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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>The version of Visual Studio was not mentioned.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>JAWS ships with scripts for 2003 but if a newer version is being
used then third-party scripts are needed. (Newer version 2005 works better than
2003 does in terms of accessibility.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Scripts for Visual Studio 2005 are available (free). They’re
reported to work with 2008 as well.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>The download information is:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>“</span>Executable installer<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><a href="http://www.EmpowermentZone.com/msenv2005.exe">http://www.EmpowermentZone.com/msenv2005.exe</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>Zip archive<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><a href="http://www.EmpowermentZone.com/msenv2005.zip">http://www.EmpowermentZone.com/msenv2005.zip</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>“<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>The user will still find it advantageous to be a power JAWS, and
power Windows user before working to navigate Visual Studio, which is a complex
environment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> athen-bounces@athenpro.org
[mailto:athen-bounces@athenpro.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Ron Stewart<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, February 26, 2008 8:43 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> 'Access Technologists in Higher Education Network'<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Athen] Accessibility for Online Course Student Using JAWS<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>I’ll bite on this one. It makes on difference if the
student is degree seeking or not they are still a student.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>YES there are major issues with working with Visual Studio and
Visual C++ with any screen reader. From my last look there were typically
work arounds for the basics but the user needed to be a very competent screen
reader user. There are also a lot of issues with the drag and drop
development controls which I believe there are no work arounds for. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>It sounds like it may be necessary to separate the lack of
technical proficiency issues from the accessibility issues. Being unable
to install a program does not sound like a access issue. Is the Textbook
CD and accessible piece of content? If not then that is also an issue but
not one I would have agreed to provide a tutor for.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>The fast majority of students I have worked with are not,
regardless of the flavor of screen reader used, able to be fully proficient
with many of these products, especially when they are being exposed to is as
student. As you may have found out VPAT’s are pretty much worthless for
actually determining usability.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>As far as the WebCT interface it has pretty much the same issues
as any other CMS but for the most part the portal is fine with the exception of
the Chat and the other interactive tools. I have recommended that a
student be allowed to work outside of the WebCT portal since that is just a
delivery system not an actual part of the course content. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Sounds like a lot of specificity on the part of the student is
missing, and from this it is hard to determine what are issues of access and
which are issues of ignorance.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Ron Stewart<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>
athen-bounces@athenpro.org [mailto:athen-bounces@athenpro.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Larry
Kiser<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, February 26, 2008 9:00 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> Access Technologists in Higher Education Network<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Athen] Accessibility for Online Course Student Using JAWS<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Dear
Colleagues:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>A
non-degree seeking student who is blind and uses JAWS at home elected to register
for an online C++ course. As the term began the student waited for the
instructor to send a personal email rather than entering the WebCT course
site. After I explained to the student the necessity of doing so I spent
considerable time writing up command protocols for the student so the student
could navigate the site. I was surprised that the student was unaware of
many available JAWS commands but the student appeared to be able to access the
course material with the protocols. The student then encountered problems
downloading and installing Visual Studio and using the CD that came with the
textbook. At the student’s insistence the instructor located a tutor, who
is paid by the Division of Blind Services to go to the student’s home for tutoring
sessions. Last week I got a call from the student who reported that he
was unable to access certain windows in Visual Studio with JAWS. The
tutor was supposed to meet with me in order that we could open the applications
with JAWS and determine if there was a work around. That has not yet
occurred. The student also claims some of the course elements in WebCT
are graphics and inaccessible. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>I
am clear that if inaccessible graphics have been incorporated into the course
material I need to collaborate with the instructor to make an accessible
alternative. However, I am not clear what the college’s responsibility is
regarding problems with JAWS interacting with Microsoft’s Visual Studio.
Have any of you encountered similar situations and how did you resolve
it? I did download the VAT for that application from Microsoft and noted
that Microsoft claims it is 508 compliant with some exceptions. At this
point I do not know if the exceptions are the problem the student is
encountering. The student has expressed the feeling in an email that an
alternative course format should be made available in lieu of WebCT.
Would that be considered a fundamental alteration of the course?
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif"'>Larry
Kiser</span><span style='font-family:"Garamond","serif"'>,</span><span
style='font-family:"Freestyle Script"'> </span><span style='font-family:"Garamond","serif"'>Counselor</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Garamond","serif"'>Disabilities
Resource Center</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Garamond","serif"'>Santa Fe
Community College</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Garamond","serif"'>Gainesville, FL
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
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