[Athen] Repost: Google Apps Evaluation

[Greg Kraus]

Hi All,

Here is the list of people I have who have expressed interest in
working in this interest group.

Greg Kraus
Karen Sorensen
Alice Anderson
Sharon Trerise
Scott Williams
Terrill Thompson

If I missed anyone please let me know. Jon, I wasn't sure if you were
expressing interest or not. If you would like to just let me know.

Others, as with other ATHEN interest groups I assume people will be
able to come and go from the group when desired. This list is just an
initial list of people to start the discussion.

Ron, what is the process for getting an official ATHEN Interest Group
started? Would it be best to go ahead and set up a section on the
Collaboration site to start discussing these matters?

Thanks.

Greg


On Tue, May 10, 2011 at 2:33 PM, Greg Kraus <greg_kraus at ncsu.edu> wrote:

> I'll be happy to coordinate this. With Google IO going on right now we

> should probably also wait to see what announcements are coming from

> the cloud. I'll start pulling some things together soon and get

> everyone who has expresses interest involved. I'll probably start an

> email discussion in the next week or two to make sure we can define a

> common goal and that it is something that ATHEN as an organization can

> support.

>

> Greg

>

>

> On Tue, May 10, 2011 at 1:46 PM, Ron Stewart <ron at ahead.org> wrote:

>> Thanks for those of you who stepped up to the plate on this, Greg since you

>> already volunteered do you want to pull something together.  Before we move

>> forward under the ATHEN umbrella I want to make sure everyone is on the same

>> page.  It probably would be best to setup a smaller discussion group on this

>> topic as well.

>>

>>

>>

>> Ron

>>

>>

>>

>> From: athen-list-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu

>> [mailto:athen-list-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of

>> Gunderson, Jon R

>> Sent: Tuesday, May 10, 2011 7:57 AM

>> To: Access Technology Higher Education Network

>> Subject: RE: [Athen] Repost: Google Apps Evaluation

>>

>>

>>

>> If we coordinate our accessibility efforts with Google we will be able to

>> prioritize the accessibility features they work on and be able to help

>> Google understand that this is a long term effort and responsibility.

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>> Jon

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>> From: athen-list-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu

>> [mailto:athen-list-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of scott

>> williams

>> Sent: Tuesday, May 10, 2011 9:21 AM

>> To: Access Technology Higher Education Network

>> Subject: Re: [Athen] Repost: Google Apps Evaluation

>>

>>

>>

>> 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

>>> _______________________________________________

>>> athen-list mailing list

>>> athen-list at mailman1.u.washington.edu

>>> http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/athen-list

>>>

>> _______________________________________________

>> athen-list mailing list

>> athen-list at mailman1.u.washington.edu

>> http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/athen-list

>>

>>

>> --

>> Scott Williams

>> Web Accessibility Coordinator

>> Office of Institutional Equity

>> University of Michigan

>> 734.764.0051

>> swims at umich.edu

>>

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>>

>>

>