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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">I was asked to share the press release below. It is the latest agreement highlighting the need to ensure web accessibility in and
out of the virtual classroom. It uses the definition of access developed by the Departments of Education and Justice that we are likely to see reflected in the regulatory standard being developed by Justice (currently slated for a June release)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">‘“Accessible’ means a person with a disability is afforded the opportunity to acquire the same information, engage in the same interactions,
and enjoy the same services as a person without a disability in an equally effective and equally integrated manner, with substantially equivalent ease of use. A person with a disability must be able to obtain the information as fully, equally, and independently
as a person without a disability. Although this might not result in identical ease of use compared to that of persons without disabilities, it still must ensure equal opportunity to the educational benefits and opportunities afforded by the technology and
equal treatment in the use of such technology.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Letter of Resolution: <a href="http://www2.ed.gov/documents/press-releases/youngstown-state-university-letter.pdf">
http://www2.ed.gov/documents/press-releases/youngstown-state-university-letter.pdf</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Resolution Agreement: <a href="http://www2.ed.gov/documents/press-releases/youngstown-state-university-agreement.pdf">
http://www2.ed.gov/documents/press-releases/youngstown-state-university-agreement.pdf</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">Begin forwarded message:<o:p></o:p></p>
<blockquote style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt">
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">U.S. Department of Education</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Office of Communications & Outreach, Press Office
</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">400 Maryland Ave., S.W.</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Washington, D.C. 20202
</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">FOR RELEASE<span style="color:#1F497D">:</span></span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Dec. 12, 2014</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black">CONTACT:
</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black">Press Office, (202) 401-1576 or
<a href="mailto:press@ed.gov">press@ed.gov</a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">U.S. Education Department Reaches Agreement with Youngstown State University to Ensure Equal Access to its Websites for Individuals
with Disabilities</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The U.S. Department of Education announced today that its Office for Civil Rights has entered into an agreement with Youngstown State University in Ohio to ensure that
the school’s websites comply with federal civil rights laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability.
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="PressReleases"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The agreement ends an OCR investigation and commits the 13,000-student public institution in northeast Ohio to providing equal access to educational opportunities for
students with disabilities and to ensuring that the school’s websites are accessible to persons with disabilities, including students, prospective students, employees and visitors.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="PressReleases">"I applaud Youngstown State University for agreeing to make its websites – through which it increasingly provides information to employees, applicants, students and others – fully accessible to all, including to individuals with disabilities,"
said Catherine E. Lhamon, assistant secretary for civil rights. “Web inaccessibility could significantly deter applications and participation from students with disabilities; this resolution ensures that Youngstown State can fully serve its entire student
population, consistent with the law.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As part of this investigation, OCR examined the accessibility of the university’s website<span style="color:black">s</span> to persons with disabilities, particularly
those with sensory impairments who may require the use of assistive technology to access the sites.
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">OCR determined that the school was not in compliance with two federal laws that the office enforces—Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Title II of the Americans
with Disabilities Act. In the first instance, Youngstown State’s websites were not readily accessible to persons with disabilities. And in the second, OCR found that the university was not fully in compliance with the regulatory requirements regarding the
publication of a notice of nondiscrimination in relevant documents.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In response to these determinations, the university entered into a resolution agreement to ensure that content on its websites is accessible to individuals with disabilities
and that it is providing an equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities to participate in and benefit from its online learning environment.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Under terms of the agreement, the Youngstown State will:
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Develop and publish one consistent notice of nondiscrimination that includes contact information for the person(s) designated to ensure compliance with Section
504 and Title II.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Develop, adopt and provide notice of a Web accessibility policy and an implementation and remediation plan to ensure adherence to the policy, including particular
attention to a prioritized conversion of image-based documents to accessible materials.
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Provide training to staff responsible for webpage and content development, including faculty and students, as appropriate.
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Review its website and e-learning platform(s) to identify and fix any accessibility problems, as well as to put in place mechanisms to ensure that the sites
continue to be accessible. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Provide certification from a third-party web accessibility consultant or an employee of the university with sufficient knowledge, skill and experience that the
university’s electronic and information technologies meet the technical standard(s) adopted by the school.
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2"><![if !supportLists]><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Provide OCR with reports describing its efforts for multiple subsequent school years to comply with its Web accessibility policy and plan, including information
documenting any compliance issues discovered through the monitoring, audits, or complaints and the actions taken to correct those issues. And,</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Ensure that access to computer labs, especially regarding provision of assistive technology, is comparable to that of students without disabilities, and that
accurate notice is given to students, faculty, staff, and other beneficiaries able to utilize university computer labs that these services are available.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A copy of the resolution letter can be found
<a href="http://www2.ed.gov/documents/press-releases/youngstown-state-university-letter.pdf">
here</a>, and the agreement is posted <a href="http://www2.ed.gov/documents/press-releases/youngstown-state-university-agreement.pdf">
here</a>. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="PressReleases">OCR’s mission is to ensure equal access to education and to promote educational excellence throughout the nation through vigorous enforcement of civil rights. OCR is responsible for enforcing federal civil rights laws that prohibit
discrimination by educational institutions on the bases of disability, race, color, national origin, sex, and age, as well as the Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act of 2001.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="PressReleases"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">For details on how the office handles civil rights cases, please click
</span><a href="http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/complaintprocess.html"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">here</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">.</span></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">###</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
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