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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Dear Colleagues:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>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></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>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></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face=Garamond><span style='font-size:13.5pt;
font-family:Garamond'>Larry Kiser</span></font><font face=Garamond><span
style='font-family:Garamond'>,</span></font><font face="Freestyle Script"><span
style='font-family:"Freestyle Script"'> </span></font><font face=Garamond><span
style='font-family:Garamond'>Counselor</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on"><font size=3
face=Garamond><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Garamond'>Disabilities</span></font></st1:PlaceName><font
face=Garamond><span style='font-family:Garamond'> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Resource</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Center</st1:PlaceType></span></font></st1:place><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on"><font size=3
face=Garamond><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Garamond'>Santa Fe</span></font></st1:PlaceName><font
face=Garamond><span style='font-family:Garamond'> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Community
College</st1:PlaceType></span></font></st1:place><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><font size=3
face=Garamond><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Garamond'>Gainesville</span></font></st1:City><font
face=Garamond><span style='font-family:Garamond'>, <st1:State w:st="on">FL</st1:State></span></font></st1:place><font
face=Garamond><span style='font-family:Garamond'> </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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