > > > -----Original Message----- > > Hello > Can either one of you tell me what version of Zoom text is compatible > with Windows 7. We for some reason are having a problem with it. -- -*- Dan Comden ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? danc@uw.edu ?? ?Access Technology Center ? www.uw.edu/itconnect/accessibility/atl/ ?? ?University of Washington ? ? ?UW Information Technology _______________________________________________ Athen mailing list Athen@athenpro.org http://athenpro.org/mailman/listinfo/athen_athenpro.org From cindycamp at pepnet.org Fri Jan 28 18:29:02 2011 From: cindycamp at pepnet.org (Cindy Camp & Jennie Bourgeois - PEPNet-South) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:16 2018 Subject: [Athen] [PEPNet-South] January Product of the Month Message-ID: <52a9447f915a6c55549e1efa7dba486edf6.20110129022855@mcsv123.net> Email not displaying correctly? [1]View it in your browser. Links: 1. http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=52a9447f915a6c55549e1efa7&id=64d84a2404&e=dba486edf6 PEPNet Product of the Month _January 2011_ _Check Out Our Resources!_ [2]www.pepnet.org Links: 2. http://pepnet.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=52a9447f915a6c55549e1efa7&id=437478e167&e=dba486edf6 It?s the start of a new semester, and your staff interpreters are preparing for their courses. Hmm, what?s the sign for ?eminent domain? or ?pork barrel legislation?? What?s most effective way of conveying idioms like ?head honcho? or ?red herring? in sign language? If these are some of the questions you have, then PEPNet has the solution for you! The PEPNet website includes a repository of resources, including six DVDs featuring signs for common vocabulary used in secondary and postsecondary settings. These DVDs include: ? A Closer Look: Signs for American National Government ? A Closer Look: Signs for English Composition ? A Closer Look: Signs for Idioms ? A Closer Look: Signs for Sports ? Math Signs ? Signs of Survival: Health and Public Safety The sign language DVDs were developed by teams of Deaf and hearing professionals to provide a comprehensive list of terms for each subject area. The signs included reflect well-accepted signs that were not influenced by regional variances. These DVDs can be ordered for $5.00 from PEPNet. In addition to this featured product/s, PEPNet has dozens of other resources that may be helpful in providing services for students who are deaf or hard of hearing. Go to the PEPNet website at _[3]www.pepnet.org,_and click on ?Resources? to use the online search tool. To find these resources, use the search term ?DVD? and select ?Materials.? Links: 3. http://pepnet.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=52a9447f915a6c55549e1efa7&id=3f689cb289&e=dba486edf6 Cindy Camp & Jennie Bourgeois PEPNet-South for Texas & Louisiana cindy@pepnet.org / jennie@pepnet.org PEPNet, a collaboration of four regional centers, is supported by cooperative agreements with the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, and Office of Special EducationPrograms. You are subscribed to the PEPNet-South e-mail announcements. [4]Unsubscribe athen@athenpro.org from this list. Our mailing address is: PEPNet-South Jacksonville State University 700 Pelham Road North Jacksonville, Alabama 36265 Copyright (C) 2011 PEPNet-South All rights reserved. Links: 4. http://pepnet.us2.list-manage1.com/unsubscribe?u=52a9447f915a6c55549e1efa7&id=f24b37ee7c&e=dba486edf6&c=64d84a2404 [5]Forward this email to a friend [6]Update your profile Email Marketing Powered by MailChimp http://www.mailchimp.com/monkey-rewards/?aid=52a9447f915a6c55549e1efa7&afl=1 Links: 5. http://us2.forward-to-friend.com/forward?u=52a9447f915a6c55549e1efa7&id=64d84a2404&e=dba486edf6 6. http://pepnet.us2.list-manage1.com/profile?u=52a9447f915a6c55549e1efa7&id=f24b37ee7c&e=dba486edf6 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From PLester at admin.fsu.edu Mon Jan 31 06:39:27 2011 From: PLester at admin.fsu.edu (Lester, Patti) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:16 2018 Subject: [Athen] SPSS19 and Jaws Message-ID: <12A313E4217C8749ACC83675B4D81DBE029FC976@fsu-exch-12.fsu.edu> Does anyone have any experience getting SPSS 19 to work on JAWS. After setting the location of the Java Access Bridge, replacing the Java accessibility.properties file, and setting permissions for all users, Jaws will not read the submenus consistently. It will read them, and then if another file is brought in, it won't read the submenus. Any ideas? Patti Lester, MLS, AT Lab Coordinator Student Disability Resource Center Florida State University 874 Traditions Way 108 Student Services Building Tallahassee, Florida 32306-4167 (850) 644-5532 __________________________________________________ CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail (including the attachments) is covered by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C.?? 2510-2521, is confidential and may be legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any retention, dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. Please contact me that you have received the message in error, and then destroy it. Thank You. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From PLester at admin.fsu.edu Mon Jan 31 06:43:40 2011 From: PLester at admin.fsu.edu (Lester, Patti) Date: Sat Jun 9 18:30:16 2018 Subject: [Athen] help Message-ID: <12A313E4217C8749ACC83675B4D81DBE029FC979@fsu-exch-12.fsu.edu> I joined Athens at the 2010 AHG conference and when I try to post to Athens, it tells me I am a non-member and that my posting is under review. When will my status change? I am a paid Athens member. Patti Lester, MLS, AT Lab Coordinator Student Disability Resource Center Florida State University 874 Traditions Way 108 Student Services Building Tallahassee, Florida 32306-4167 (850) 644-5532 __________________________________________________ CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail (including the attachments) is covered by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C.?? 2510-2521, is confidential and may be legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any retention, dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. Please contact me that you have received the message in error, and then destroy it. Thank You. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: