[Athen] Repost: Google Apps Evaluation

[Heidi Scher]

Our campus has been negotiating on a contract since last year.  However, due
to recent developments (OCR complaint from NFB), plus my 2 cents, and that
of our legal counsel, we have also told Google that we're holding off on
signing until accessibility issues can be resolved.

Heidi

+++++++++++++++
Heidi Scher, M.S., CRC
Associate Director
Center for Educational Access
University of Arkansas
ARKU 104
Fayetteville, AR 72701
479.575.3104
479.575.7445 fax
479.575.3646 tdd
+++++++++++++++



On Tue, May 10, 2011 at 9:20 AM, scott williams <swims at umich.edu> wrote:


> The University of Michigan is in contract negotiations with Google. We told

> them that we were holding off negotiations until they could show us an

> accessible version of Google Apps. I expect to be a member of the pilot here

> on campus so I can evaluate its accessibility before a campus-wide rollout.

> They are trying to publish a more accessible version of Google Apps by fall.

> I am going to wait to evaluate the updated version (or a substantial number

> of micro-upgrades). I do know that they are working closely with the NFB to

> reach a settlement, so I do expect real change, but the proof is in the

> pudding.

>

> I think we surprised them with our firm stance, but we told them that even

> though the NFB is happy with Google's progress, that wouldn't stop the NFB

> from coming at us should a student file a complaint here. And that is not a

> risk we're going to take.

>

> I would be very interested in participating in this group. I agree with Jon

> and Greg that Google would welcome the effort, and it will help keep them on

> the right track.

>

> Best,

>

> Scott

>

>

> On Tue, May 10, 2011 at 9:14 AM, Greg Kraus <greg_kraus at ncsu.edu> wrote:

>

>> Hi Ron,

>>

>> I've been talking with some members of the Google Apps for Education

>> Team about this and have offered to coordinate with ATHEN an

>> accessibility interest group to work with Google like we have done

>> with Blackboard and Elluminate/Blackboard. We are a Google Apps campus

>> so we definitely have a vested interest in this. So far Google has not

>> taken me up on this offer.

>>

>> I can say that Google is keenly aware of the issue and is trying to

>> address it. We at NC State have built some relationships with the

>> Google Apps for Education Team so I am happy to coordinate an ATHEN

>> interest group if others are interested in participating.

>>

>> Greg

>>

>> --

>> Greg Kraus

>> University IT Accessibility Coordinator

>> Office of Information Technology

>> North Carolina State University

>> 919.513.4087

>>

>>

>>

>> On Mon, May 9, 2011 at 6:45 PM, Sean J Keegan <skeegan at stanford.edu>

>> wrote:

>> > Good morning folks, hope you are staying above water!

>> >

>> > I have received several request for ATHEN or another unbiased group to

>> do an

>> > objective evaluation of the accessibility of the current version of

>> Google

>> > Apps.  This would be of a similar nature of our work on the iTunes work

>> we

>> > did a few years back.  If you are aware of anyone who has already done a

>> > compressive, cross disability evaluation that is great and I will pass

>> that

>> > on to those who have inquired.

>> >

>> > At this point I am needing someone who has the time and available

>> bandwidth

>> > to take a project of this nature on and to be the leader of the project.

>> >

>> > 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 at altformatsolutions.com

>> > www.altformatsolutions.com

>> > _______________________________________________

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>> >

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>

>

>

> --

> Scott Williams

> Web Accessibility Coordinator

> Office of Institutional Equity

> University of Michigan

> 734.764.0051

> swims at umich.edu

>

>

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>

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