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.<br>
<br>Heidi<br><br clear="all">+++++++++++++++<br>Heidi Scher, M.S., CRC<br>Associate Director<br>Center for Educational Access<br>University of Arkansas<br>ARKU 104<br>Fayetteville, AR 72701<br>479.575.3104<br>479.575.7445 fax<br>
479.575.3646 tdd<br>+++++++++++++++<br><br>
<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, May 10, 2011 at 9:20 AM, scott williams <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:swims@umich.edu">swims@umich.edu</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">
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. <div>
<br></div><div>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. <div>
<br></div><div>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. </div><div><br></div><div>Best,</div>
<div><br></div><div>Scott<div><div></div><div class="h5"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, May 10, 2011 at 9:14 AM, Greg Kraus <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:greg_kraus@ncsu.edu" target="_blank">greg_kraus@ncsu.edu</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
Hi Ron,<br>
<br>
I've been talking with some members of the Google Apps for Education<br>
Team about this and have offered to coordinate with ATHEN an<br>
accessibility interest group to work with Google like we have done<br>
with Blackboard and Elluminate/Blackboard. We are a Google Apps campus<br>
so we definitely have a vested interest in this. So far Google has not<br>
taken me up on this offer.<br>
<br>
I can say that Google is keenly aware of the issue and is trying to<br>
address it. We at NC State have built some relationships with the<br>
Google Apps for Education Team so I am happy to coordinate an ATHEN<br>
interest group if others are interested in participating.<br>
<br>
Greg<br>
<font color="#888888"><br>
--<br>
Greg Kraus<br>
University IT Accessibility Coordinator<br>
Office of Information Technology<br>
North Carolina State University<br>
<a href="tel:919.513.4087" value="+19195134087" target="_blank">919.513.4087</a><br>
</font><div><div></div><div><br>
<br>
<br>
On Mon, May 9, 2011 at 6:45 PM, Sean J Keegan <<a href="mailto:skeegan@stanford.edu" target="_blank">skeegan@stanford.edu</a>> wrote:<br>
> Good morning folks, hope you are staying above water!<br>
><br>
> I have received several request for ATHEN or another unbiased group to do an<br>
> objective evaluation of the accessibility of the current version of Google<br>
> Apps. This would be of a similar nature of our work on the iTunes work we<br>
> did a few years back. If you are aware of anyone who has already done a<br>
> compressive, cross disability evaluation that is great and I will pass that<br>
> on to those who have inquired.<br>
><br>
> At this point I am needing someone who has the time and available bandwidth<br>
> to take a project of this nature on and to be the leader of the project.<br>
><br>
> Ron Stewart<br>
><br>
> ************************************************************************<br>
> Ron Stewart<br>
> Managing Consultant<br>
> Altformat Solutions LLC<br>
><br>
> 8300 West Weller St<br>
> Yorktown, IN 47396<br>
> Mobile: <a href="tel:609%20213-2190" value="+16092132190" target="_blank">609 213-2190</a><br>
> Fax: <a href="tel:765%20405-1484" value="+17654051484" target="_blank">765 405-1484</a><br>
><br>
> <a href="mailto:ron@altformatsolutions.com" target="_blank">ron@altformatsolutions.com</a><br>
> <a href="http://www.altformatsolutions.com" target="_blank">www.altformatsolutions.com</a><br>
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</div></div></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br></div></div>-- <br>Scott Williams<br>Web Accessibility Coordinator<br>Office of Institutional Equity<br>University of Michigan<br><a href="tel:734.764.0051" value="+17347640051" target="_blank">734.764.0051</a><br>
<a href="mailto:swims@umich.edu" target="_blank">swims@umich.edu</a><br>
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